Black Smoke Rising

Black Smoke Rising is the debut EP by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was released digitally on April 21, 2017, and physically on August 7, 2017 by Republic Records. The single "Highway Tune" topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Active Rock Rock stations in September 2017. A second single, "Safari Song", reached number two. The EP was later packed together with four more songs to create From the Fires, a double EP released on November 10, 2017.

Black Smoke Rising
EP by
Greta Van Fleet
ReleasedApril 21, 2017 (2017-04-21)
Recorded2016[1]
StudioRustbelt Studios, Royal Oak, Michigan
GenreRock[2]
Length16:31
LabelRepublic
Producer
  • Marlon Young
  • Al Sutton
Greta Van Fleet chronology
Black Smoke Rising
(2017)		 From the Fires
(2017)
Singles from Black Smoke Rising
  1. "Highway Tune"
    Released: March 31, 2017
  2. "Safari Song"
    Released: October 15, 2017

Background and release

The songs were recorded at Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak, Michigan in just three days in 2016.[1][3] Black Smoke Rising was planned to be the first of three EPs that would make an album when all released.[4] Its cover art was designed by Josh and Jake.[5]

The song "Highway Tune" was released as a single on March 31, 2017, and topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Active Rock Rock stations in September 2017.[6] On April 18, 2017 the music video for the song "Highway Tune" was released exclusively on Loudwire.[7]

On April 21, 2017 they were named Apple Music's new artist of the week.[8] A second single, "Safari Song", was released in October 2017, and peaked at number 1 on the same chart in February 2018.[9]

Themes and composition

Opening track "Highway Tune" is the first song the band had ever written, dating back to their original drummer.[10][11] "Safari Song" is almost as old. Sam revealed that it originally had a "big percussion break with like bongos and congas, very kind of Santana, kind of South American style" that got cut from the version included on the EP.[11]

"Flower Power" was written around 2014, when Jake created the guitar riff.[12] Sam explained "Jake just started playing two chords together and, you know, magic happened. I sat down on the organ and started playing the part and then Josh came out and sang the song all the way through, like it was already written."[11] He also said he was imagining the end of "America" by Simon and Garfunkel for its organ outro.[13] Josh said to him it gave a San Francisco Haight-Ashbury vibe and was written with a "folk influence and a nod to that era's sound."[12]

The title track was written in the studio during the recording of the other three.[11] Its lyrics are a "reflection on the lessons of history and that man does not always learn from the lessons of history" and "in a more positive light, embodies a unity of humanity."[1]

Reception

As of February 24, 2018, the EP has sold 70,000 units (including 47,000 in traditional album sales) in the U.S.[14]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Highway Tune"3:01
2."Safari Song"3:56
3."Flower Power"5:13
4."Black Smoke Rising"4:21

Personnel

Greta Van Fleet

Production

  • Marlon Young – producer, mixer
  • Al Sutton – producer, mixer
  • Herschel Boone – vocals producer

Charts
Chart (2017) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[15] 182
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[16] 10
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[17] 30

References
  1. Ywain Evans, Morgan (April 26, 2017). "Interview: Greta Van Fleets Black Smoke Rising might just make you believe". metalriot.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  2. Steve Patrick (20 April 2017). "Greta Van Fleet-Black Smoke Rising". Hardrockhaven.net. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  3. Whealy, Lisa (April 21, 2017). "GRETA VAN FLEET – BLACK SMOKE RISING (EP REVIEW)". crypticrock.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  4. Rosenthal, Richard (April 26, 2017). "Greta Van Fleet - Like Everything (And Nothing) You've Heard Before". screamermagazine.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  5. "Interview: Jake Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet". Social Magazine. February 20, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  6. "GRETA VAN FLEET's 'Highway Tune' Claims #1 Spot At U.S. Active And Mainstream Rock Radio". Blabbermouth.net. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  7. Childers, Chad (April 18, 2017). "Greta Van Fleet, Highway Tune Exclusive Video Premiere". Loudwire.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  8. "What a thrill to be @AppleMusic's #NewArtistOfTheWeek!". Twitter.com. April 21, 2017. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  9. "Rock Music: Top Mainstream Rock Songs Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  10. "Greta Van Fleet Interview: Danny Wagner". Blues Rock Review. October 27, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  11. "Greta Van Fleet Fronts Much Needed Hard Rock Revival (INTERVIEW)". Glide Magazine. November 20, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  12. "Greta Van Fleet Bring Rock Back to the Future on Debut EP, Talk Influences & Brotherly Love". Billboard. August 23, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  13. "Interview ~ Sam Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet". I'm Music Magazine. May 9, 2017. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  14. "Greta Van Fleet Lands Second Straight Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1 with 'Safari Song'". Billboard.
  15. "Top 200 Albums: November 11, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  16. "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  17. "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
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