SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JIMMY PAGE & THE BLACK CROWES – LIVE AT THE GREEK (25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)

JIMMY PAGE & THE BLACK CROWES
LIVE AT THE GREEK (25^th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)
SILVER ARROW RECORDS

In 1999, Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes took over The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles for a string of legendary performances. The performances were recorded and released for a double album, Live At The Greek, the following year. Now, to celebrate 25 years of the iconic live album, Page and The Black Crowes have returned with Live At The Greek 25^th Anniversary Edition, a massive three-disc six-LP collection that features an additional 16, never before heard cuts from the original performances.

Live At The Greek opens with a trio of Zeppelin numbers: “Celebration Day”, “Custard Pie”, and “Sick Again”. The band sounds incredible. Page’s signature tone and style is unmistakable, and The Black Crowes do a fantastic job delivering a performance that mirrors that of classic Zeppelin. Lead vocalist Chris Robinson in particular takes on the daunting role of filling the shoes of Robert Plant, and does so in a fashion that is true to himself while still being greatly influenced by Plant, making for a stellar performance. Just like the original live record, Page and The Black Crowes’ performance is centred on a series of blues covers – Elmore James’ “Shake Your Money Maker”, Muddy Waters’ “You Shook Me”, Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh, Well”, B.B. King’s “Woke Up This Morning”, and The Yardbirds’ “Shapes Of Things” – alongside a selection of Zeppelin hits and deep cuts – “What Is And What Should Never Be”, “In My Time Of Dying”, “The Lemon Song”, and “Whole Lotta Love”. Additionally, for the 25^th anniversary edition, “Misty Mountain Hop”, “Your Time Is Gonna Come”, and “Bring It On Home”, among others, make elevating appearances among the track listing.

What mainly separates the original live album with the current reissue is the inclusion of originals from The Black Crowes which were entirely absent from 2000’s Live At The Greek. Songs like “No Speak No Slave”, “Hard To Handle” (an Otis Redding cover they popularised), “Remedy”, and “She Talks To Angels” seemingly do the impossible by standing side by side with Page’s work, all without dipping in excitement and intensity. Through this, the songwriting behind The Black Crowes shines bright, and Page, by taking the occasional solo, brings a distinctive flair to their work. Concluding with a series of tracks from soundcheck, the album comes to a close with “Jam (Soundcheck)”, a 10-min performance that appears entirely improvised, making for a definite highlight amid an impressive live album.

Live At The Greek remains among the greatest live albums ever. This performance simply oozes a sense of power, style, and sleaze reminiscent of the early ‘70s. By including additional tracks, particularly those of The Black Crowes, not only do we get a rare snapshot of a latter-career Page outside the Zeppelin framework, but we can see the relevance and power that The Black Crowes brought to an era of rock long gone and long before their time; ultimately demonstrating a level of timelessness to the band and this performance, making Live At The Greek 25^th Anniversary Edition an absolute essential.

Jimmy Page Links

The Black Crowes Links