Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
1990
Album Summary
Shake Your Money Maker (also stylized as The Black Crowes Present: $hake Your Money Maker) is the debut studio album by American rock band the Black Crowes, released on February 13, 1990 on Def American Recordings. It is the only album by the band to feature guitarist Jeff Cease. The album is named after a classic blues song written by Elmore James. The Black Crowes have played the song live many times over the years, but it is not included on this album. Shake Your Money Maker peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, and two of its singles, "Hard to Handle" and "She Talks to Angels", reached No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. "Jealous Again", "Twice As Hard" and "Seeing Things" were also charting singles in the United States. Shake Your Money Maker is the Black Crowes' best selling album, having sold more than 5 million copies.On January 8, 2021, the Black Crowes announced that a 30th anniversary edition of the album would be released on February 26, 2021. The new version contains the original tracks remastered in addition to three previously unreleased songs, outtakes, two demos from the Mr. Crowe's Garden era, and a live performance set recorded in 1990 at Center Stage in Atlanta. Previously unreleased track "Charming Mess" was released on the same day as the announcement.
WikipediaThis album was a breath of fresh air in a period that had hard rock / hair metal being pushed aside by grunge. Along come the Robinson brothers with their blues-base true-rock record.
This was a very important album for me. I bought it right when it released and listened to it constantly. I also saw them on this tour, at a small club in Oakland called The Omni. Sadly, not around any more. They are an amazing live band. I've always loved how loose and bluesy this album is. It definitely deserves to be on this list.
A real classic. This was already one of my favorites. It is full of great roots rock. She Talks to Angels is an all-timer
One of my favorite albums, from one of my favorite groups. Not to mention one of the best debut albums
Safe for Hard to Handle, I had no idea this band was a thing and loved being able to find hard, bluesy rock in the 90's as opposed to having to travel in time to Led Zeppelin.
I enjoyed the Black Crowes when I first heard them in the early '90s. Some of their songs are superb in my opinion, and I think most of my favorite Black Crowes songs are on this album (e.g., Hard To Handle, She Talks To Angels, Jealous Again, Sister Luck, and more). I love the guitar work on this album but I never know if it's Rich Robinson or Jeff Cease I'm hearing when I'm admiring what I hear (like that real sweet bluesy lead in 'Sister Luck'). I know Jeff Cease is named lead guitarist for this album, so I'll give this another couple listens to see what I pick up (no, that's not meant as a guitar pun). I hadn't listened to this album in a very long time - probably decades - and, dang, it really holds up well. Love the rootsy-bluesy-gritty-rock-meets-gospel sounds. Chris Robinson is a really great singer. I would've loved to have seen them in concert when they toured to support this album.
wow, this is a far better album than i remembered... solid, straight-ahead rock and roll
Love this album. Honestly feel it is one of the most underappreciated of the 90s. Absolute classic. 5/5
Amazed. Perhaps not every single track was perfect, but the first one hits so hard and there are lots of good ones scattered throughout the album. Not just the singles. So much so that I went looking for bonus tracks and other albums as soon as this was done and I never have energy for that. This is a keeper for life now.
Fantastic! I didn't think I would like this album much, but I was proved very incorrect. It's a lot of fun. The drums are tight, the vocals are energetic, the guitars are rocking, I like it a lot. "Hard to Handle" is obviously the best known song of the album, but pretty much every song is good too. Very glad I heard it.
Good, solid, slammin' rock and roll! Kind of a surprise 5 stars for me. I knew I liked their songs that I'd heard before, but didn't realize they all came from the same album! Hard to Handle has been one of my favorite rock songs since their version hit. Jealous Again & Twice as Hard are nearly as good, with great edge, wonderful hooks and tight playing. She Talks to Angels show a bit of a softer side, but still packs a punch. Even the lesser songs on this album show off the strength of the ensemble, with the fantastic organ sounds bringing a feel of the best of The Band or Procol Harum. This album, simply, rocks and will be in my collection in regular rotation, esp. for road trips with the windows down!
Hit after hit after hit after hit: Twice as Hard, Jealous Again, She Talks to Angels & the incomparable Hard to Handle. What a debut album for the kings of southern rock. The instrumentation and harmonies and laid back, summer saturday BBQ groove of this album gets an A+ from me. Need this one on vinyl!
Decent southern rock. Not genre defining, but solid. Love the voice, good hooks.
This album is full of typical bar rock. Southern band raised on the Stones, Humble Pie, and Otis Redding. Nice to listen to, sing along to, listen to while downing a few beers at your local watering hole, maybe gaining enough courage to go on stage and karaoke to one of these tunes. Mostly, this album could be indistinguishable from any other southern bar band album, although I do love Chris Robinson’s voice. The songs are familiar feeling in a way that made them feel like Insta-classics. Seeing Things is the bluesiest track. I love the song, but I don’t love Robinson singing it. The Otis Redding cover Hard to Handle fits his voice well and I recall it being a big hit. Thick n Thin is a swinging bop. She Talks to Angels has a special place in my heart forever, and this album gets a whole star just for that song alone. I’ve both been that girl and I know that girl. Overall, solid album.
I legitimately forgot this album and band existed. It's weird how some bands stick around in the Zeitgeist while others fade completely despite having similar track records. The album starts out really strong, but then the songs start to sound a bit samey. It's good, but it fades into the background because there's not a lot of tempo variation. There are some slower songs, but I can't say that I'm terribly impressed with songs like Seeing Things. Some of the other songs are good but start to feel like cultural appropriation (lookin at you, Hard to Handle. Talks to Angels is a good song that feels more original. 3/5
I was too cool for this album when it came out but picked it up in the mid 2000s. Now it reminds me of Napster and bud light, both of which are gone from my life, but this album lives on.
“The Black Crowes are to the early Rolling Stones what Christian Slater is to the young Jack Nicholson: a self-conscious imitation, but fine enough in its own right.”
This album was fine, but I don't have a ton to say about it. It was probably refreshing at the time to hear a throwback to music from the early 70's (got a lot of Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones vibes from the Black Crowes) so I can see why it was successful; however, the band didn't seem to take many chances to make themselves unique within the blues-rock genre. Interestingly enough, I feel like this group could have really only succeeded in that very specific year of 1990: this probably was a breath of fresh air in the aftermath of 1980s synth and glam rock, but I feel it would come off as boring or date the following year when grunge and alternative took over the scene. Their biggest song, Hard to Handle, and the opening track, Twice as Hard, were the standout tracks to me upon the first listen, and while the rest of the songs are solid, they do kind of blend together by the end of the record. Not a bad album by any means, but it ultimately did not give me a reason to come back. 2.5/5.
I had no idea the sound recording in town halls could be so good. Who's responsible for capturing this 70's country-rock tribute act? Where was it recorded? Has anyone tracked down members of the audience to get their take on this historic moment? Surely these aren't originals. Not in 1990.
The Wolfmother paradox - the ability to imitate your influences with such perfection that the final product is devoid of any personality or imagination. What should be an oil painting becomes a blueprint. His mumbling and at times incoherent singing is actually kind of endearing to the point of hilarity, especially on Hard to Handle - so fun to sing along with. (also my album highlight, verging on perfect rock song). Five stars for making me think about it so much
Qué lástima no haberlos conocido antes. Aunque es innegable el sonido noventero que a treinta años de distancia es nostálgico, de todas maneras es un disco entretenido y con toques de frescura. Me gustaron las voces, las guitarras e incluso los temas oscurones típicos de la época (como en She Talks To Angels). Y además, cortito y al grano.
Gran, gran, descubrimiento. Rock sureño con mucho poder, buenas letras y muy buenos arreglos. Canciones donde pisan el acelerador combinadas con algunas baladas donde demuestran que también ahí el resultado es excelente. 10 canciones, 43 minutos, creo que no tiene un segundo de desperdicio. 4.5 que sube a 5 porque la primera escuchada sí me voló los sesos. Songs: Sister Luck, Twice As Hard, She Talks To Angels, Stare It Cold
Really surprised here. I have always loved the Black Crowes on the radio but I also always asked myself whether they were just a band with a bunch of good singles. I have never listened to any of their albums cover to cover. Even before I started listening to this album I looked at the track listing and thought whoa. That was the surprise - this album looked stacked. It did not disappoint. Big sound, lethal guitar work, heavy southern and blues rock (honkytonk piano to boot), great vocals. Turns out most of the songs I love from these guys (Twice as Hard, Jealous Again, Hard to Handle) are on this album. And if I ever get good enough to play guitar in front of people I will play She Talks to Angels - my singing also sucks but if I can pick & pluck my way through that song it won't matter. A true classic (can't believe Rich Robinson wrote that at 15). The non-hits were just as good (Sister Luck, Think N Thin, and Struttin Blues were particularly good). So I have my answer - they were amazing on one album. I still say they were largely average the rest of their career (second album was alright). But THIS album! A beauty.
The Black Crowes are a band I drifted away from and then came back to (Stone Temple Pilots is another). Their hits really "hit" but their b-sides and album tracks are middling. But the first album is very solid. I recently picked up the anniversary edition (if you can, try to get the Target version. It is basically the music in the box set without all the extra crap, trinkets and tchotchkes.) It's funny how everyone assumes "Hard To Handle" was a Crowes original. I never understood why they couldn't play that one with Page (they couldn't do any Black Crowes material on that fantastic album they did because of recording rights, but "H2H" could have been done...?) Although my favorite track of theirs is not on here, this is a very good (if not great) album. Solid all the way through.
This album was so good! I liked all the tracks, especially She Talks To Angels.
I recall the first time hearing about the Black Crowes was from my mom. She said “I read an article about a band I think you would like. They supposedly play their instruments - not a lot of synthetic stuff…” Later that week I saw the CD highlighted as a “guaranteed staff pick” at a record shop in Rosedale, MN. I bought the disc and have been a fan ever since. Every song on this album is at minimum good, and a lot of the are great. Apart from the many hits, I’m also a fan of the guitars on “Sister Luck”. Songwriting is really good throughout - especially on “She Talks to Angels”. It was many years down the road before I realized “Hard to Handle” was a cover tune. There have been a lot of good Crowes albums since this debut release, but overall, this is still their best effort.
I’ve always loved this one. Dirty southern rock/blues, which more often than not comes right out and slaps you in the face. This one has its share of hits, which I can never fault an album for. Most of them have been played to death, but they support an album that is very well put together. Great debut album and one of my favorites. Put this on in the background on a summer day outside… perfect.
This is one of my top 20 favorite albums of all time. The songs just drip with nostalgia for me. Love it!
Not at all what I was expecting but really enjoyed it and will Listen to more by this band.
I love this album so much. My girlfriend was a huge fan and talked me and four buddies into seeing them in '88 at the 300 seat Greek theater in Tri-cities Washington. They opened for Jellyfish. One of the best shows I've ever seen. This album has been a mainstay in my collection ever since. I've seen them 4 times over the last 30 years and am seeing them again in August. Great album, great band.
Fantastic album. Not a bad song on it. Bluesy vibes and a little bit soulful.
Belongs in the Pantheon of Southern Rock with Skynyrd and the Allman Bros.
Twice As Hard was really good, I like the guitar tone a lot. Jealous Again was good as well, I like the inclusion of the sort of jazzy piano on this song. Sister Luck you can definitely hear the “country” coming through a bit, not in a bad way, but it somewhat reminds me of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Could I’ve Been So Blind was again liked, nothing new to say, same reasons as before. Seeing Things was very reminiscent of Muse’s “Falling Down”, the sort of soft country, I really like it. Hard To Handle is somewhat familiar, very good, feels a but Led Zeppelin, mot much but a wee bit, has that classic rock feel. Thick ‘N’ Thin was really enjoyable, made me want to move, really liked the guitar work. She Talks To Angels was a nice acoustic ballad, literally the only gripe is the tuning meaning I can’t learn it. Struttin’ Blues again, highly enjoyable, would love to learn all this stuff but nothing is in a normal tuning. Stare It Cold I would argue was the worst song on the album, and I still really enjoyed it. This entire album was great, apparently it’s 43 minutes long, and if so then I must’ve loved it because it was the fastest 43 minutes of my life. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anybody. 4.9/5
Such a beautiful album. She Talks to Angels will always be one of my favorites of all time.
I love this album. I remember thinking when it first came out that it had a distinct Rolling Stones feel. I still hear that influence but I think it stands on its own as a great American rock and roll record, plus it has aged very, very well.
This is actually the last album I have purchased on CD. I had a rental car through work in 2011 and it didn’t have a auxiliary port and this was before Bluetooth was standard. I needed some music so found this at Best Buy.
I haven’t listened to the full album before, only heard the hits. The entire album is outstanding.
Listening to this album for the first time in years I was struck by how much I liked the production. It just sounds great—clean and full but not too slick. I was surprised it’s even 45 minutes because it’s full of great songs but it never drags for me. What a fun record.
Exceptional launch into the rest of their career. “Hard to Handle” gets all the notice here, as their first single, but one should never overlook “She Talks to Angels”, a window into the future of their songwriting chops
Should have listened to this a long time ago. Solid rock! Great album!
Aw, I love this one from my walk-man days. Great bluesy, southern rock sound.
I can't remember the last time that I listened to the album...and it is possible that I never did listen from beginning to end in one sitting before today. It was great! The blues-rock hit just the right spot!
Without a doubt, the Crowes BEST WORK. SEEING THINGS and SHE TALK'S TO ANGELS are powerful. I listen to these two practically every day for my sing along songs. Several more really good tracks on here. Twice As Hard, Jealous Again, Hard To Handle are a pleasure to hear, but I just Can't Get Enough of SEEING THINGS!
Aside from the popular songs on this album I never really gave them a good listen, but this album was decent. Definitely have to listen to some more of their work.
What a lame album title, but it pleasantly surprised me! I really wasn't expecting to enjoy it based off the genre- but it was really solid! "Struttin' Blues", "Hand to Handle", "Twice as Hard" were pretty solid imo!!
Toe tapping good time. loved the big southern rock guitars. Great melodies and singing.
This album still holds up, but it might be the amount of memories I have with this playing in the car on road trips.
Surprised I hadn't really heard of them before - and surprised by how much I liked it! Maybe just nostalgic for 90s Georgia summers
One of my fav groups. 4.5 because I know what will come from this album.
Okay, Schwanzmusik schon, aber ich mochte und mag das gern. Fand ich damals schon eine gelungene Wiederkehr dessen, was ich mir so unter musikalischer 70ies-Rock-Ästhetik für Anfänger zurechtsimuliert hatte. Von 3.6 aufgerundet "I'm never afraid of losing faith in you" ist außerdem eine ziemlich gute Zeile.