They were best known for their album Bloodletting (1990), its top-20 single "Joey," and Johnette Napolitano's distinctive vocal style.
Their first recording was the song "Heart Attack," released under the band name Dreamers on the compilation album The D.I.Y.
Records in 1986, their labelmate Michael Stipe suggested the name Concrete Blonde,[4] describing the contrast between their hard rock music and introspective lyrics.
"[6] Their third album, Bloodletting (1990), became their most commercially successful, reaching #4 in Canada, #8 in Australia, and #49 in the United States.
[5] Napolitano also reassumed bass duties for the recording, and Bloch does not appear on the album or any subsequent releases.
The album was certified gold by the RIAA[7] and included their highest-charting single, "Joey," which spent 21 weeks on the Billboard Top 100 chart, peaking at #19 in the United States and #2 in Australia.
During live performances, the band altered the refrain of "Still in Hollywood" to "Still in the Barrio" and included covers of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" and Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing".
"[12] An error in the packaging of the re-release included early non-album period photos featuring original drummer Harry Rushakoff, who had been replaced the night before the first studio session for Bloodletting by Roxy Music drummer Paul Thompson.
In December of that year, they embarked on a brief tour of nine cities, primarily along the East Coast of the United States.