Black Love (The Afghan Whigs album)

Black Love is the fifth album by the band the Afghan Whigs, released in March 1996.[5] It was released by Elektra Records/Sub Pop in the US and by Mute in Europe, and was produced by Greg Dulli. Black Love was preceded by the single "Honky's Ladder" and followed by the single "Going to Town" (also released as the Bonnie & Clyde EP in the US).

For the American TV series, see #BlackLove. For the Carlos Garnett album, see Black Love (Carlos Garnett album).
Black Love
Studio album by
the Afghan Whigs
ReleasedMarch 12, 1996
RecordedAugust–September 1995
StudioBear Creek Studio, Woodinville, Washington and Robert Lang Studios, Shoreline, Washington[1]
Genre
Length51:56
LabelElektra
ProducerGreg Dulli
The Afghan Whigs chronology
Gentlemen
(1993)		 Black Love
(1996)		 1965
(1998)
Singles from Black Love
  1. "Honky's Ladder"
    Released: February 20, 1996
  2. "Going to Town"
    Released: July 22, 1996

Prior to this album's release, lead singer Greg Dulli seriously explored producing a movie in the film noir genre, but despite his optioning at least one book, the movie was never made. Dulli's ideas for a soundtrack led to the songs recorded on this album.

The album was reissued on November 25, 2016, on Rhino Records, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its initial release. The 20th anniversary reissue was released as a double CD and triple LP, and includes nine previously-unreleased tracks.[6]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Chicago Tribune[8]
Christgau's Consumer Guide(1-star Honorable Mention)[9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[10]
Entertainment WeeklyC[11]
Los Angeles Times[12]
Rolling Stone[2]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide[13]
San Francisco Chronicle[14]
Spin8/10[15]

Upon its initial release, Black Love received mixed reviews from critics, who generally considered it inferior to its predecessor Gentlemen.[16] In recent years, the album has been regarded as one of the best albums in the band's oeuvre, with Stereogum labeling it their best album in a "Worst to Best" list.[17]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Greg Dulli except: "Double Day" composed by Greg Dulli and Rick McCollum.

  1. "Crime Scene Part One" – 5:59
  2. "My Enemy" – 3:10
  3. "Double Day" – 4:40
  4. "Blame, Etc." – 4:11
  5. "Step into the Light" – 3:40
  6. "Going to Town" – 3:16
  7. "Honky's Ladder" – 4:15
  8. "Night by Candlelight" – 3:40
  9. "Bulletproof" – 6:37
  10. "Summer's Kiss" – 3:55
  11. "Faded" – 8:25

Charts
Chart (1996) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[18] 41
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 38
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[20] 35
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[21] 23
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[22] 37
US Billboard 200[23] 79

Personnel

Band

  • Greg Dulli – lead vocals & guitars (1–11), drums (5), machine (6), percussion (7,8), timpani (8), sleigh bells (11)
  • Rick McCollum – guitars (1–4, 6–11), pedal steel (5), hammered dulcimer (8)
  • John Curley – bass (1–7, 9–11), Arp (1,4), guitar (3), vocals (4)
  • Paul Buchignani – drums (1–4, 6,7, 9–11), percussion (4,7,9), congas (4)

Additional Musicians

  • Harold Chichester – organ (1,4,9,11), clavinet (4,6), Fender Rhodes (5), piano (9,11), vocals (11)
  • Doug Falsetti – percussion (1), vocals (3,4,7,9,11)
  • Shawn Smith – vocals (6,8)
  • Jeffrey Reed – effects (1)
  • Barbara Hunter – cellos (4,6,8,11)
  • Jeff Powell – vocals (4,9)

Production

  • Greg Dulli – production; mixing
  • Jeff Powell – engineering; mixing
  • John Curley – assistant engineering; location recording
  • Jeffrey Reed, Ryan Hadlock, Aaron Warner, Joe Hadlock, Don Fawcett, Erik Flettrich, Dubby – assistant engineers
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering

Design

  • Jeff Kleinsmith – art direction
  • Danny Clinch – photography

References
  1. "The Afghan Whigs – Black Love (1996, CD)". Discogs. 1996.
  2. Strauss, Neil (February 2, 1998). "Afghan Whigs: Black Love : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 18, 2007. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  3. Stone, Aug (October 24, 2016). "This Time We Go A Little Lower: The Afghan Whigs' Black Love 25 Years On". The Quietus. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  4. Lim, Dennis (November 1998). "The Afghan Whigs – 1965". Spin. Vol. 14, no. 11. SPIN Media LLC. p. 16. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  5. The Afghan Whigs - Black Love Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-10-27
  6. Sodomsky, Sam (October 17, 2016). "The Afghan Whigs Announce Black Love 20th Anniversary Reissue". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  7. Deming, Mark. "Black Love – The Afghan Whigs". AllMusic. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  8. Kot, Greg (April 4, 1996). "Afghan Whigs Black Love (Elektra)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  9. Christgau, Robert (October 15, 2000). "Afghan Whigs". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan. p. 2. ISBN 9780312245603.
  10. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 2011. ISBN 9780857125958.
  11. Browne, David (March 22, 1996). "Black Love". Entertainment Weekly.
  12. Cromelin, Richard (March 17, 1996). "*** THE AFGHAN WHIGS, "Black Love", Elektra". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  13. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. pp. 9. ISBN 9780743201698.
  14. Hamlin, Jesse (March 10, 1996). "POP CDS – No 'Love' Lost for Afghan Whigs". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  15. Hunter, James (April 1, 1996). "Records". Spin. SPIN Media LLC. pp. 111–2.
  16. Garrett, Jon (June 6, 2004). "The Afghan Whigs: Black Love". PopMatters. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  17. Schafer, Joseph (August 12, 2014). "The Afghan Whigs Albums From Worst To Best". Stereogum. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  18. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  19. "Swedishcharts.com – THE AFGHAN WHIGS – BLACK LOVE". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  20. "Charts.nz – THE AFGHAN WHIGS – BLACK LOVE". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  21. "Ultratop.be – AFGHAN WHIGS – BLACK LOVE" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  22. "Ultratop.be – AFGHAN WHIGS – BLACK LOVE" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  23. "The Afghan Whigs Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
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