 American Recordings was partially absorbed by Columbia Records in early 1998 . Though the arrangement preserved the American label , The Black Crowes transferred to Columbia after privately expressing their desire to disassociate themselves from American Recordings founder Rick Rubin . Despite working under a larger label , the band felt they had more freedom and support under Columbia ; Chris remarked , " At American , I never knew what a record company did . We never had an A & R guy . Now we have a product manager .... It 's like ... I didn 't know what the music business was . " 
