Richards Brothers , Baba Brooks Band - I Shall Wear The Crown (Test Pressing) / Duck Soup (7")

Arthur "Duke" Reid recorded 'I Shall Wear a Crown' at Kingston's Federal Records Studio in 1963. Occupying the A-side, the track pairs the gospel-influenced vocal harmonies of the duo credited as the Richard Brothers with a brass section fronted by trumpeter Oswald "Baba" Brooks and his band. Released on Reid's Dutchess imprint, the single captures the sound of Kingston's sound system scene just before Jamaican musicians came together to form The Skatalites. Four decades later, UK producers Duke and Chris Peckings revisited the underlying riddim for Bitty McLean's 2004 vocal Only You.

Once the Richard Brothers finish their vocal pass on the top side, the flip side's instrumental 'Duck Soup' shifts into high gear. A sharp drum intro sets off an unrelenting ska riddim led by Brooks on trumpet, making it impossible to stand still. Beyond his work for Duke Reid, the trumpeter and bandleader ran sessions for Prince Buster and Sonia Pottinger, and recorded Guns Fever for Coxsone Dodd in 1965. Duck Soup originally debuted on Jamaican 7-inch vinyl in 1962 as the B-side to Derrick & Patsy's vocal duet 'Love Not To Brag'.