Usually considered a minor work in Dylan's oeuvre, "Black Crow Blues" is the first song he released in which he plays the piano.
In fact, that – with the harmonica – is the only accompaniment for his voice, as he is alone in the recording, like in most of his first four albums.
Author Oliver Trager calls this song "A funky little piano blues that Dylan plays in his wonderfully untutored style".
Black Crow Blues, argues Trager, is reminiscent of "the lilting calypsos of Harry Belafonte and piano boogie-woogies of Meade "Lux" Lewis".
[1] Michael Gray maintains thus: Dylan has never performed "Black Crow Blues" live.