Chance in a Million

AMG Review of Chance in a Million

Curtis Zimmermann
All Music Guide

This is a live album the band recorded during a three-night stand in San Francisco. It is the group's first collaboration with celebrated Grateful Dead songwriter Robert Hunter. During their first ten years together they were primarily an instrumental act so this represents a rather dramatic shift in style. Hunter's lyrics put Zero at their best with "Catalina" and the title track "Chance in Million" but falter a bit on "Horses" and "End of the World Blues." The album also contains three tracks without Hunter's words: the instrumentals "Forever Is Nowhere" and "Roll Me Over" (a tune that was reworked with vocals for the bands fifth album) and a cover of the country classic "Mercury Blues." A decent album, but not the best example of Zero or Robert Hunter's work.