Chris Robinson Brotherhood

Chris Robinson Brotherhood was an American blues rock band formed in 2011 by Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson while the Crowes were on hiatus. The original lineup consisted of Robinson (vocals, guitar), Neal Casal (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mark Dutton (bass guitar, backing vocals), George Sluppick (drums), and Adam MacDougall (keyboards). Since 2015, the band had undergone various personnel changes with Robinson and Casal remaining the only constant members. Following the death of Neal Casal in August 2019, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood announced it would disband.

Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Chris Robinson fronting the Brotherhood at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, CA, April 2014
Chris Robinson fronting the Brotherhood at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, CA, April 2014
Background information
Also known asCRB
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active2011–2019
LabelsSilver Arrow[1]
Past membersChris Robinson
Neal Casal
George Sluppick
Mark Dutton
Adam MacDougall
Tony Leone
Jeff Hill
Joel Robinow
Websitechrisrobinsonbrotherhood.com

History

edit

Formation and Big Moon Ritual

edit

Chris Robinson Brotherhood began as an experiment but became a 'band' during their California residency tour.[2] The original intention, according to Robinson, was to "have a local L.A. band, just play in California, see where the music takes us and have a good time."[3] They then embarked on a 118 date North American tour in 2011.[4] Robinson names Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, who sat in with the band during CRB's run at the Great American Music Hall, as both musical inspirations and friends.[2] As well as Robinson, the band features fellow Black Crowes member Adam MacDougall, Ryan Adams collaborator Neal Casal, bassist Mark Dutton, and drummer George Sluppick. Robinson describes the Brotherhood as a "farm-to-table psychedelic band".[3]

Chris Robinson Brotherhood released a version of "Blue Suede Shoes" (written by Carl Perkins) b/w a live version "Girl, I Love You" (written by Al Bell and Eddie Floyd) for Record Store Day on April 21, 2012.[5] The CD version also features a cover of the Jimmy Reed song, "Bright Lights Big City".[6]

The band's debut album, Big Moon Ritual, was recorded at Sunset Sound Studios, Los Angeles, and was released on June 5, 2012.[4] Chris Robinson suggests that Big Moon Ritual is "not a concept album, but it's very conceptual sonically." He also notes that CRB "isn't the type of band that's going to make a concise four-minute song record" and that they prefer instead to make lengthier compositions.[3]

The Magic Door

edit

Just three months after its predecessor, on September 11, 2012, Chris Robinson Brotherhood's second studio album, The Magic Door, was released. It was recorded at the same time as Big Moon Ritual and features a cover of the Hank Ballard song "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go," which the band has often played live.[7]

"Betty's S.F. Blends, Volume One"

edit

In September 2013, Chris Robinson Brotherhood released an album that featured songs picked by the Grateful Dead's record producer, Betty Cantor-Jackson, which were recorded over five nights in San Francisco. The band played 96 songs altogether and Cantor-Jackson picked the best ones for the album. The album has only been released on vinyl record format, which results in it not being available on CD. The album was called "Betty's S.F. Blends, Volume One". The 5 full shows are also available as separate downloads.[8]

Phosphorescent Harvest

edit

Chris Robinson Brotherhood released its third studio album "Phosphorescent Harvest" on Silver Arrow Records on April 29, 2014. The songs on the album are mostly co-written by Chris Robinson and Neal Casal. Produced by Thom Monahan. FORMATS: 12" Vinyl / CD / Digital Download.

Any Way You Love, We Know How You Feel and EP

edit

Chris Robinson Brotherhood released its fourth studio album Any Way You Love, We Know How You Feel on July 29, 2016, and on November 4, 2016, an EP titled If You Lived Here, You Would Be Home By Now, containing five songs left over from the same sessions.

Barefoot In The Head

edit

The CRB released their fifth studio album Barefoot In The Head in 2017.

Servants of the Sun

edit

Chris Robinson Brotherhood released their sixth studio album, Servants of the Sun, on June 14, 2019. As Robinson notes, he wrote the songs on the new album with the idea that they would definitely be played live. "With our last couple of albums we made songs we knew we probably weren't going to play live," he said. "This time around every one of these songs will fall into the live repertoire."[9]

Personnel

edit
  • Chris Robinson – lead vocals, guitars (2011–2019)
  • Neal Casal – guitars, vocals (2011–2019; his death)
  • Adam MacDougall – keyboards (2011–2019)
  • Mark "Muddy" Dutton – bass guitar, vocals (2011–2016)
  • George Sluppick – drums (2011–2015)
  • Tony Leone – drums (2015–2019)
  • Jeff Hill – bass guitar (2016–2019)
  • Joel Robinow – keyboards (2019)
  • Pete Sears – keyboards (2019)

Discography

edit

Studio albums

edit
Year Album details Peak chart position
US[10][11]
2012 Big Moon Ritual
  • Release date: June 5, 2012
  • Label: Silver Arrow Records
63
The Magic Door
  • Release date: September 11, 2012
  • Label: Silver Arrow Records
98
2014 Phosphorescent Harvest
  • Release date: April 29, 2014
  • Label: Silver Arrow Records
61
2016 Any Way You Love, We Know How You Feel
  • Release date: July 29, 2016
  • Label: Silver Arrow Records
118
If You Lived Here, You Would Be Home by Now
  • Release date: November 4, 2016
  • Label: Silver Arrow Records
2017 Barefoot in the Head
  • Release date: July 21, 2017
  • Label: Silver Arrow Records
2019 Servants of the Sun
  • Release date: June 14, 2019
  • Label: Silver Arrow Records

Live albums

edit
Year Album details
2013 Betty's Blends Volume 1
  • Release date: November 24, 2013
  • Label: Silver Arrow Records
  • Format: 12", red/white marble
2015 Betty's Blends Volume 2
  • Release date: June 2, 2015
  • Label: Silver Arrow Records
  • Format: 12"
2017 Betty's Blends, Vol. 3: Self-Rising, Southern Blends
  • Release date: May 5, 2017
  • Label: Silver Arrow Records
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download, online streaming
2018 Betty's Midwestern Magic Blends
  • Release date: November 16, 2018
  • Label: Silver Arrow Records
  • Format: LP, digital download

Singles

edit
Year Single details
2012 "Blue Suede Shoes"/"Girl I Love You"
  • Release date: April 21, 2012
  • Label: Silver Arrow Records
  • Formats: 7", CD
2013 "Older Guys"/"That's How Strong My Love Is"
  • Release date: 2013
  • Label: Silver Arrow Records
  • Formats:7", MP3/FLAC

References

edit
  1. ^ "The Chris Robinson Brotherhood – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "QA: Chris Robinson on His New Band, Bonding With Phil Lesh". Rolling Stone. May 30, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Chris Robinson Talks "Big Moon Ritual," The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Books, and Looks Back on The Black Crowes' "Amorica"". artistdirect.com. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Chris Robinson Reveals Post Crowes Project". Planet Rock. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  5. ^ "Chris Robinson Brotherhood, The – Blue Suede Shoes / Girl I Love You". discogs.com. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  6. ^ "Chris Robinson Brotherhood, The – Blue Suede Shoes / Girl I Love You / Bright Lights Big City". discogs.com. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  7. ^ "Chris Robinson Unveils Second Album In Six Months". Planet Rock. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  8. ^ "nugs.net presents LIVECHRISROBINSONBROTHERHOOD | Download MP3 FLAC". Livechrisrobinsonbrotherhood.com. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  9. ^ Ferris, Jedd (March 26, 2019). "Chris Robinson Brotherhood Evoke Flying Burritos on 'Comin' Round the Mountain'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  10. ^ "Chris Robinson – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  11. ^ "Billboard 200: The Week of August 20, 2006". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
edit