Black Velvet is the new posthumous album honoring Charles Bradley, compiling unreleased songs recorded over the late soul singer’s previous three LPs.
With the trusty Daptone rhythm and horn section behind him, the self-described “screaming eagle of soul” is in rare form on these tracks, which sequence remarkably well despite being a collection of rarities.
Frequently compared to James Brown and Otis Redding in his short, late-blooming career, Bradley deserves to be first remembered as a singular voice in his own right. One year after his passing, it’s only more apparent what a special talent we lost.
Score: ✊✊✊✊/5
Ryan is a writer, editor and vinyl collector currently based in Los Angeles. He started Mini Music Critic in 2017.