Review: 'Good Good Music' and 'Chicago' are two gems taken from Roy Ayers's 1983 disco funk album Silver Vibrations, which was last reissued back in 2019 by BBE. This 7" pairs off two of its most vibey cuts. 'Good Good Music' has mad synth squelchy, big organic disco licks and a diva vocal full of soul. On the flip is a late-night romancer, a slow motion smoother with under vocal wishers, low slung funk bass and rich, golden chords for a luxurious feel. Two very different but equally devastating tunes.
Review: Trained by the likes of Jimmy Bo Horne and Marvin Gaye, and eventually co-fronting The Dazz Band, Philly's Jerry Bell has plenty of rich soul heritage behind him. He released one album back in 1981 the flawless soul album Winter Love Affair, and you can certainly feel that short day wistfulness in the two tracks Expansion have picked up for this delightful 7" drop. 'Tell Me You'll Stay' is a sweet heartache anthem, with Bell's voice soaring over the funk-licked, easy-listening arrangement. 'Call On Me' is an outright ballad for when the lights turn down low, ready for the slow jam section or those quiet, cosy moments when the nights draw in.
Review: The Blackbyrds' 'Reggins' is an instrumental jazz-funk masterpiece that originally hardly saw the light of day around the time of the group's formation in the early 1970s. The Washington fusion group were initially mentored by trumpeter Donald Byrd, but their sound came to differ from his sultry and slow tones, working in a more melancholic yet upbeat style, and flowery trumepeteering to boot. This 7" comes in stunning new vinyl quality, with unmatchable audiophile sound lent to two of their best instrumentals.
Review: Cicero 'Corey' Blake was a big name on the Chicago soul scene of the 60s. He himself actually hailed from Jackson, Mississippi and became most well known for the superb reissue 7" presented here. It was recorded in 1975 having been written by Phillip Mitchell and in the years since has become a real modern soul room classic that never fails to detonate any crowd all over the world. It will cost you upwards of a money for an original copy if you can find one and here it is pressed up with the original Sam Dees tune 'Your Love Is Like A Boomerang' on the flip. Essential soul for real heads.
Review: North Carolina outfit Brief Encounter have long been a cult band amongst funk, soul and disco collectors, leading to reissues of both of their albums (1977's Introducing... The Brief Encounter and 1981's We Want To Play). Here Expansion Records continues the trend of delving deep into their catalogue by offering a new edition of 1976 single 'What About Love'. The title track is undeniably excellent - a sweet, funky and attractive chunk of disco-era dancefloor soul just dripping with emotion. Over on the flip you'll find original B-side 'Get Right Down and Do It', a heavier slab of horn-toting disco-funk pleasure that boasts a seriously addictive bassline and some surprisingly surprising synthesizer flourishes.
Review: First released back in 1978 on Parachute Records, Randy Brown's debut album "Welcome To My Room" is one of the better lesser-known Philadelphia soul style sets of the disco era. The team behind Expansions Records are certainly fans, because their latest "45" offers up two of the album's most potent tracks. A-side "I'm Always In The Mood" is simply superb, with Brown doing his best Teddy Pendergrass impression atop a heavily orchestrated, dancefloor-friendly backing track. Flipside "Love Is All We Need" is a little deeper but no less sumptuous, sounding a little like Vincent Montana producing "What's Going On" era Marvin Gaye. In a word: essential.
Review: Jean Carne was an underrated legend of disco and r&b music through the 70s and 80s and this reissue helps one of her gems back into the spotlight. On Side-1, the title track delivers a smooth, sensual slow jam that blends early 80s soul with subtle funk and electronic influences. Carne's vocal performance is nothing short of captivating, evoking both tenderness and passion in equal measure. Side-2 offers 'Heartache', another classy soul track that showcases Carne's ability to convey emotion through her rich, soulful and wide ranging vocal talents. The track effortlessly captures the smooth, seductive essence of early 80s r&b and boogie. Timeless rare grooves from yesteryear like this coming back around to be heard again is what makes reissues so important.
Review: Berkeley-born Cornell CC Carter returns with 'The Change,' which is the lead single from his upcoming album on Expansion. Initially making waves with his debut album Vindicated Soul in 2017, Carter has become a force in the UK soul scene with subsequent albums such as One Love, Absolutely, and Next Life. With a storied career that includes collaborations with The Isley Brothers and performances alongside James Brown, he has been a staple on Expansion's Soul Togetherness and Luxury Soul series, and graced the stage at the Luxury Soul Weekender in Blackpool. Here 'The Change' comes with 'Sometimes,' which is produced by Brian Carter and offers a nice counterpoint to the a-side.
Review: Collins And Collins were originally at the Top Of The Stairs back in 1980 when this one first landed. It has since become a revered underground classic much loved on the modern soul circuit as a timeless gem. The song was first composed by Ashford & Simpson who recorded their own version but when playing live would switch to the Collins & Collins version. The tune first came on CD via Expansion back in 1993 and now gets a first official 7" version back with the exceptionally rare version of Gamble & Huff's 'You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good' which first was recorded by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes in 1975.
Review: Dayton were an Ohio-based band who named themselves after their hometown, and for the first half of the 80s they were enjoying a prolific run of original funk and boogie jams including five studio albums. This single on Expansion leads with their misty-eyed 1983 groover 'Promise Me' - a smooth-as-silk cut with not a lick out of place. On the flip, Expansion have dialled back to the band's self-titled debut album from 1980 and the noticeably more organic sound of 'Eyes On You'. If you simply love great 80s soul tunes or want to get to know Dayton a little better, this is a 7" well worth your time.
Review: This one is a rare soul gem that has not been easy to find on 7" for 40 years. It is one of the countless masterpieces that were produced by the great studio legend Larry Mizell who made it for Alabama born soul singer Brenda Lee Eager. She later relocated to Chicago and sang with Jerry Butler in his back up group Peaches and dueted with him on their million-selling duet 'Ain't Understanding Mellow'. Brenda did more backing singing with the likes of Ray Charles, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder and wrote songs recorded by Bobby Womack, Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight before laying this one down in 1974.
Review: First released way back in 1980 on the album of the same name, 'Coming To You Live' is one of the most beloved dancefloor jams in the sprawling catalogue of sorely missed soul-jazz organist Charles Earland. Here reissued on seven-inch (and therefore presented in edited form), the track blurs the boundaries between Latin-tinged disco and jazz-funk - all heady female group vocals, heady horns, spacey Herbie Hancock synths and infectious grooves. Over on the flip you'll find original B-side 'Street Themes', a breezier, similarly Latin-tinged jazz-funk cut that features some sensational keys-playing from Earland. In a word: essential.
Review: Expansion have been busy recently with a wealth of superb releases all dropping in relatively quick succession. This one comes from 70s and 80s Us soul family, Family Brown. They put out just one album in 1978 and a couple of singles with these two tunes now pressed onto 45rpm some of the best. On the a-side is the slow motion stepper 'Never Had A Love' which has pirouetting strings and male and female vocals playing off in seductive fashion. On the flip is the more groovy but just as melodically lush 'Listen.'
Review: Future Flight could be describable as a 'rare' band, fading to obscurity after the release of their earliest disco/boogie album in the early 80s. Known as 'Hip Notic Lady', collectors and DJs have fantasised, salivated, and tussled over the project ever since learning of its ultra-limited original run. Despite the obscurity of the project, its members were made up of many-a-fixture in the romantic world of American soul, from Lamont Dozier to David Swanson. Perhaps harking to an oncoming reissue of the entire LP, Expansion Records here offer up a 7" reissue of the albums two choicest cuts; the title track and 'Dues', both of which emblematise the album's distinctly swank style.
Review: Here's something rather tasty: a joint release between Expansions and Philadelphia International that brings together two hard-to-find tracks from Philly Soul group The Futures. On the A-side you'll find rare groove scene favourite "Ain't No Time Fa Nuthin", a typically sumptuous and musically rich affair that places the group's inspired soul vocals at the centre of a sugary-sweet Philadelphia Soul groove. B-side "Party Time Man" is a more traditional vocal soul stomper from the turn of the '70s, with sweeping strings and punchy horn lines tracking the group's sweet, sweet harmonies, which is great for getting the dancefloor going.
Review: Recorded following the release of his near-perfect What's Going On Album, with production and arrangement by the Mizell brothers, 'Where Are We Going?' was one of Marvin Gaye's most prophetic singles. Another conscious soul gem - albeit one with a warmer and fuller sound than the distinctively sparse What's Going On album - it was intended to be the centre piece of an album called You're The Man - a set that was subsequently shelved and eventually posthumously released many years later. This Expansion 7" reissue replicates the track listing of the original Motown "45", pairing the brilliant 'Where Are We Going' with the heartfelt and life-affirming celebration of female empowerment that is 'Woman of the World'. An essential reissue!
Review: Gloria Gaynor, renowned for her global hit 'I Will Survive', brings back a forgotten gem in the shape of 'This Love Affair,' re-released by Expansion Records. This soul and disco classic captures pure Philly magic, co-written by Gaynor herself and given that authentic flavour by arrangers Norman Harris and Ron 'Have Mercy' Kersey. Side-1 features the definitive 7" version of 'This Love Affair,' a sought-after rarity since its original 1978 release, with its irresistible groove packed into just 2 minutes and 43 seconds. Side-2 offers the full album version, still beloved by fans. This back-to-back release is great for soul and disco aficionados, showcasing Gaynor's timeless talent and the enduring allure of Philly soul.
Review: Northern Soul devotees have long been captivated by unreleased Motown gems, and this one may be the best yet. Written by Chester and Gary Pipkin, 'Stuck-Up' was crafted to replace Mary Wells after her departure from Motown. Although Oma Heard recorded extensively, including a duet with Marvin Gaye, she was dropped for not fitting the label's image. The song was then given to Shirley Gunter, whose 1966 version on Tangerine Records became one of the rarest Northern Soul records, often fetching over 500 quid. Recently, the original Oma Heard version surfaced on a Motown unreleased CD and has been hailed as a classic by Ian Levine. Now, for the first time, it gets released on vinyl by Motown's V.I.P. label.
Review: This more than handy 7" single brings together two classic disco-era cuts from soul legend Willie Hutch. A-side "Easy Does It", which was originally featured on 1978's In Tune album, features Hutch in full-on Curtis Mayfield mode, singing passionately over a jaunty, jazz-funk influenced backing track laden with swirling strings, choral backing vocals (think Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" album) and Dexter Wansel style synthesizer solos. It's undoubtedly one of Hutch's finest moments and deserves to be in any serious soul head's collection. Flip for 1979's "Kelly Green", a sumptuous soul slow jam in which Hutch pines over a lost lover.
Loving You, Needing You, Loving You, Wanting You (3:47)
Watch Where You're Going (3:27)
Review: Detroit native Bobby Hutton made history by performing on the first nationally televised Soul Train episode in 1971. His journey in music led him to record with Phillips, producing many sought after tracks.
The two tracks on this 7" were originally released back-to-back in 1974 on the ABC label. Both songs were co-written and produced by McKinley Jackson, who played a significant role in crafting hits for Lamont Dozier, Freda Payne, and The Four Tops at ABC during the early to mid-70s. Grammy Award-winning Reggie Dozier, Lamont Dozier's brother, also contributed as a co-writer. This 7" has not been reissued in 40 years, and original copies are highly prized in the UK. Northern Soul music is one of the most in-demand genres for rare 45 diggers. This is a great example.
Review: The Invitations have roots tracing back to the mid-60s and saw various lead singers take the mic until Lew Kirton joined in 1973. Kirton's vocals grace both 'Look On The Good Side' and 'They Say The Girl's Crazy' from 1974 which are now reissued for the first time. Originally released on Silver Blue Records, a label founded by songwriter and producer Joel Diamond, these tracks were arranged and co-produced by Bobby Martin in Philadelphia and boast the unmistakable Philly Sound. Kirton later departed for a successful solo career, notably remembered for hits like 'Heaven In The Afternoon' but this reissue brings forth a timeless slice of soul history.
Review: Chuck Jackson's 'Waiting In Vain' was actually written by Bob Marley who also released it first in 1997 with his band The Wailers. Soul talent Jackson though took the tune in a whole other direction with the help of some great baking singers and session musicians. The sax lines are glorious, the vocals lush and harmonic and the rhythm section as smooth as silk. Jackson's own voice adds the icing on the cake and on the flip 'No Tricks' pairs big stabs with smooth Phiily strings and another standout vocal performance.
Review: Expansions' latest essential reissue takes us back to 1980 and the much sought after seven-inch edition of singer Ty Karim's collaboration with lesser-known soul man George Griffin. "Keep On Doin' Whatcha' Doin'" was written and produced by Karim's other half Kent Harris and, like the original seven inch, appears here in two parts. The glorious A-side version is a lolloping chunk of disco-era sweet soul rich in soaring orchestration, fluttering flutes and Marvin Gaye/Tammi Tyrell style duet vocals from Karim and Griffin. Part two focuses more on the killer groove and the duo's impassioned improvised vocalizations, with a variety of tasty solos helping to whip things into a mid-tempo dancefloor frenzy.
Review: A lot of us have to thank Expansions for switching us on to Matlock in the first place, thanks to them unearthing him for their Soulchasers collection way back in the early 90s. Here they return to two of Glenn's finest, silkiest soul diamonds. Written for the romantics, produced for the dancefloor right at the very end of the classic 70s sound, "You Got The Best Of Me" has an upbeat Barry White feel to its delivery and sentiment while "I Can't Forget About You" has a lighter touch and flightier flow. The former previous super-rare on 45, the latter never press to 45 before... Both supreme and timeless.
Review: Legendary Miami songstress Gwen McCrae had plenty of huge hits in her arsenal, from '90% Of Me Is You' to 'It's Worth The Hurt.' Her biggest tune by far is the enduring classic and sure fire dance floor heater 'Keep The Fire Burning.' The strident disco funk beats, the soaring vocal and the impossible warmth and soul of it all never fail to make a mark. Here it is backed with the more slow and deep cut funk of 'Funky Sensation,' which gets those hips swinging and hands clapping.
Review: Expansion deals pretty much in good vibes only and that is what we have here with OZONE's '(Our Hearts) Will Always Shine'. It is a 7" that radiates with infectious energy and heartfelt emotion as it seamlessly blends elements of pop, electronic, and dance music. The uplifting melodies soar high, the pulsating beats power things along and the soulful vocals deliver a message of resilience and positivity. The song's anthemic chorus is destined to take listeners to a new level and ignite dance floor in equal measure and it sure does that. 'Mighty Mighty' on the flip is another feel good and upbeat funky disco workout.
Review: The Paradise Projex was created by ex-music director Phil Edwards and is a showcase of his years of experience as a musician, songwriter and producer. Combining soulful sounds with creative innovation, the project embraces an inclusive approach that leans on music's ability to unite minds across continents, cultures and even generations. This month sees the release of their new album I Am You, which includes the single 'Here & Now' and is a former number one on the UK Soul Breakers chart. Next to that comes this special 7" including two vinyl exclusives - 'Magic Night' and 'Someone Like You' are fine soul, nu-jazz and broken beat twisters.
Review: A veritable wall of soul sound comes from Pleasure, the Portland, Oregon band whose works were sampled by the likes of LL Cool J and Michael Jackson. 'We Have So Much' is an example of mega-falsettoing, climactic funk, urgently laying home the fact that 'it's now or never', and that, baby, 'it's time to talk about it'. Meanwhile the B-side cut, 'Joyous', meanwhile, hears the aftermath of said relationship's end. A gem from Sherman Davis and co.
Review: Michigan-via-Ohio gospel group Rance Allen have been going for decades, and thanks to Expansion Records, two of their best known tunes now have a chance at relistenership. 'I Feel Like Going' on barely saw a resurfacing on YouTube, but just one listen and we're sure... this is a shockingly important slice of wax, with slapping electronic disco-soul production embedding sax, viola and castanets in what ought to be considered a criminally undersought pair of dance opals. A modern soul masterclass.
Review: David Ruffin's 1977 classic "I Can't Stop The Rain" has carried on being essential throughout the ages. An original copy is still worth much more than it was initially sold for and the Mississippi artist's voice carries as much soul now as it did right back in the Motown heyday. His biggest single takes up the a-side of this new 7" from Expansion and its swooning strings, buttery vocals and rousing and strident groove cannot fail to uplift. "Questions:" on the flip is a little more subdued, with more thoughtful vocals but the whole thing still benefits from superbly rich Philly disco stylings that are golden and glorious.
You Can't Turn Me Away (Produced By Roy Ayers) (4:32)
Review: Sylvia Striplin has been heavily sampled by all manner of artists over the years. Here one of her biggest hits 'Give Me Your Love' is presented on a 7" for the first time with 'You Said' on the flip. The A-side is the one with its big funky licks, low-slung bass line and celebratory riffs all finished off with the glorious vocal itself. 'You Said' is a more jazzy and low-key number, with swirling drums and hip-swinging claps taking you later into the night on a more cosy and personal vibe.
Bill Summers & Summers Heat - "Don't Fade Away" (4:10)
Review: This rare groove reissue by Expansion Records looks back on the best work of New Orleans percussionist Bill Summers, whose efforts lent revolutions to the latin jazz styles of the early 80s. These are choice bits taken from disparate points in his career; 'Come Into My Life' is a sultry, subtle, slow slice of emotive soul recorded with Earth Wind & Fire's Skip Scarborough. 'Don't Fade Away', meanwhile, features the backing band Summers Heat, and raises the stakes with a striking vocal feature from Leo Miller.
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