The Black Crowes go into the vault for some lost albums and DVD

By Patrick Luce Aug 17, 2006, 13:54 GMT

Twice The Black Crowes have recorded albums that were never officially released: ‘Tall’ in 1993 and ‘Band’ in 1997. While a few songs from these lost albums were rerecorded and released on studio albums, many have emerged only through the band’s legendary live shows.

The band recently went into the vault, collecting the best moments from those abandoned sessions for a special treat for their longtime fans. Titled ‘The Lost Crowes,’ it is a two-disc set of unreleased music that has been remixed for its public debut on Rhino. The compilation will be available August 29th for a suggested retail price of $24.98. The same day, the band’s 1992 home video ‘Who Killed That Bird Out On Your Window Sill’ will make its DVD debut for a suggested retail price of $14.99. 

In fall of 1993 vocalist Chris Robinson, guitarists Rich Robinson and Marc Ford, drummer Steve Gorman, bassist Johnny Colt, and keyboardist Ed Harsch recorded more than 30 songs at Conway Studios in Los Angeles. Working on the follow-up to ‘Southern Harmony and Musical Companion,’ the band descended into an emotional, startlingly heavy creative patch that became a stepping-stone to the 1994 album ‘amorica.’

Named after an old jazz term for getting high, the ‘Tall’ sessions contain a total of 16 unreleased tracks that offer an unflinching glimpse into rough and beautiful music born from turmoil and tension. ‘The Lost Crowes’ includes early versions of seven ‘amorica’ songs such as “A Conspiracy,” “Descending,” “Wiser Time” and “Cursed Diamond.” The collection also features the undiscovered classics “Tied Up And Swallowed,” “Feathers,” “Thunderstorm 654” and “Lowdown,” - a sad lost anthem that became “Ballad In Urgency.”

Four years later, the band came off the road after headlining the Furthur Festival and went into a Nashville studio to record songs for a planned follow-up to 1996’s acclaimed ‘Three Snakes & One Charm.’ Where ‘Tall’ thrives on the mayhem of their young Los Angeles days, ‘Band’ confidently probes some of The Black Crowes’ most mature, thoughtful work.

The Band sessions contain 10 songs including a different version of the B-side “Peace Anyway,” plus “If It Ever Stops Raining,” a song that would become the title-track to the 1999 album ‘By Your Side.’ The compilation also spotlights the taut riff rock of “Paint An 8,” the windblown ache of “Wyoming & Me” along with the freaky-longhaired-Mother Earth grooves of “Another Roadside Tragedy,” “Grinnin” and “Life Vest.”

Paul Stacey has remixed all of the music on ‘The Lost Crowes’ - which also includes liner notes spotlighting the stories behind these legendary lost sessions as told by the Robinsons.

The Black Crowes released its first home video ‘Who Killed That Bird Out On Your Window Sill’ in 1992 while touring for the band’s sophomore album. Rhino Home Video will release a remastered and expanded version of the video on DVD that features live performances, interviews, backstage and studio footage, videos from the group’s first two albums, and additional bonus features.

‘The Lost Crowes’ is now available for pre-order at Amazon. Visit the music database for more information and a complete track listing. ‘Who Killed That Bird Out On Your Window Sill’ is now available for pre-order at Amazon. Visit the DVD database for more information.