The Black Crowes are no strangers to rocking out. But for their latest album, Happiness Bastards, they opted for a decidedly different approach than the meticulous studio sessions favored by prog-rock legends like Pink Floyd.
In a recent interview, the Robinson brothers, Chris and Rich, explained how they captured the raw energy of their live performances in the studio, recording the entire album in a mere two and a half weeks. Their secret? Spontaneity.
“Plug in and play… We had most of the forms [of the songs], but it’s a band. We go in, we play,” Rich explained. This flies in the face of bands known for crafting note-perfect studio recordings, but for the Black Crowes, it’s all about capturing the magic of the moment.
“We’re Not Trying To Make Dark Side of the Moon“
Chris Robinson chimed in after his brother’s explanation of their recording process for Happiness Bastards. He elaborated on their creative approach, revealing a spirit of experimentation and spending time just playing around with the songs. “There was a lot of songs that we [said], ‘Try it twice as fast.’ ‘Okay.’ ‘Try it without this part’,” Chris said.
This approach stands in stark contrast to bands known for spending months crafting meticulously layered studio recordings. Chris emphasized the Black Crowes’ distinct intention. “We’re not trying to make Dark Side of the Moon. We don’t need to be in there for six months,” he explained.
“We’re making a real — hopefully — a soulful and emotional connection, spontaneous and alive,” the Crowes frontman added.
Building the Songs for “Happiness Bastards”
The creative process behind Happiness Bastards began with Rich laying the groundwork. Taking advantage of his home studio, he recorded initial ideas and musical sketches, sending them across the country to Chris in Los Angeles.
This remote collaboration allowed Chris to build upon the foundations, adding his own songwriting contributions and returning the pieces to Rich. As Rich describes it, they assembled the album “like a jigsaw puzzle,” piecing together the musical fragments until a cohesive whole emerged.
Happiness Bastards, a 10-track collection, marks a significant return for the Black Crowes. It’s their first studio album since reuniting in 2019, and their first offering of entirely new material since 2009’s Before the Frost…Until the Freeze. Currently, the band is promoting the album on their European tour, with a stint as special guests on Aerosmith’s Peace Out tour awaiting them upon their return to the United States.