The long out-of-print LP will arrive in three exclusive colors
Craft Recordings celebrates the 15th anniversary of Alice In Chains’ seminal 2009 album, Black Gives Way to Blue, with a special vinyl reissue. The LP, out-of-print since its original release and a long-sought treasure for hard rock devotees, will arrive on September 27th. In addition to the wide 2 LP release, fans can also pick up the album on three limited edition color pressings — Black Widow (available exclusively through the Alice In Chains store), Black Smoke (via the Craft Recordings store), and Electric Smoke (available at Revolver).
Black Gives Way to Blue is Alice In Chains’ fourth studio album, first released on September 29, 2009. The project marks a significant moment in the band’s history, being their first record to feature William DuVall sharing vocal and guitar duties with founding member Jerry Cantrell, alongside bassist Mike Inez and drummer/founding member Sean Kinney.
Upon release, Black Gives Way to Blue was an instant smash hit, debuting at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and achieving gold certification from the RIAA by May 2010. It includes singles “Your Decision,” “Lesson Learned,” “Check My Brain,” and “A Looking in View,” plus the poignant title track “Black Gives Way to Blue,” which features a guest performance from Elton John on piano. This song, a heartfelt tribute to late frontman Layne Staley, captures the band’s process of coming to terms with their loss while finding a path forward. Both “A Looking in View” and “Check My Brain” were Grammy Award-nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Additionally, Black Gives Way to Blue won Revolver’s Golden Gods Award for Album of the Year in 2010.
Despite the near-unanimous acclaim, the band felt apprehension about pursuing new music after the tragic death of founding frontman Layne Staley.
Now, 15 years on, the band still feels deeply connected to Black Gives Way to Blue, which signaled a significant turning point in their legendary career. All these years later, the album remains an important touchstone for the group and their millions of devoted fans. Blending heavy grunge with pummeling, unrelenting hard rock, the album was both a tribute to Staley’s impact on the band and a map for moving forward.
