Love & Gravity

Love & Gravity was released following the 1995 hit album Strong Enough, which continued the success of the debut album BlackHawk. The band recorded the album after receiving TNN's "Star of Tomorrow" award at the network's Music City News Country Awards in 1995 and following a performance at Farm Aid in front of 50,000 fans later that year.

Work on the album began in 1996 as the band toured with Wynonna and made their debut at the Grand Ole Opry early in the year. While recording, the group was nominated as best band by the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. Near the end of the year, BlackHawk learned that their debut album had reached double platinum status.[1]

Love & Gravity would go on to be released on July 29, 1997, under the Arista Nashville label. Upon release, lead singer Henry Paul described the album as a "risky" move for the band, alluding to its contemporary country sound and increased band participation in the songwriting. Paul remarked that the risk of the album was made to "make the kind of progress in our careers that we hope to make." He stated that songs with more "sociological value" were seeping into the band's repertoire to mix with radio hits.[2]

The band would go on to promote the album following its release. A performance in front of a crowd of 5,000 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, in August 1997, was documented by the media. During the event, 1,000 signed copies of the album were distributed, free of charge.[3] On October 18, the band made an appearance at Legion Field prior to an Alabama University college football contest against Tennessee University. BlackHawk performed the Star Spangled Banner at the forum.[4]

The album produced two singles, "Hole in My Heart" and "Postmarked Birmingham". Both reached the top 40 on the Billboard charts, but neither peaked as high as the band's singles from its previous two albums.[5]

Seven of the eleven tracks were written in part by a member of BlackHawk. The exceptions included: "Will You Be There (In the Morning)", a cover of the 1993 hit song by the rock band Heart; "Postmarked Birmingham", which featured the introduction of renowned songwriter Phil Vassar; "Hold Me Harmless" composed by songwriter Roger Wojahn; and the cover of Andrew Gold's 1977 pop hit "Lonely Boy."

Following the release of the album, BlackHawk was honored as the "CMT Showcase Artist" for August 1997.[2]

Reviews of the album were mixed. Allmusic gave the band a generally favorable review, remarking that the album's "best moments demonstrate that BlackHawk is more talented and diverse than their previous two albums would suggest", however the review also labeled, without specifying, that certain songs were "simply unmemorable." Overall, the website gave the album three stars out of a possible five.[8]

The review of The Plain Dealer was mostly critical. Three tracks were singled out; the title track was criticized for being "lighthearted" and leaving the listener "feeling totally empty", "Postmarked Birmingham" was cited for starting "strong but" losing "its momentum" and was criticized as a "take no chances effort", "If That Was a Lie" was described as the "most interesting" track on the album for its change in lead vocals to Van Stephenson from Henry Paul, whose vocals were criticized for being "raspy." Overall, the album was given a "C."[9]

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution gave the album an "A" stating that the band's "choice to record music and meaningful lyrics combined with vocal and musical talent [made] the album a winner." Two of the tracks were expressively lauded: "Postmarked Birmingham" and "She Dances with her shadow."[10]

According to reflections on the album, the singles released were ignored by "the powers that decide what the public should hear...as did radio stations." But the Virginian Pilot declared that "fans and critics loved the album" and that it "was an excellent album with...outstanding songs and exciting lead vocals by Henry Paul."[11]