Black Crowes: Chris Robinson (vocals, harmonica); Rich Robinson, Marc Ford (guitar); Eddie Harsch (keyboards); Johnny Colt (bass); Steve Gorman (drums).

Additional personnel: Bruce Kaphan (pedal steel guitar); Jimmy "Two Fingers" Ashurst (mandolin); Eric BoBo (percussion); Andy Sturmer.

The alternate version of AMORICA features a slightly different cover.

The Black Crowes: Chris Robinson (vocals, harmonica); Rich Robinson, Marc Ford (guitar); Eddie Harsch (keyboards); Johnny Colt (bass); Steve Gorman (drums).

Additional personnel includes: Bruce Kaphan (pedal steel guitar); Jimmy "Two Fingers" Ashurst (mandolin); Eric BoBo (percussion).

Recorded between May and June 1994.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

With their roots firmly planted in the alluvial top soil of '70s blues rock, The Black Crowes are a classic hard rock riff band, where the groove--their weaving of electric guitars/keyboards, with bass-drum dances--is paramount, much as it was for their mentors, Little Feat, The Faces and The Rolling Stones.

On AMORICA The Black Crowes stretch out their throbbing grooves and dense retro mixes with taut, wiry bursts of guitar courtesy of Rich Robinson and Marc Ford, over a bumptious latin-inflected rock groove, as on "Gene." Eddie Harsch's rich Hammond B-3 and funky keyboard work adds body to each arrangement, while leather lunged Chris Robinson's vocals are less a melodic focus than an extension on the blues riffing going on underneath. He's a soul shouter in the best tradition of Gregg Allman, Stevie Winwood and Rod Stewart--of white rock singers influenced by the likes of Otis Redding and Ray Charles--as on "High Head Blues."

At their best, as on the southern flavored jams of "Wiser Time," and the funky, lascivious "She Gave Good Sunflower," the band evokes a powerful roots rock feel, with plenty of solo space for the guitars to stretch out. But on more laid back fare, such as the down home "Downtown Money" and the poignant "Ballad In Urgency," The Black Crowes' lyrics convey an enigmatic brand of romanticism that is more song-like than many of their arrangements.

With their roots firmly planted in the alluvial top soil of '70s blues rock, The Black Crowes are a classic hard rock riff band, where the groove--their weaving of electric guitars/keyboards, with bass-drum dances--is paramount, much as it was for their mentors, Little Feat, The Faces and The Rolling Stones.

On AMORICA The Black Crowes stretch out their throbbing grooves and dense retro mixes with taut, wiry bursts of guitar courtesy of Rich Robinson and Marc Ford, over a bumptious latin-inflected rock groove, as on "Gene." Eddie Harsch's rich Hammond B-3 and funky keyboard work adds body to each arrangement, while leather lunged Chris Robinson's vocals are less a melodic focus than an extension on the blues riffing going on underneath. He's a soul shouter in the best tradition of Gregg Allman, Stevie Winwood and Rod Stewart--of white rock singers influenced by the likes of Otis Redding and Ray Charles--as on "High Head Blues."

At their best, as on the southern flavored jams of "Wiser Time," and the funky, lascivious "She Gave Good Sunflower," the band evokes a powerful roots rock feel, with plenty of solo space for the guitars to stretch out. But on more laid back fare, such as the down home "Downtown Money" and the poignant "Ballad In Urgency," The Black Crowes' lyrics convey an enigmatic brand of romanticism that is more song-like than many of their arrangements.

Rolling Stone (11/3/94, pp.95-96) - 3.5 Stars - Good - "...echoes of the Stones and Led Zep resound--but in jolting the mix with offbeat kicks (Latino rhythms, wah-wah guitar, strange vocal treatments), they sound remarkably fresh..."

Rolling Stone (11/3/94, pp.95-96) - 3.5 Stars - Good - "...echoes of the Stones and Led Zep resound--but in jolting the mix with offbeat kicks (Latino rhythms, wah-wah guitar, strange vocal treatments), they sound remarkably fresh..."

Q (12/94, p.128) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...It could be viewed as the Crowes' THERE'S A RIOT GOING ON: it's been a long time coming, and bears the same kind of emotional scars...[It] stretches the group's influence further than ever before..."

Q (12/94, p.128) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...It could be viewed as the Crowes' THERE'S A RIOT GOING ON: it's been a long time coming, and bears the same kind of emotional scars...[It] stretches the group's influence further than ever before..."

Musician (12/94, pp.98-100) - "...Solidly consistent--with lyrics devoted to redemption through L-U-V and allthebeautifullosers--this is probably the best album the Black Crowes could make at this time in their fine careers..."

Musician (12/94, pp.98-100) - "...Solidly consistent--with lyrics devoted to redemption through L-U-V and allthebeautifullosers--this is probably the best album the Black Crowes could make at this time in their fine careers..."

NME (Magazine) (10/29/94, p.46) - 8 - Excellent - "...there's at least five songs here that sound like cover versions already. And that, of course, is the very nature of like, 'classic.'..."

NME (Magazine) (10/29/94, p.46) - 8 - Excellent - "...there's at least five songs here that sound like cover versions already. And that, of course, is the very nature of like, 'classic.'..."