Charles Bradley / Menahan Street Band
Black Velvet
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

Sealed 2018 exclusive limited edition embossed velvet-wrapped box set with OBI. Includes the following: 180g colored vinyl version of the standard LP; a bonus 12" 45 RPM colored EP with stripped-down mixes of 4 CB classics; an exclusive slipmat; 2 printed heavy-duty inner sleeves sporting a surreal painting of Charles and the interview in which he explains the origin of the painting; a 12" x 12" photo book with extensive liner notes from producer Tommy “TNT”; an exact replica of Charles’ original “Black Velvit” business card; and last but certainly not least, a seeded download card (once you’ve retrieved your download, you can plant the card and wildflowers will grow in memory of Charles).

"To honor Bradley’s passing, Dunham/Daptone Records has released Black Velvet, a collection of rarities and unreleased material that Bradley cut during his tenure with the label, and while this album lacks the thematic coherence of the three LPs he cut in his lifetime, this certainly demonstrates the skill, passion, and emotional intelligence that Bradley brought to his music. Working with producer and bandleader Tommy “TNT” Brenneck, Bradley consistently delivered performances that made clear he wasn’t merely inspired by legendary vocalists like Otis Redding, James Brown, and Wilson Pickett; he fashioned a style that took elements of their trademark sounds and fused it into a musical imagination with a lyrical gift that was very much his own. Matched by the rich dynamics of Brenneck’s backing tracks, Bradley sings his stories of life and love with a straight-from-the-gut sound that’s genuine and never histrionic, no matter how forceful he sounds." AMG - Mark Deming