page_title: The Black Sorrows
section_title: "Classic era": 1986–93
hierarchical_section_title: The Black Sorrows / History / "Classic era": 1986–93
caption_attribution_description: English: The Black Sorrows play at Byron Bay Bluesfest, April 2014
context_page_description: The Black Sorrows are an Australian blues rock band formed in 1983 by mainstay vocalist Joe Camilleri, who also plays saxophone and guitar. Camilleri has used various line-ups to record 17 albums, with five reaching the top 20 on the ARIA Albums Charts: Hold on to Me, Harley and Rose, Better Times, The Chosen Ones - Greatest Hits and Lucky Charm. Their top 40 singles are "Chained to the Wheel", "Harley + Rose" and "Snake Skin Shoes".
context_section_description: By November 1986 the Black Sorrows line-up was Camilleri, Burstin, Luscombe and Smith; with Johnny Charles on bass guitar. The group were playing mostly original material. The group released "Mystified" which gained radio play and peaked at number 24 on the Kent Music Report.
  The group's fourth studio album, Dear Children (April 1987), which was co-produced by Camilleri and Burstin, initially appeared on Camel Records. but CBS signed them to a distribution deal. With CBS promoting, it peaked at No. 22 the Australian Kent Music Report albums chart in June. In May that year, the single, "Daughters of Glory", had reached the top 50 on the related Kent Music Report singles chart.
  Additional session musicians used on Dear Children included: Butrumlis; Tony Faeshe on guitar and viola; Venetta Fields on backing vocals; Mick Girasole on bass guitar; Paul Grabowsky on piano; Sherlie Matthews on backing vocals; Mick O'Connor on keyboards and Hammond organ. The band often made use of session or touring musicians including Sam See on slide guitar, Tony Norris on trumpet, and Kerryn Tolhurst on guitar.
  During 1988 Smith left the performance line-up, however he continued writing lyrics for the Black Sorrows over the following two decades. By mid-year Burt had returned on guitar, Charles was replaced by Girasole on bass guitar, and Vika and Linda Bull joined on backing vocals and occasional lead vocals (ex-Sophisticated Boom Boom, The Sacred Hearts of Sweet Temptation, The Honeymooners). Australian journalist Ed Nimmervoll described the "classic line-up" of the group as Camilleri, Linda and Vika Bull, Burstin, Burt, Girasole and Luscombe. The Bull sisters readily identifiable singing style became a big part of The Black Sorrows' sound. At live gigs each had their own "spots" showing different voices: "Vika strong and soulful. Linda soft and gentle."
  The group's fifth album, Hold on to Me, was issued in September 1988, which was co-produced by Burstin and Camilleri. As well as the standard version CBS released a limited edition 2× LP in Australia. AllMusic's Rudyard Kennedy felt the lead singer was able to "channel the voice and persona of" Van Morrison and while the group "borrow many of the same ingredients" however "the trick is in mixing those well-worn ingredients together and coming up with something new" such that the album "deserves to be heard and hailed by music fans the world over".
  The album peaked at No. 7 on the ARIA Albums Chart in May 1989 and remained in the top 50 for 46 weeks. It provided two top 40 hits on the associated Singles Chart: "Chained to the Wheel" (March 1989 – their highest charting single at No. 9) and "The Crack-Up" (April). At the ARIA Music Awards of 1990 they won Best Group. Internationally Hold on to Me peaked at No. 6 on the Norwegian Albums Chart; No. 18 on the Swedish Albums Chart; and No. 35 on the New Zealand Albums Chart.
  Before recording their sixth album, Harley and Rose (August 1990), Jen Anderson was added on violin (ex-Kings of the World); and Richard Sega replaced Girasole on bass guitar. It was co-produced by Camilleri, Burstin and Luscombe; and the CD format has six bonus tracks compared with the LP version. It peaked at No. 3 in Australia and remained in the top 50 for 51 weeks; No. 5 in Norway; and No. 36 in Sweden. The album produced two top 30 singles; "Harley + Rose" and "Never Let Me Go".
  The Revelators a band made up of members of the Black Sorrows released their first album, Amazing Stories, in December 1991. The Revelators sound was a return to early The Black Sorrows material: playing largely R&B-oriented cover songs.
  Burt left the Black Sorrows before recording for their seventh album, Better Times (September 1992), and Stephen Hadley (ex-Kate Ceberano and the Ministry of Fun) replaced Sega on bass guitar. Also added to the line-up were Barker and James Black (on keyboards) of The Relevators. Finally, Laurie Polec took over as the band's primary lyricist, although Smith contributed to this and future releases. Better Times peaked at No. 13 in Australia.
  In March 1993 the gro
caption: The Black Sorrows play at Byron Bay Bluesfest, April 2014
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