Big Crown Vinyl, CD & Tape 132 Items

Big Crown Records is proud to present Adult Themes, the latest full length offering from El Michels Affair. This album takes the band's "Cinematic Soul" aesthetic literally and sends the listener on a journey through a whirlwind of moods and energies. With their 2005 debut album Sounding Out The City, EMA spearheaded an instrumental funk / soul movement that inspired a slew of bands and even lead to the creation of a few independent record labels. El Michels has since lent his signature sound to artists from Adele to Dr John, Lana Del Rey to Aloe Blacc, and a who's who list of others. In 2016 he co-founded Big Crown Records and has since produced the lion's share of its output. A short stint as the touring band for Wu Tang Clan in 2007 led to the cult classics Enter The 37th Chamber (2009) and Return To The 37th Chamber (2017). Adult Themes marks the long awaited, highly anticipated return to an album of original compositions from El Michels Affair. In 2017 in between producing, playing, and recording on other artists' records Leon Michels began creating compilations of short interludes intended to be sampled by hip hop producers. Some of these wound up becoming songs by Jay Z & Beyonce, Travis Scott, and Don Toliver. These minute-long snippets were inspired by the dense moody work of `60s composers like David Axelrod, and Francois de Roubaix, as well as Moondog's brand of classical jazz. Michels was having so much fun creating these instrumental / orchestral nuggets that he decided to expand on some of the ideas and create what would become the soundtrack for a movie that has yet to be made, an imaginary film entitled "Adult Themes." The album plays like the colors on an artists pallet. Songs like "Rubix" and "Villa" are densely orchestrated with the hard-hitting drums that El Michels Affair is known for. On "Life of Pablo", Leon's son makes his first appearance on record and intros a song with an epic arrangement and a moving mood. "Hipps" is a drum heavy ballad that could've easily fit on EMA's debut record, Sounding Out the City. Other compositions like "The Difference" and "Kill The Lights" are bare, melodic mood pieces with sparse drums and sophisticated chord movement. All of these tunes come together to make perfect backgrounds for dialogue and action. One of the beautiful things about instrumental music is that the listener can decide what the narrative is. With Adult Themes El Michels Affair has created a "choose your own adventure" in musical form.

Big Crown Records is proud to present Adult Themes, the latest full length offering from El Michels Affair. This album takes the band's "Cinematic Soul" aesthetic literally and sends the listener on a journey through a whirlwind of moods and energies. With their 2005 debut album Sounding Out The City, EMA spearheaded an instrumental funk / soul movement that inspired a slew of bands and even lead to the creation of a few independent record labels. El Michels has since lent his signature sound to artists from Adele to Dr John, Lana Del Rey to Aloe Blacc, and a who's who list of others. In 2016 he co-founded Big Crown Records and has since produced the lion's share of its output. A short stint as the touring band for Wu Tang Clan in 2007 led to the cult classics Enter The 37th Chamber (2009) and Return To The 37th Chamber (2017). Adult Themes marks the long awaited, highly anticipated return to an album of original compositions from El Michels Affair. In 2017 in between producing, playing, and recording on other artists' records Leon Michels began creating compilations of short interludes intended to be sampled by hip hop producers. Some of these wound up becoming songs by Jay Z & Beyonce, Travis Scott, and Don Toliver. These minute-long snippets were inspired by the dense moody work of `60s composers like David Axelrod, and Francois de Roubaix, as well as Moondog's brand of classical jazz. Michels was having so much fun creating these instrumental / orchestral nuggets that he decided to expand on some of the ideas and create what would become the soundtrack for a movie that has yet to be made, an imaginary film entitled "Adult Themes." The album plays like the colors on an artists pallet. Songs like "Rubix" and "Villa" are densely orchestrated with the hard-hitting drums that El Michels Affair is known for. On "Life of Pablo", Leon's son makes his first appearance on record and intros a song with an epic arrangement and a moving mood. "Hipps" is a drum heavy ballad that could've easily fit on EMA's debut record, Sounding Out the City. Other compositions like "The Difference" and "Kill The Lights" are bare, melodic mood pieces with sparse drums and sophisticated chord movement. All of these tunes come together to make perfect backgrounds for dialogue and action. One of the beautiful things about instrumental music is that the listener can decide what the narrative is. With Adult Themes El Michels Affair has created a "choose your own adventure" in musical form.

What is Buck? Buck is a state of mind, a way of life, a demeanor that gets you through the good times and the bad. If you ask Brainstory, It is also the energy that permeates their debut album. Kevin, Tony, and Eric are a trio of brothers bounded by blood, fate, and a small town with nothing to do. Their story begins in the long lost lands of the SanBernardino Valley, in the twilight zone known as Rialto, California: An arid wasteland of boredom and empty lots. Through punk rock and skateboarding they found temporary liberation from the local monotony. However, it wouldn'tbe long before a hunger for more led them to explore musical realms beyond that of the hardcore punk they admired. After stints at music school and steady disappointment trying to navigate their local jazz scene they moved to Los Angeles and Brainstory was born. Through a introduction from Chicano Batman's bassist, Brainstory caught the ears of Big Crown head honchos Danny Akalepse and Leon Michels. Shortly thereafter they were on their way to Queens, to record at The LegendaryDiamond Mine with Michels at the helm. An instant chemistry yielded 10 songs in 10 days and now Brainstory has gifted the world with one hell of an introduction to all things Buck. Highlights include the sublime slow burner, "Dead End" which was the A-side to their first 45 on Big Crown that sold outin a matter of days. With Kevin's sublime falsetto floating atop Tony and Eric's unflappable and unmistakable backbeat, this tune has become a favorite with the ballad heads, the low-riders, and the slowie collectors. "Breathe" showcases another side of their sound taking a page out of the Shuggie Otis playbook and flipping the script with some stoned out west coast swag. Kev and Tony's father, Big Tone, an accomplished performer himself, steps in on "Peter Pan" to sing lead vocals over a chorus of friends and family. Bassist extraordinaire, Tony, takes over lead vocal duties on "Sorry", a smoked out, GFunk groove that is just waiting to be sampled. These guys have...

Big Crown Records is proud to present the first single from Holy Hive's forthcoming debut full length Float Back To You.The A side "Hypnosis" is an up number from The Hive that catches the listener from the first notes of Paul's guitar. A good vibe tune inspired by the price you pay to stay out late at night and enjoy your life knowing you have work in the morning. Homer and Paul once again play up the fruitful relationship of oxpecker and rhino with Steinweiss' infamous in the pocket drumming that Spring's vocals float over. Harp and synth flourishes pepper the arrangement and the uber-catchy chorus makes this one a staple in their live set.The B side, "Broom" is a musing on the nature of seeing one's true love for the first time. Holy Hive have taken this tried and true subject and infused it with their signature soul-folk sound to create this gem of a b-side. Paul Spring's honesty shines through as he sings with his beautiful falsetto about his real life love at first-sight experience. Joe Harrison brings the tasteful bass and supporting guitar accents while Homer Steinweiss lays down one of his signature grooves. The drum break at the top features a rare and much sought after drum machine known by some as the "zim-gar". Also, Holy Hive is proud to welcome Leon Michels as the guest saxophonist on the this tune. It was all recorded at the Diamond Mine Studios with Jens Jungkurth as the engineer.

Following up on the massive success of Lee Fields recently released full length "It Rains Love" we drop another 45 for the DJs and collectors. This time showing off two different sides of Lee & The Expressions range. The A side "Wake Up" is Lee's heavy duty, drum driven, anthemic tune for the times. Fields calls out the highly over-used and abused term of the current presidency "fake news." Over a hard as nails sound bed courtesy of The Expressions he goes on asking people to wake up and not let this propaganda sway them from knowing what is right and wrong. The B side "You're What's Needed In My Life" is a gushing testament to the beauty of love. Solidifying his title as the Professor of Love it's almost like he's writing your girl's valentine for you. Going beyond how happy the woman he is singing to makes him and telling of how she makes everyone she meets happier. This two-sider is about as classic as possible, a heavy duty funk banger on the A side, and nothing but love on the ballad B side. Another classic and timeless offering from the one and only Lee Fields.

Last year, a month before Nicole gave birth to her first child, she visited Leon Michels in upstate NY and cooked up two of the toughest and most moving songs we've heard from her to date. We've been patiently sitting on this release for a few months now, and it is an understatement to say Big Crown is proud to present the newest 45 from Lady Wray. Side A, Piece Of Me , sounds like a lost Dilla beat that sampled a lost David Porter song. Guaranteed to have heads nodding from the first snare crack, Nicole sings a tune about the difficulties of dealing with family and friends who need more than you can provide. The chorus says it all, I'll let you take a piece of me, I hope you get the piece you need and if that's not enough I'll let you go peacefully" - From the jump, Nicole's voice takes the listener into a world where you have no choice but to feel something in the pit of your stomach. Side B Come On In finds Lady Wray tapping into her early years singing in church. With only three instruments and Nicole's voice, Come On In is a masterclass in the craft of singing, the sound of soul, and the power of restraint.

Big Crown Records is proud to present the debut single from the newest band on the roster, Holy Hive.

Comprised of Paul Spring, Homer Steinweiss, and Joe Harrison, Holy Hive obscures genre lines and has a style and energy uniquely their own.

Side A, “This Is My Story”, is a cover of the Invincible’s cult classic from 1968. Holy Hive takes the tune into modern times while keeping just enough of the original. The horns and vibraphone rip into the speakers from the first note and Paul Spring’s ethereal and honeyed vocals sit atop Homer’s infamous drumming like an ox pecker on a black rhinos back.
The B Side, “Blue Light” is a perfect representation of the sound that is wholly unique to Holy Hive. With a less is more ethos, they craft an intimate space that is equal parts Jessica Pratt, The Persuaders, and Julian Bream.

With their full length getting wrapped up now, Big Crown Records is proud to present the
debut single from Finland’s own Bobby Oroza.
Side A, This Love is already an underground classic, and has been a huge hit with the
sweet soul crowd since it’s original release last year on Timmion Records. Produced by
Cold Diamond & Mink and recorded at Timmion Studios in Helsinki, Finland, this team has
clearly got the magic. With its tough drums, maverick guitar work, in the cut bass, and
Bobby’s calm yet pleading monotone vocals, this is one hell of a song and an absolute must
have for Soul collectors.
Side B is the never before heard and very well executed homage to Sunny & The Sunliners
classic song, Should I Take You Home. Bobby takes the task of covering a near perfect
tune and does it justice by making it their own while never losing sight of the magic that
makes Sunny’s original so sublime. This is going to take the sweet soul crowd by storm and
is a perfect follow up to the already beloved,This Love. Another Big Crown Sure shot.

Big Crown Records is proud to present the next single
from The Shacks instant classic debut album Haze.
The A side “My Name Is…” is one of the first songs The Shacks wrote shortly after they met.
Producer Leon Michels had the track and the title for it and sent it on to The Shacks to pen the
lyrics. Max Shrager says of writing the lyrics “this song is about setting a time and place to meet
up, wandering around like ghosts until we spotted each other in a crowd of strangers. It is
inspired by "I Only Have Eyes For You" by The Flamingos”. Musically, it has the infectious
attraction that all of El Michels productions do. A poppy melody balanced out by the rough and
tough rhythm section made this the perfect match for Shannon’s subtle and sweet vocals.
The B side, “Sand Song” is a beautiful tune about an ugly subject; global warming. The
hauntingly beautiful guitar melody that the Shrager produced track begins with is met with the
equally somber vocals from Shannon. Reverb drenched background vocals and organ
flourishes follow suit with the arrangement showcasing The Shacks razor sharp musicianship.
A stand out tune from the album and the embodiment of what made iD magazine call The
Shacks “classic American sounds…simultaneously recalling Sesame Street and David Lynch’s
nocturnal crooners”.

Thee Lakesiders are a duo out of Los Angeles comprised of Marie and Necalli who we were introduced to by our friend El Oms. He thought it would be great to get them out here to NY and into the the studio with El Michels. Turns out, he was very right. They spent two days in The Diamond Mine with The Shacks as their backing band and Leon producing and writing with them and cut three songs. Two of which are here on this nice two sider of a 45.

Side A “Si Me Falteras” is worked up into something of a Latin Psych number, it’s a cover of Los Terricolas’s tune they cut in 1973 redone with some more muscle. Ben’s driving beat and Max’s guitar work set the stage for Marie to showcase the powerful side of her voice.

Side B “Parachute” finds them in one of their favorite styles, a dreamy ballad that floats over guitar chanks, brush hits, and vibraphone rolls. This time Marie shows us a different side of her range, her beautiful and lush vocals ride perfectly in the pocket making for a gorgeous b side that can ride right alongside the oldies.

Big Crown Records is proud to present a recording that could have easily been lost forever like so many others from it’s era.
Taken from the only known copy of this acetate that appears to be a rehearsal recording for the group to solicit local gigs, these stripped down versions of “Get Hip To Yourself” and “Every Time I See a Pretty Girl” are American relics. The only information about the acetate is handwritten on a piece of masking tape affixed to the A side, the name of the group,
The Fabulous Dynamics, and the track listing. Of the 6 songs on the demo, we pulled the 2 most buttery, delectable, sweet & savory slices of mid 60’s group soul. Stripped down to vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar, both sides of this 7 capture the lo-fi, intimate sonic landscape of yesteryear, something that is often emulated, but never quite duplicated. Another pretty cool detail about this acetate, it was found in the personal record collection of Lamont Dozier.

Big Crown Records is proud to present this tough as nails split 7”

The A side is Paul Ramos version of the Mandrill classic “Fence Walk”. Originally released on the Harlem label, and later licensed to Falcon only to oddly appear on their Kris Bravo LP. Ramos stays close to the original, but adds enough to the tune to make it a must have for funk collectors.

The B side “Funky Resurgence” comes by way of vibes player/bandleader Ulysses Crockett who was a stalwart on the Bay Area scene of the 1960's first with his Latin Jazz group Afro Blue Persuasion and later Ulysses Crockett Magic. He also played in The Skins w/ the legendary Bill Graham. "Funky Resurgence" was one of several compositions he wrote for the 1971 play "Resurgence." During this period, Ulysses was also going through law school and he remains a legal voice, writer and activist in the Bay Area.

Big Crown records is proud to present the first single from The Shacks debut album Haze, out worldwide March 30th. Since the release of their self titled EP in 2016 The Shacks have been collecting fans that are fast becoming as hypnotized as we've been since first hearing Shannon’s ethereal voice on top of “Strange Boy"". Highlights of the year have been opening tours for Chicano Batman, and Khruangbin, as well as ""This Strange Effect"" becoming world famous via the Apple iPhone 8 ad campaign. The A side, “Follow Me”, was one of the first songs recorded for Haze almost two years ago. With “black mirror” esque lyrics over a hypnotic mid tempo groove, Follow Me leaves you feeling joyful, calmed, and queasy, all at the same time. The B side “Texas” is an another song from their upcoming album. Recorded in Max Shrager's home studio in Princeton and then finished with Leon Michels at the Diamond Mine in Queens. Texas is a perfect representation of The Shacks signature sound with Shannon’s voice balancing out the gritty yet smooth production.

Before the release of their debut album, we are dropping one more 45 with a newly recorded version of "Audrey Hepburn," a tune off their self titled EP from 2016 and "Fly Fishing", a B side exclusive to this single.

For most of 2017, The Shacks have been honing their skills as a live band playing in and around NYC as well as opening for bands like Chicano Batman and Khurangbin. Some of their studio creations which favor the soft, dream pop side of their repitoire, have been reworked for the live show setting. Audrey Hepburn (Spending All My Time) is an example of that. When we first heard their reworked version at a gig in Brooklyn, we called them the next day and asked them to cut to tape the way they had switched it up for the live set. The result is this catchy single, so strong we had to press a 45 for it.

The B Side, "Fly Fishing" is one of many tracks The Shacks have sitting in the vault. Constantly writing and recording, the group has amassed a huge catalog of music. Fly Fishing starts out with a raucous syncopated intro dropping into a floaty groove The Shacks are know for. It's also their drummer's grandma's favorite song.

The A side “This Strange Effect” is an updated take on the Ray Davies penned classic
from 1965. The Shacks version is currently featured in the Apple iPhone 8 global ad
campaign that has been playing on television during prime time spots such as the
World Series, Saturday Night Live, NFL & college football games, TV shows, and
much more. The social media video plays combined across youtube, facebook, and
instagram are upwards of 20 Million views worldwide. The lead actor in the spot is the
lead singer of The Shacks, Shannon. The band has played all over New York City
since the release of their EP and is currently on a US Tour with Chicano Batman &
Khruangbin. With radio support across the states and Europe, and this ad playing non
stop globally it looks like The Shacks have a hit on their hands with “This Strange
Effect”
The B Side “Hands In Your Pockets” finds The Shacks dipping their toe into the
rocksteady / reggae world. Recorded with the rhythm section of the infamous
Frightnrs of Daptone Records fame, Shannon’s floaty vocal stylings are right at home
on a new jack reggae rhythm.

As Lee is out on the road spreading the love to crowds across Europe we decided to press up another undeniable two sider off the instant classic Special
Night album. Another must have for the DJs….

Side A is “Coming Home”, Lee’s incredible take on working, how we get through it, and why we do it. He sings to his wife a story a lot of people can relate to,
working all day looking forward to coming home to his family. The Expressions provide the perfect feel good backing to this midtempo masterpiece with
beautiful horn arrangements, catchy background vocals, and a guitar riff as catchy as the chorus.

Side B’s “Precious Love” is the perfect example of the song writing and arranging prowess the producers (Leon Michels & Tommy Brenneck) and the
band have honed over the years. Catchy from the intro, this love song keeps the dance floor and holds up next to the classics. Play this for your precious love.

Big Crown Records presents another killer two sider pulled from Lee Fields & The Expressions instant classic "Special Night". With Lee touring the world from sold out show to sold out show supporting his album, we give the DJs and collectors another must have 45.

The A side "Never Be Another You" finds Lee & The Expressions taking another turn on the formula their success has been built on. An unorthodox track to find on a soul album made to fit perfectly, once again pushing the aesthetics of analog soul further into the present. Lee confesses his love and appreciation for his woman walking the fine line of vulnerability and strength.

The B- side "Lover Man" is equal parts rough and smooth. The production and the band come off with a thunderous backing track that takes it's time to get to full sail while Lee lays down some tell it like it is lyrics. Fields comes to the microphone with the confidence only a man with his track record could putting down what life is like with him if the woman he is after just let's it be that way.

Check out this essential garage Zamrock/Soul/Funk single as the first official reissue of the celebrated band’s one and only album!

The musical style that became known as Zamrock came to embody the economic despair that followed the 1973-1974 oil crisis, which flung Zambia into recession and exacerbated a wide range of social tensions. Much of Zamrock also captured the controversy of wider politics in Africa and the world. Perhaps the finest example of this is Black Power by The Peace. - The Guardian The Boyfriends, from Kitwe’s Chamboli Mine Township, supplied the founding members for Zamrock’s most famous band, Witch, and kick started one of Zamrock’s best bands, Peace. Their sole Zamrock entry, “Black Power”, recorded at Malachite Film Studio circa 1973/4 and issued circa 1975, sounds like nothing else in the Zamrock canon: a lost message drifiting from the flower power era, imbued with a fiery Zambian voice.

This is the instrumental version of Lee Fields’ latest album.

Produced by Leon Michels and Thomas Brenneck, and brilliantly performed by the Expressions, “Special Night” was written, recorded, mixed, and mastered entirely to tape in three weeks at the legendary Diamond Mine Studios in Queens, NY. A sense of urgency, equal parts fun and inspiration, and a decent amount of beer and Jack Daniels were the driving forces during the sessions that produced Lee Fields & The Expressions latest offering.

Mr Fields is back with a funk burner sure to light up every dance floor it
plays to. There couldn’t be a better time for an optimistic anthem from the
seasoned wisdom of Lee. The Expressions tearing this track apart with
driving horns and guitars over monster drums and the slick arrangements
we have all come to love them for. Leon Michels & Tommy Brenneck’s
production bringing together some of the finest players doing it today with
Lee’s inimitable voice reminding and encouraging us to get together and
make some changes, changes that are ours to make.
Another Big Crown sureshot.

Big Crown Records presents the second single “Smiling” from Lady Wray’s “Queen Alone” album. The single is an instant feel good anthem, “Smiling” finds Lady Wray reminding us to keep our heads up and keep a smile on our faces through whatever life deals us. With production from Leon Michels and Thomas Brenneck that rides the line between bubblegum pop and lo fi tough grit, Nicole lays out with a voice as encouraging as the lyrics she is singing. Listeners will be hard pressed not to find themselves singing along after the first listen. A proper good vibe tune guaranteed to move dance floors the world over. The B-side “Make Me Over” is a lushly scored tale of letting your guard down and letting the one who loves you take care of you when you are down and out. A relatable tale of having expensive taste and empty pockets, Nicole finds herself asking for a little help so she can get a break from being strapped for cash promising to take care of her man as soon as her check comes in.

Over 10 years ago, Leon Michels released his first full length record, Sounding Out The City. It was Michels' first full length record under
the moniker El Michels Affair. At the time, the budding retro soul scene consisted of mostly organ quartets a la The Meters and of course,
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings were in the early days of their ascent to world domination.
Leon Michels, who was 18 when recording Sounding Out The City began, had just released Thunder Chicken, the first record by his high
school band The Mighty Imperials. At the time of SOTC, Michels was just discovering early rocksteady, afrobeat, and 60's garage rock,
which inevitably crept its way into the songwriting. He purchased a Tascam 388, an 80's 1/4" reel to reel 8 track intended for home
recordings, and began recording music in a 10x10 box with no windows that also doubled as his childhood bedroom. Along with fellow
Mighty Imperials Nick Movshon, Homer Steinweiss, and Sean Solomon, and Michael Leonhart, Thomas Brenneck, and some of the
musicians from The Dap Kings, Michels recorded the LP over a two year period.
Upon it's release, it received some rave reviews and the small deep funk community ate it up, but due to the lack luster promotion and
distribution the rest of the world was slow to catch on to the instrumental gems featured on SOTC, which Michels appropriately labeled
as "cinematic soul". However, in 2005 it found it's way into the hands of the people who were organizing a series of concerts for Scion
that paired bands with MC's. El Michels Affair was contacted about playing one show with Raekwon The Chef of Wu Tang Clan fame. The
show was such a success it led to a tour, and then to another set of concerts that featured multiple members of the Wu-Tang Clan. This
eventually led to the release of El Michels Affair's second record, "Enter the 37th Chamber" which introduced them to a much larger
audience and has been their most successful release to date.
Michels has since gone on to produce and co-produce numerous records for powerhouse soul artists like Lee Fields. He shares
songwriting credits with Adele, Jay-Z, Ghostface Killah, Aloe Blacc, and has played on records by Ray LaMontagne, Lana Del Rey, The
Black Keys and Dr. John.

Big Crown Records is proud to present Do It Again the first single from Lady Wray’s new album Queen Alone. The 45 and upcoming album is produced by Leon Michels and Thomas Brenneck.

Big Crown Records is proud to present Brainstory's sophomore full-length album Sounds Good. Based in L.A. but hailing from the Inland Empire's own Rialto, California, two-thirds of Brainstory, Kevin and Tony Martin are brothers by blood, while Eric Hagstrom is a brother through their music and long term friendship. Since they started the band they have constantly faced situations that forced them to rise to the occasion. They got signed to Big Crown Records, they stepped up their game. Covid happened, they learned to record themselves. They started touring a ton sharing the stage with the likes of Lady Wray and they got their live show super tight. All of this time spent grinding and growing has certainly paid off. The path to take their art to the next level is clearer than ever, and once again, they are here for it. If there is one thing that is abundantly clear on Sounds Good, it's that Brainstory has leveled up. Part of this evolution is undoubtedly attributed to having access to and working constantly in their own studio in Long Beach. Another major factor is that their brotherhood has expanded. "I've been playing music with my brother all my life and now with Eric for a long time," Tony tells us. "Leon, though, is like another brother I've just met." Leon Michels, Big Crown's co-owner, produced this record and applied his unmistakable golden touch in crucial ways. The other member of the extended Brainstory brotherhood whose contributions were essential to the album, is studio engineer legend Jens Jungkurth who controls the tones and textures of the music. "That's what you're hearing, our connection, the fun moments, the little details," Kevin describes. "This record isn't half what it is without them_and it made us want to match that effort," and match that effort they did. Album opener "Nobody But You" is an uplifting, dance ¬oor burner, that shows off a new side of Brainstory's range. Drummer Eric Hagstrom's crushing back beat lays the foundation for an inspirational feel good banger that manages to take the uncomfortable truth that "nobody will save you but you" and turn it into pure blissful motivation. "Peach Optimo" is a laid back half time tune that blends the bounce of Down South Hip-Hop with California G funk and Jazz. They once again show off their B said ballad talents with "Gift Of Life" but this time taking the genre to a new place with lyrics about existentialism and a track that is drop dead gorgeous, haunting, and profound all at once. "NyNy" is an homage to Kev and Tony's recently deceased grandfather while "Too Yung" is a show stopping, deeply personal, stripped down number about being introduced to alcohol at a young age. They put another hit on the boards with "Hanging On," a Latin / Psychedelic Soul inspired banger featuring Claire Cottrill on background vocals while "XFaded" addresses the all too common vicious cycle of smoking and drinking too much over a trippy shuf¬e. "It's been four years since our last full length record, and with everything that's happened since, it's like we've been catching up to ourselves." That's one way to describe change: catching up to oneself. Each member of Brainstory has gone through shifts, both personally and musically, and all of that threads through Sounds Good. It's easy to say that the music industry can be short on lasting, genuine relationships. However, for Brainstory, from day one it's been about standing by each other, for each other.

Big Crown Records is proud to present Brainstory's sophomore full-length album Sounds Good. Based in L.A. but hailing from the Inland Empire's own Rialto, California, two-thirds of Brainstory, Kevin and Tony Martin are brothers by blood, while Eric Hagstrom is a brother through their music and long term friendship. Since they started the band they have constantly faced situations that forced them to rise to the occasion. They got signed to Big Crown Records, they stepped up their game. Covid happened, they learned to record themselves. They started touring a ton sharing the stage with the likes of Lady Wray and they got their live show super tight. All of this time spent grinding and growing has certainly paid off. The path to take their art to the next level is clearer than ever, and once again, they are here for it. If there is one thing that is abundantly clear on Sounds Good, it's that Brainstory has leveled up. Part of this evolution is undoubtedly attributed to having access to and working constantly in their own studio in Long Beach. Another major factor is that their brotherhood has expanded. "I've been playing music with my brother all my life and now with Eric for a long time," Tony tells us. "Leon, though, is like another brother I've just met." Leon Michels, Big Crown's co-owner, produced this record and applied his unmistakable golden touch in crucial ways. The other member of the extended Brainstory brotherhood whose contributions were essential to the album, is studio engineer legend Jens Jungkurth who controls the tones and textures of the music. "That's what you're hearing, our connection, the fun moments, the little details," Kevin describes. "This record isn't half what it is without them_and it made us want to match that effort," and match that effort they did. Album opener "Nobody But You" is an uplifting, dance ¬oor burner, that shows off a new side of Brainstory's range. Drummer Eric Hagstrom's crushing back beat lays the foundation for an inspirational feel good banger that manages to take the uncomfortable truth that "nobody will save you but you" and turn it into pure blissful motivation. "Peach Optimo" is a laid back half time tune that blends the bounce of Down South Hip-Hop with California G funk and Jazz. They once again show off their B said ballad talents with "Gift Of Life" but this time taking the genre to a new place with lyrics about existentialism and a track that is drop dead gorgeous, haunting, and profound all at once. "NyNy" is an homage to Kev and Tony's recently deceased grandfather while "Too Yung" is a show stopping, deeply personal, stripped down number about being introduced to alcohol at a young age. They put another hit on the boards with "Hanging On," a Latin / Psychedelic Soul inspired banger featuring Claire Cottrill on background vocals while "XFaded" addresses the all too common vicious cycle of smoking and drinking too much over a trippy shuf¬e. "It's been four years since our last full length record, and with everything that's happened since, it's like we've been catching up to ourselves." That's one way to describe change: catching up to oneself. Each member of Brainstory has gone through shifts, both personally and musically, and all of that threads through Sounds Good. It's easy to say that the music industry can be short on lasting, genuine relationships. However, for Brainstory, from day one it's been about standing by each other, for each other.

Big Crown Records is proud to present Zero Grace, Liam Bailey's sophomore album on the label. Following the success of 2020's Ekundayo album, the tried and true chemistry of Bailey and producer Leon Michels (El Michels Affair) is on full display again as they take the sound they established and push it further. On Zero Grace they lean more into the bleeding heart singer-songwriter side of Liam. The result, much like Bailey himself, is impulsively honest without reserve. Born and raised in Nottingham, England, the son of an English mother and 2nd generation Jamaican English father, Liam will admit his early childhood was fairly chaotic and filled with "all the cliche racism that happens when people started mixing up in the '80s in England." Liam got his early influences from his mom's record collection. Bob Marley and Dillinger, Stevie Wonder and The Supremes, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix would eventually shape the singer/songwriter we know today. Fast-forward to 2005, Liam is in London performing at every open mic and acoustic night he could, hustling with hopes of landing a record deal. It was through this time that Liam first teamed up with Michels, musician/producer luminary, and the co-founder of Brooklyn's own Big Crown Records. Liam flew out to New York and those first sessions together produced the now classic tunes "When Will They Learn" and "I'm Gonna Miss You" which still gets spins at Reggae spots around the globe and were co-signed by heavy hitters like David Rodigan & Don Letts. That first trip to NYC brought a lot of industry attention to Liam, including being noticed by a just-famous Amy Winehouse who heard one of Liam's apartment-made, lo- recordings, and liked what she heard. Regardless of the audio quality, Liam's particular sound shone through - all guitar, warm-rough and genuine soul. Eventually Liam signed to Polydor and wound up bumping against the typical major label industry obstacles. They already had an idea of the Liam they wanted to make, promote, and push With the typical large advance enticement, Liam did his best to trust that path. "Maybe I can make it work,' that's what you're thinking," Liam remembers, "but, you quickly find out that you can't." Zero Grace is full of freedom and love, in fact, working with Leon Michels and Big Crown Records has encouraged Liam to be himself. On album opener "Holding On '' Bailey speaks to his observations & fears when looking out at the world in front of him and also to the dedication it has taken to get on the other side of his personal trials & tribulations. "Dance With Me" is an instantly infectious two-stepper that nods to those incredible soul records that were coming out of Jamaica during the early Reggae days. Bailey steps into the dance with hopes of finding a new love and pulls us all out on the dance oor with him. "Disorder Starts At Home" is another close to the chest tune that addresses the difficulties he struggles with from his early chaotic childhood and his progress in getting past them. "Mercy Tree" is a powerhouse of Reggae Rebel Music. Bailey addresses the racial tensions that plague humanity and encourages everyone to step up and do their part to help foster equality. What starts out as a declaration of injustice turns into a call for action and an inspiration for hope.

Following up on the incredible success of El Michels & Black Thought's Glorious Game album the duo treat us to another 7" with two of the standouts from the album. The A Side "Hollow Way" is a testament to the chemistry between Leon & Thought. EMA uses his signature sound with a new approach pulling records from his collection and sampling them. The result is a gritty lo sonic backdrop that Black Thought exes his lyrical brillance on weaving a tune about guns and gun violence. The beat change at the end drives the point home, leaving any samples behind and lets the band remind people why they are one of the most in demand acts out there today. The B side "I'm Still Somehow" is a deeply introspective tune that Thought rhymes about vulnerability and overcoming challenges with heavy lines like"a happy black boy is like an alien" and "one crown, who was run down, somehow still standing tall". Michels again takes his ear and sensibility to the sampler, chopping up an old 45 that makes the perfect backdrop for this powerful and timeless song.

Les Imprimés treat us to a tough as nails 7" pulling two stand out tracks from their forthcoming album in a classic Plug & Ballad pairing. The A side "Falling Away'' starts with a crushing drum break that Martens layers with lush piano runs, sitar, and guitar riffs. The lyrics almost contradict the tone of the track making it a bittersweet affair as he sings about love falling apart - "One day at a time girl you waste my life".On the B side "Still Here" Martens professes his resilience through life's twists and turns over a thundering track that puts a new spin on the B side ballad genre. Martens blends his poetry with his excellent usage of space making this yet another tune from Les Imprimés that is easy to love but hard to categorize.

Holy Hive released two full length albums and one EP in the short span of 3 years and then they decided to disband. In 2019, while recording their debut album world renown harpist Mary Lattimore was in NY. They got together in the studio on a whim and wound up recording their Harping EP in a few days. They followed that up with their 2020 full length debut Float Back To You which became an instant cult classic and de¬ned their unique "Folk Soul" sound. Frontman Paul Spring's tender falsetto and maverick guitar playing over Homer Steinweiss' incomparable drumming and production proved to be a match made in heaven and created a sound that piqued the ears and charmed the hearts of all those who heard it. By the time they started recording their sophomore album Covid, commitments, and life started taking their toll on the band. Spring and Steinweiss took their sound and pushed it way forward on their eponymous 2nd album keeping the anchor of their sound they established while exploring where else they could take it. Unbeknownst to the public by the time that record was released the band was done and had moved on to other things individually. While fans will undoubtedly not like this news, we will all have the timeless music they made while together, and, prolifi¬c they certainly were_ Big Crown Vaults Vol. 3 : Holy Hive digs into the treasure trove of unreleased recordings and pulls some that never saw their way to vinyl and in all honesty, this is not even half of what is in there. These recordings were made during their two album sessions largely, some were recorded before they even signed to Big Crown. The compilation kicks off with the tune that started it all on the label, their smashing cover of The Invincibles "This Is My Story" that was previously only on a 7". "Love It Is Not Love", "Middle Of The Night", "Celeste", and their cover of "Kingdom Of The Sun" all feature guest vocals by Shanny of The Shacks who had started playing bass with them at their live shows and sitting in on a lot of the recording sessions. "The Shame" features Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes on bass and El Michels Affair on ute, the latter also plays on "A Perfect Space". At one point in time the would turn the live show over to Paul Spring who would perform the Irish folk tune "Red Is The Rose" in a traditional style with just him singing and playing acoustic guitar and then launch into their rendition of the song that is on Float Back To You. That stripped down version is featured here on Vaults Vol. 3. The comp ¬nishes poetically with "End Of Time" and it is unlikely that we will ever release the rest of what is sitting in the vault. On behalf of ourselves and all the fans we'd like to take this time to thank Holy Hive for the gorgeous music they made together. We will continue to enjoy it forever. Of course as individuals everyone involved from the core members to the people who lent their talents to certain songs continue to make music. Find them, follow them, enjoy their music.

Holy Hive released two full length albums and one EP in the short span of 3 years and then they decided to disband. In 2019, while recording their debut album world renown harpist Mary Lattimore was in NY. They got together in the studio on a whim and wound up recording their Harping EP in a few days. They followed that up with their 2020 full length debut Float Back To You which became an instant cult classic and de¬ned their unique "Folk Soul" sound. Frontman Paul Spring's tender falsetto and maverick guitar playing over Homer Steinweiss' incomparable drumming and production proved to be a match made in heaven and created a sound that piqued the ears and charmed the hearts of all those who heard it. By the time they started recording their sophomore album Covid, commitments, and life started taking their toll on the band. Spring and Steinweiss took their sound and pushed it way forward on their eponymous 2nd album keeping the anchor of their sound they established while exploring where else they could take it. Unbeknownst to the public by the time that record was released the band was done and had moved on to other things individually. While fans will undoubtedly not like this news, we will all have the timeless music they made while together, and, prolifi¬c they certainly were_ Big Crown Vaults Vol. 3 : Holy Hive digs into the treasure trove of unreleased recordings and pulls some that never saw their way to vinyl and in all honesty, this is not even half of what is in there. These recordings were made during their two album sessions largely, some were recorded before they even signed to Big Crown. The compilation kicks off with the tune that started it all on the label, their smashing cover of The Invincibles "This Is My Story" that was previously only on a 7". "Love It Is Not Love", "Middle Of The Night", "Celeste", and their cover of "Kingdom Of The Sun" all feature guest vocals by Shanny of The Shacks who had started playing bass with them at their live shows and sitting in on a lot of the recording sessions. "The Shame" features Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes on bass and El Michels Affair on ute, the latter also plays on "A Perfect Space". At one point in time the would turn the live show over to Paul Spring who would perform the Irish folk tune "Red Is The Rose" in a traditional style with just him singing and playing acoustic guitar and then launch into their rendition of the song that is on Float Back To You. That stripped down version is featured here on Vaults Vol. 3. The comp ¬nishes poetically with "End Of Time" and it is unlikely that we will ever release the rest of what is sitting in the vault. On behalf of ourselves and all the fans we'd like to take this time to thank Holy Hive for the gorgeous music they made together. We will continue to enjoy it forever. Of course as individuals everyone involved from the core members to the people who lent their talents to certain songs continue to make music. Find them, follow them, enjoy their music.

Big Crown Records is proud to present the debut full length offering from Les Imprimés, Rêverie. The stirring and ethereal sounds of Les Imprimés have been making fans of anyone who hears them since their first 7" single hit the speakers. Morten Martens is the man behind the band. Born, raised, and working in Kristiansand, Norway, he keeps a low prole while making his heart felt, highly infectious, and unique music. This album is a long time coming for Martens and it is sure to make him a name to be reckoned with. The first thing you notice listening to Les Imprimés is the high level of musician-ship. Martens plays nearly every instrument on the recordings and handles the production and arranging. He has been making records for decades, winning a Spellemann Award (aka, the Norwegian Grammy) in 2006 for producing a HipHop album as well as getting nominations across three other genres. While awards and accolades speak to the level of his talent, this new album really shows who he is an artist on his own terms. Moving away from being a hired gun on the touring scene naturally led him to start doing more studio work. Slowly collecting gear and getting more experi-ence behind the boards he built his own studio on the island of Odderoya and was making a living playing with and recording other people's music. As the story goes, after those sessions would end he would work on his own project into the wee hours of the night. From these late night sessions, Les Imprimés was born and Rêverie began to take shape. However, "it wasn't until COVID, when things locked down, that I was really able to nd the time to focus on Les Imprimés" Morten says about creating and leading his own solo project. "It was a scary time. But I knew I had to do something with it." He took the sum of his inuences, combined them with his own vibe and got busy writing the music, playing the instruments, and singing the songs. "It's soul music, but I don't exactly have the soul voice," Morten explains humbly. "But I do it my own way, in a way that's mine. "It is his sound, his fingerprint, his sensibility, that makes his music hard to put in a box. The album showcases both Martens' range and his ability to make a cohesive album. The lead single "Falling Away" starts with a raw drum break and turns into a lushly arranged tune that paints the picture of love when it slips away. On "Still Here" he professes his resilience through life's twists and turns over a thundering track that puts a new spin on the B side ballad genre. Songs like "You" and "Our Love" mix tones from 60s and 70s Soul with arrangement nods to Doo Wop records while Martens' lyrics and delivery leave you singing the melodies long after they finish. "Love & Flowers" finds Martens in a moment of clarity with a song that ts the niche sub genre of happy break up tunes, the four on the floor track will move the dancefloor or while the message will resonate with anyone who put too much effort into the wrong situation in their lives. However, it is songs like "Muse" and "Chess" that really encapsulate the uniqueness of Les Imprimés as they push the boundaries of genre, one a profession of love for music and the other a cover of an electronic record respectively. Martens' lyrics, emotion, and delivery truly make the whole thing come together and stand out from any of his peers. There's an infectiousness and a pop sensibility in the writing that is done with the utmost class and taste giving Les Imprimés the rare quality of immediate attraction that only deepens the more you listen.