The Black Crowes Share Previously Unreleased Song, “Charming Mess”

Amidst all the insanity of 2020 I completely forgot that the Black Crowes had a massive reunion tour booked that obviously didn’t happen. I’m not saying I would’ve sprung for what was surely an outrageously expensive ticket, but who knows, maybe? And it would’ve been fun to read about and see photos/videos either way. The tour was rescheduled for this coming summer and is still on as of this moment, but we’ll have to wait and see whether it happens or not (I’m betting no, although betting in Canada could be different).

The tour was intended to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band’s landmark 1990 album, Shake Your Money Maker, so fittingly The Black Crowes are planning a massive 4LP / 3CD box set reissue of the album. The set includes the original album, remastered; three never-before-heard studio recordings; two previously unreleased demos from the band’s early incarnation as Mr. Crowe’s Garden; B-sides; a 14-song unreleased concert recorded in their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia in December 1990; reproductions of an early Mr. Crowe’s Garden show flyer, setlist and tour laminate; a four-inch Crowes patch; and a 20-page book with liner notes by David Fricke.

The band has now shared one of the previously unheard recordings, “Charming Mess,” along with a music video featuring archival footage from the era. The song was originally slated to be the album’s first single, but ended up being cut entirely from the tracklisting; quite a pivot, and I’m left wondering why (not that things didn’t work out quite well as is).

Have a listen to “Charming Mess” below.

The Shake Your Money Maker anniversary box comes out February 26; pre-order here.