R&B / Soul

Big Crown Records is proud to present this rock solid two-sider from El Michels Affair. This 7" is part of a new Big Crown X El Oms collaboration that includes a custom deck of playing cards and a t shirt series illustrated by El Oms. The labels of this 45 are pulled from some of the King & Queen illustrations contained in the deck.To go with this project, El Michels teamed up again with Bobby Oroza for the A side tune which plays along with the collab theme called "Stack The Deck". These two proved their chemistry on 2020's "Reasons" which became a fast favorite around the globe. This time El Michels comes with a heavier more orchestrated track that Bobby finds the perfect groove on as he plays up the gamble of love.The B side is a speaker smashing cover of the late, great, Notorious B.I.G.'s "Things Done Changed" from his Ready To Die album. El Michels Affair stays close to the tone of the original Easy Mo Bee production but makes it their own with their signature horns and cinematic grit.45 and playing cards are being sold separately

We explore the later years of Los Angeles' doo wop scene from sources that have never previously been digitalised from master tape. We have found master tapes of very rare and expensive doo wop recordings in the vaults of Doré, Era, Gary Paxton, Kent Harris and George Motola in particular. Most of these great tracks have only previously been heard on badly reproduced bootleg releases. Three tracks have never been heard before. One is a Class recording by Adolph Jacobs, of which noted LA vocal group writer Steve Propes says, "The Coasters' Billy Guy and Carl Gardner were singing with Bobby Day on Jacobs' session for Class Records", which makes it a historically important track, as well as a great record. Of similar interest to doo wop fans is an unheard number from Arthur Lee Maye - the greatest of all the singing sportsmen - from his 1958 'Pounding' Cash session, complete with vocal group. The Pharoahs' beautiful 'Here Comes The Rain' has only a basic instrumental backing, but the superb singing makes it a very worthy release. Another Gary Paxton-produced track has only been heard under the incorrect group name of the Sesames on a bootleg EP; it is actually Bobby Sheen with a group covering the Interludes' 1962 King release. Super-rarities include the Showcases' magnificent 1964 Galaxy release '(This Love) Was Real', the Heartbreakers' Markay single 'Since You've Been Gone', the Cezannes' 'Pardon Me', the Tabs' 'Never Forget' on Noble and Carlton Beck's (of the Shields) 'The Girl I Left Behind' Troy offering. Most are classic 50s ballads but there are some R&B-oriented numbers such as Kent Harris' group the Valaquans' 'Jolly Green Giant' Rayco 45, the Creators' quirky 'Drafted, Volunteered, Enlisted', released on Dootone in 1961, and the scarce and imaginative Emberglows' Doré single 'Sack And Chemise Gang Fight' - all have Coasters influences with their novelty and humour. Several of the acts would go on to record through the soul era - Dorothy Berry, Morris Chestnut (here as James Washington Lee); the Individuals' James Leon Moore went on to be a Youngheart and, of course, Danny Stewart would lead the groundbreaking Sly & The Family Stone. Sleeve notes are from Steve Propes and Alec Palao to further map this city's important musical history.

They were one of the few boy/girl duos to make an impact in the R&B, rock 'n' roll and pop markets during the rock 'n' roll era, and occupy an interesting niche in the history of the genre. This substantial and fairly comprehensive overview of their output during the primary period of the career provides an entertaining showcase for their distinctive style and talents.

The Brkn Record is a new project led and produced by Jake Ferguson, the co-founder and bass player for the UK's foundational deep jazz outfit the Heliocentrics. With fellow Heliocentrics co-founder and legendary drummer Malcolm Catto, Ferguson has been a regular collaborator with globally recognised artists including Archie Shepp, Mulatu Astatke, Melvin Van Peebles, Orlando Julius and many others. The Architecture of Oppression Part 1 represents Ferguson's debut as a bandleader and orchestrator, and manifests as a committed and soulful response to ongoing and systemic anti-black racism, social oppression and state violence both at home in London and across the globe. Combining poetry, testimony and song with rich and cinematic backdrops, Ferguson has produced a sui generis sound that conjures flavours of Arthur Verocai, Ennio Morricone, classic library productions, Madlib-style deep-jazz beat science, and psychedelic soul. With bandmate Malcolm Catto on drums, Ferguson draws on their long years of collaborative experience in the Heliocentrics to build an album of striking texture and depth.

A Pandemic Banger from Tuxedo, the duo formed by Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One. Doin' My Best stand-along single b/w "Doin' My Best Instrumental". Limited edition 45 in a pic sleeve that was originally a Tower Records Japan exclusive. Cover by Jean Andre. TRACKLISTING: Doin' My Best Doin' My Best (Instrumental)

This product is an authorized manufactured on demand CD-R

This product is an authorized manufactured on demand CD-R

This product is an authorized manufactured on demand CD-R

This product is an authorized manufactured on demand CD-R