The Black Crowes debut album was named after a song that was not on it!
Formed in 1984, American rock band The Black Crowes took seven years before releasing their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, in 1991. The album, which featured a mix of covers and original songs, was named after the Elmore James track Shake Your Money Maker—ironically, a song that didn’t even appear on the album, although the band did perform it live at the time.
Among the tracks included was a cover of Otis Redding’s Hard to Handle, which became their biggest hit. The Black Crowes’ version had a different arrangement and key compared to the original, creating confusion for cover bands, as I’ve personally experienced. I’ve often found myself on stage with half the band playing the soulful version in Bb, while the other half rocks out to the Crowes’ rendition in B. It’s always a challenge to switch between versions without the audience noticing, especially when the band is formed just an hour before the gig!
Another noteworthy track from the album was She Talks To Angels, which, despite reaching #1, didn’t quite capture the public’s long-term attention. A glance at Spotify numbers shows that Hard to Handle still holds twice the amount of plays, even after four decades.
Shake Your Money Maker went on to sell five million copies, establishing The Black Crowes as a globally recognized band. Their follow-up album, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (1992), featured the outstanding Remedy, which became a chart-topping hit in both the U.S. and the U.K. In my opinion, it’s the band’s best tune. Since then, The Black Crowes have continued releasing albums, but none have reached the same level of success as Hard to Handle or Remedy.
The Black Crowes Tunes | Related Pages
Hard To Handle | Chords + Lyrics
Learn how to play Hard To Handle by Otis Redding + The Black Crowes using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, chord charts, and the original recordings.
| Bb7 | Bb7 (A7 Bb7 Eb6) | Bb7 | Bb7 (A7 Bb7 Eb6) |
Baby, here I am, I’m a man on the scene…
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