Soulive's Al Evans Unearths Crushed Velvet's Long Lost Movie Soundtrack

Soulive's Alan Evans stumbled upon a long-lost musical gem, the motion picture soundtrack to The Big One by Crushed Velvet and The Velveteers, when a family friend in Buffalo, NY  put him in touch with the movie's director Cleo McBride. One of NYC's premiere funk and soul bands of the late 60's and 70's, The Velveteers, led by vocalist and guitarist Crushed Velvet, were contacted by McBride, an old band mate, to record the soundtrack to the film.

A Shaft-meets James Bond style Blaxploitation flick originally set to be released in 1974, The Big One never got a chance to shine on the big screen, as the film was said to have been destroyed in a fire after it was finished. With no film to accompany the music, the soundtrack was shelved and the band broke up.Lost to obscurity, the album languished until Evans was called in to mix the original sessions and release the soundtrack through Soulive's record label Royal Family Records.

The Big One will be released as a free MP3 album download and on limited vinyl edition on May 24. View the track list and listen to the The Big One's "Main Theme" below. You can also watch a video of Alan Evans explaining the movie's history.

1. The Big One (Main Theme)
2. Thunderbird
3. Felecia's Love Theme
4. Detroit Slim
5. The Lay Down
6. Memphis Stomp
7. London Black (pts. 1,2,3)
8. Big Chase
9. The Big One (End Theme)