The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion

The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
Studio album by The Black Crowes
Released	May 12, 1992
Recorded	1991–1992
Genre	Blues rock
Length	50:33
Label	Def American
Producer	George Drakoulias; The Black Crowes;
The Black Crowes chronology
Singles from The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
	"Remedy"; Released: April 1992; "Thorn in My Pride"; Released: August 1992 (US); "Sting Me"; Released: September 1992 (UK); "Hotel Illness"; Released: November 1992;

The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion is the second studio album by American rock band the Black Crowes, released on May 12, 1992. It was the first album by the band to feature Marc Ford on lead guitar, replacing Jeff Cease, who was fired the year before, and the first to feature keyboardist Eddie Harsch. The album's name derives from the full name of the Southern Harmony, an influential 1835 hymnal compiled by William Walker.

Release

It was a record for an album to feature four album rock number-one hits (previously set by Tom Petty in 1989, with three).^[6] The album itself reached the top spot of the Billboard 200 album chart, propelled by the success of these singles.

A box set featuring the remixed album along with previously unreleased songs and live tracks was released in late 2023.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[7]
Entertainment Weekly	B+^[8]
Kerrang!	5/5^[9]
Mojo	^[10]
NME	9/10^[11]
PopMatters	8/10^[12]
Rolling Stone	^[13]
Select	5/5^[14]
Uncut	9/10^[15]
The Village Voice	B−^[16]

In 2005, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion was ranked number 477 in Rock Hard magazine's book The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.^[17]

In 2006, the album was ranked number 100 on Guitar World magazine's list of the greatest 100 guitar albums of all time.^[18]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Chris Robinson & Rich Robinson, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Sting Me"		4:39
2.	"Remedy"		5:22
3.	"Thorn in My Pride"		6:03
4.	"Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye"		6:28
5.	"Sometimes Salvation"		4:44
6.	"Hotel Illness"		3:59
7.	"Black Moon Creeping"		4:54
8.	"No Speak No Slave"		4:01
9.	"My Morning Song"		6:15
10.	"Time Will Tell"	Bob Marley	4:08

Bonus tracks (1998 reissue)
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
11.	"Sting Me" (Slow)		5:48
12.	"99 lbs."	Don Bryant	4:18

Japanese bonus track
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
11.	"Shake 'Em On Down" (Live)	Bukka White	4:08

Personnel

The Black Crowes

Chris Robinson – vocals, percussion, blues harp, guitar
Rich Robinson – guitar
Marc Ford – guitar
Johnny Colt – bass guitar
Steve Gorman – drums
Eddie Harsch – keyboards

Additional musicians

Chris Trujillo – congas^[19]
Barbara Mitchell and Taj Harmon (now Taj Artis) – choir^[20]

Production

Pete Angelus – personal manager
The Black Crowes – producer
George Drakoulias – producer
Janet Levinson – art direction
Brendan O'Brien – engineer, mixing
Chris Robinson – art direction
Mark Seliger – photography
Howie Weinberg – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1992)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[21]	6
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[22]	39
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[23]	2
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[24]	17
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)^[25]	14
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[26]	30
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[27]	4
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[28]	9
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[29]	17
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[30]	17
UK Albums (OCC)^[31]	2
US Billboard 200^[32]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)	Position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[33]	52
US Billboard 200^[34]	41
Chart (1993)	Position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[35]	100

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[36]	Gold	35,000^{^}
Canada (Music Canada)^[37]	Platinum	100,000^{^}
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[38]	Gold	7,500^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[39]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Kemp, Mark (2004). "The Black Crowes". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 75–76. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. April 18, 1992. p. 25.
^ "Great Rock Discography, 2004 edition". p. 143.
^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. September 5, 1992. p. 21.
^ "Great Rock Discography, 2004 edition". p. 143.
^ Chris Ford (May 12, 2015). "23 Years Ago: The Black Crowes Release 'The Southern Harmony + Musical Companion'". Diffuser.fm.
^ Sendra, Tim. "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion – The Black Crowes". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
^ Altman, Billy (May 22, 1992). "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion". Entertainment Weekly. No. 119. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
^ Jeffries, Neil (May 9, 1992). "True companion". Kerrang!. No. 391. p. 15.
^ Mulvey, John (March 2024). "The Black Crowes: The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (Super Deluxe)". Mojo. No. 364. p. 96.
^ Pouncey, Edwin (May 9, 1992). "Crowes' Feat". NME. p. 75. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
^ Webb, Peter Thomas (January 9, 2024). "The Black Crowes' 1992 Album Is Remastered". PopMatters. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
^ Curtis, Gregory (June 25, 1992). "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion". Rolling Stone. No. 633. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
^ Collis, Andrew (July 1992). "Southern Fried". Select. No. 25. p. 70.
^ Deusner, Stephen (2023). "The Black Crowes: The Southern Harmony & Musical Companion: Super Deluxe Limited Edition". Uncut. No. 320, Review of the Year 2023. pp. 34–36.
^ Christgau, Robert (December 1, 1992). "Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
^ Rensen, Michael (2005). Best of Rock & Metal - Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten (in German). Rock Hard. p. 16. ISBN 3-89880-517-4.
^ "Guitar World's (Readers Choice) Greatest 100 Guitar Albums Of All Time". Chud.com. August 13, 2006. Archived from the original on May 26, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
^ "The Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion". Discogs. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
^ Alex Gyde, ed. (2003). Practising Popular Music (pdf). 12th Biennial IASPM-International Conference Montreal 2003. Geoff Stahl. p. 205. Retrieved August 22, 2019. the women backing vocalists are credited in the liner notes as "Barbara and Taj,"
^ "Australiancharts.com – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^ "Austriancharts.at – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2150". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^ "Charts.nz – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^ "Swisscharts.com – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
^ "The Black Crowes Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1992". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1993". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1992 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
^ "Canadian album certifications – Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion". Music Canada.
^ "New Zealand album certifications – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
^ "American album certifications – The Black Crowes – Southern Harmony and Musical Companion". Recording Industry Association of America.

[RS_2004-1] Kemp, Mark (2004). "The Black Crowes". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 75–76. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.

[2] "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. April 18, 1992. p. 25.

[3] "Great Rock Discography, 2004 edition". p. 143.

[4] "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. September 5, 1992. p. 21.

[5] "Great Rock Discography, 2004 edition". p. 143.

[6] Chris Ford (May 12, 2015). "23 Years Ago: The Black Crowes Release 'The Southern Harmony + Musical Companion'". Diffuser.fm.

[7] Sendra, Tim. "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion – The Black Crowes". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2024.

[8] Altman, Billy (May 22, 1992). "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion". Entertainment Weekly. No. 119. Retrieved May 30, 2024.

[9] Jeffries, Neil (May 9, 1992). "True companion". Kerrang!. No. 391. p. 15.

[10] Mulvey, John (March 2024). "The Black Crowes: The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (Super Deluxe)". Mojo. No. 364. p. 96.

[11] Pouncey, Edwin (May 9, 1992). "Crowes' Feat". NME. p. 75. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved May 30, 2024.

[12] Webb, Peter Thomas (January 9, 2024). "The Black Crowes' 1992 Album Is Remastered". PopMatters. Retrieved May 30, 2024.

[13] Curtis, Gregory (June 25, 1992). "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion". Rolling Stone. No. 633. Retrieved May 30, 2024.

[14] Collis, Andrew (July 1992). "Southern Fried". Select. No. 25. p. 70.

[15] Deusner, Stephen (2023). "The Black Crowes: The Southern Harmony & Musical Companion: Super Deluxe Limited Edition". Uncut. No. 320, Review of the Year 2023. pp. 34–36.

[16] Christgau, Robert (December 1, 1992). "Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. Retrieved May 30, 2024.

[17] Rensen, Michael (2005). Best of Rock & Metal - Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten (in German). Rock Hard. p. 16. ISBN 3-89880-517-4.

[18] "Guitar World's (Readers Choice) Greatest 100 Guitar Albums Of All Time". Chud.com. August 13, 2006. Archived from the original on May 26, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2014.

[19] "The Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion". Discogs. Retrieved March 4, 2019.

[20] Alex Gyde, ed. (2003). Practising Popular Music (pdf). 12th Biennial IASPM-International Conference Montreal 2003. Geoff Stahl. p. 205. Retrieved August 22, 2019. the women backing vocalists are credited in the liner notes as "Barbara and Taj,"

[ac_Australia_The_Black_Crowes-21] "Australiancharts.com – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.

[ac_Austria_The_Black_Crowes-22] "Austriancharts.at – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.

[group=-23] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2150". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 20, 2021.

[ac_Netherlands_The_Black_Crowes-24] "Dutchcharts.nl – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.

[FINI-25] Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.

[ac_Germany_The_Black_Crowes-26] "Offiziellecharts.de – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 20, 2021.

[ac_New_Zealand_The_Black_Crowes-27] "Charts.nz – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.

[ac_Norway_The_Black_Crowes-28] "Norwegiancharts.com – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.

[ac_Sweden_The_Black_Crowes-29] "Swedishcharts.com – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.

[ac_Switzerland_The_Black_Crowes-30] "Swisscharts.com – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2021.

[ac_UK2_-31] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 18, 2022.

[ac_Billboard200_The_Black_Crowes-32] "The Black Crowes Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2022.

[33] "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1992". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved January 18, 2022.

[34] "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2022.

[35] "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1993". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved January 18, 2022.

[AustraliaBlack_CrowesThe_Southern_Harmony_and_Musical_CompanionalbumCertRef-36] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1992 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.

[CanadaBlack_CrowesThe_Southern_Harmony_and_Musical_CompanionalbumCertRef-37] "Canadian album certifications – Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion". Music Canada.

[New_ZealandThe_Black_CrowesThe_Southern_Harmony_and_Musical_CompanionalbumCertRef-38] "New Zealand album certifications – The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.

[United_StatesThe_Black_CrowesSouthern_Harmony_and_Musical_CompanionalbumCertRef-39] "American album certifications – The Black Crowes – Southern Harmony and Musical Companion". Recording Industry Association of America.

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v t e The Black Crowes
Chris Robinson Rich Robinson Sven Pipien Steve Gorman Johnny Colt Jeff Cease Eddie Harsch Marc Ford Audley Freed Greg Rzab Andy Hess Rob Clores Adam MacDougall Luther Dickinson Jackie Greene
Studio albums	Shake Your Money Maker The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion Amorica Three Snakes and One Charm By Your Side Lions Warpaint Before the Frost...Until the Freeze Croweology Happiness Bastards
Live albums	Sho' Nuff Live Live at the Greek Live Freak 'n' Roll...Into the Fog Warpaint Live Wiser for the Time
EPs	1972
Video albums	For Those About to Rock: Monsters in Moscow
Compilations	Sho' Nuff Greatest Hits 1990–1999: A Tribute to a Work in Progress... The Lost Crowes
Singles	"Jealous Again" "Hard to Handle" "Twice As Hard" "She Talks to Angels" "Remedy" "Sting Me" "Wiser Time" "Blackberry" "Only a Fool" "Soul Singing"
Related articles	Discography Members Brothers of a Feather: Live at the Roxy Chris Robinson Brotherhood The Magpie Salute Trigger Hippy

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