In 1996, The Afghan Whigs were fresh off the worldwide success of Gentlemen. They had toured the world, graced magazine covers, television performances, major festivals, the works. However, their follow up album would not be Gentlemen II. It would be a pivot and a full public display of the growth and maturity of Greg Dulli’s songwriting.
Black Love turns 20 this year, and Rhino Records along with Mute Records in the UK are celebrating with a special edition that will be available for Record Store Day Black Friday, Black Love (20th Anniversary Edition) will be released on November 25 as a double-CD ($19.98) and a triple-LP ($49.98) exclusively at indie record stores and digitally on the same day. Both include a newly remastered version of the original 11-track album, plus nine previously unreleased recordings, including demos, outtakes and studio jams.
Released in the spring of 1996, Black Love was the Afghan Whigs’ fifth studio album overall. The music was inspired by lead singer Greg Dulli’s idea to make a film noir movie. Although the film was never made, it did help inform the album’s dark tone and fuel songs like the singles “Honky’s Ladder” and “Going To Town.” The album opener, “Crime Scene Part One” was inspired by the screenplay for “The Million Dollar Hotel,” while “Blame, Etc.” reflected on the troubled life of Temptations singer David Ruffin.
Black Love (20th Anniversary Edition) includes nine previously unreleased recordings. Among the standouts are acoustic versions of “Going To Town” called: “Go To Town” and “Crime Scene Part Two.” Also included is a demo for “Faded,” which closed the original album, as well as a solo piano cover of the New Order classic “Regret.” The unreleased material also highlights the band’s creative process with “Mick Taylor Jam” and “Wynton Kelly Jam.”
Fans can look forward to new music from The Afghan Whigs in 2017. The band is currently in the studio finishing their eighth studio album, and the group’s first since 2014’s Top 40 album Do To The Beast. The forthcoming album will be released by Sub Pop Records.
Black Love (20TH Anniversary Edition)
Track Listing:
Disc One: Original Album Remastered
- “Crime Scene Part One”
- “My Enemy”
- “Double Day”
- “Blame, Etc.”
- “Step Into The Light”
- “Going To Town”
- “Honky’s Ladder”
- “Night By Candlelight”
- “Bulletproof”
- “Summer’s Kiss”
- “Faded”
Disc Two: The Demos
- “Go To Town” – Acoustic Version/Mix*
- “Leaving Town” – Mix 1.0*
- “Faded” – Demo*
- “Regret”*
- “Crime Scene Part II” – Mix 1.1 with Scratch Vocals*
- “Mick Taylor Jam”*
- “Wynton Kelly Jam”*
- “I Often Think Of You”*
- “Staring Across The Water”*
* previously unreleased
