RE-SHAKE & RE-MAKE
When The Black Crowes first emerged out of Marietta, Georgia, in the mid-’80s under the jangly auspices of Mr. Crowe’s Garden, they helped reboot rock and roll by paying particular tribute to its past precepts. They parlayed a contentious sound fueled by unabashed energy and insurgency, a style that incorporated their Southern roots while still distancing themselves from any stereotypical good old boys branding.
With their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, released in February 1990, the band firmly established themselves as part of a classic American musical ethos. Signed to Def American Records by their soon-to-be producer George Drakoulias, the band, helmed by brothers Chris and Rich Robinson, emerged fully formed, immediately proving their prowess with a multi-platinum debut that stunned the critics and brought them instant accreditation. In total, they recorded eight studio albums, four live albums, and numerous top-charting singles, selling some 30 million records in the process.
Nevertheless, like many outfits that found a pair of male siblings at the helm, there was a certain tension and contentiousness that plagued the band all throughout the course of their career. In 2002, the band called it quits for the first time, allowing both Robin-sons to pursue solo projects and other associations. They reunited in 2005, only to opt for a second hiatus following their 20th anniversary tour in 2010. Yet another breakup transpired in 2013, only to lead to the brothers’ decision to entirely revamp the band in 2019 in preparation for a tour that would commemorate the 30th anniversary of their seminal debut.
The pandemic postponed those plans, but in the meantime, the “Brothers Robinson” have cause to continue the commemoration via the rerelease of Now expanded through the choice of a 4-LP or 3-CD super deluxe edition box set, the reissue has rarities, demos, unreleased offerings and an
