Lions

2001's Lions is the most unusual album in The Black Crowes' catalog. They worked on it while fighting their record label, and it's the only album to feature guitarist Audley Freed (on three cuts). Eventually, the Crowes were released from their prior contract and agreed to sign with Richard Branson's V2 label, which assigned the band complete control over the album they wanted to make. They hired Don Was to produce, and he proved to be an ambitious collaborator who encouraged the Crowes to approve their early recordings of the songs as the official versions. Rich Robinson handled most of the guitar parts, while the group's previous tour with Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page influenced them on songs such as "Come On" and "Young Man, Old Man." "Lickin'"—the album's first single—rocked like Aerosmith. The second single, "Soul Singing," captures more of their Southern charm, with a gospel-like call and response in the chorus and blues licks driving the verses. This album let the Crowes indulge their instrumental side. Then, the band went on hiatus in January 2002 and didn't officially return until 2005.