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EXPANSION
This is a reissue of the first Bill Summers single, “Come Into My Life”. The song is taken from his debut album “Feel The Heat” in 1977 from which Quincy Jones states in the liner note “Bill Summers is a major talent whose time has come”. They met through Herbie Hancock, Bill playing with Headhunters prior to working with Quincy playing drums and percussion on the TV series “Roots”. “Come Into My Life” features singer Deborah Thomas the same year she recorded the “Sweet Lucy” vocals for Raul De Souza and sang on the “Reach For It” album with George Duke. The song was written by drummer on the record, Alphonse Mouzon, and features Ray Obiedo guitar, Paul Jackson bass, a horn section featuring Roger Glenn with both Mark Soskin and the track’s producer Skip Scarborough on keyboards. The single is coupled with “Don’t Fade Away” from the second album “Cayenne”, the first which features Bill’s group Summer’s Heat. The song features Leo Miller on lead vocals and introduces Rodney Franklin on keyboards among the Bay area musicians who play. It is produced by Ndugu would later become drummer with The Crusaders. Bill recorded four albums for the Prestige label between 1977 and 1979. They all feature an all star 'who's who' line up of guests musicians, many just starting out ahead of their own hits and careers still thriving today. Others were already at the forefront of the music scene. The albums come from a unique moment in time and Bill hopes the interest in this single will prompt the label owners, Concord, to reintroduce all his works from that period, particularly online where only his dance hit “Straight To The Bank” features on a compilation. Bill is still an active musician and educator. There is a new Headhunters album coming on which he plays, and is working on a new album “Past & Present” with older songs revisited and new compositions included too. The music and playing of Bill Summers is beyond jazz funk and soul, it’s timeless and appeals beyond genres. “Come Into My Life” Sampled by: Motion Man, Graphidi Logik, The Last Trip To Gandahar.
TRACK LISTING
1. Don't Fade Away
2. Come Into My Life
Ethel Beatty is an artist from New York who primarily worked as an actress in theatre, appearing in Broadway musicals. She appeared in “Dreamgirls”, “Sugar Hills”, “Bubbling Brown Sugar” and (with Gregory Hines) in “Eubie”. Her most significant recording is this double header with writer/producer and master of the vibes Roy Ayers on Uno Melodic Records. While both songs have been reissued on 7” and compilations over the years, it is still the 12” people that people want. Rare original copies have sold for £500. “It’s Your Love” is co-written by another soul jazz icon, Dee Dee Bridgewater, both tracks having that Roy Ayers vibe that makes this record extremely sought after by rare groove fans. Both tracks continue to be endlessly sampled within the hip hop and R&B scenes.
TRACK LISTING
1. It's Your Love
2. I Know You Care
Mexican/American percussionist Coke Escovedo was brother to Pete Escovdeo and uncle to Sheila Escovedo (Sheila E.). He performed live with artists including Santana and Cal Tjader, and recorded three solo albums in the mid-70s for Mercury Records. His version of the Johnny Bristol song “I Wouldn’t Change A Thing” (featuring lead singer Errol Knowles) is considered the best, and the most played song from his 1976 album “Comin’ At Ya”. It has become a modern soul room classic, and copies of the first 7” release twelve years ago now exchange hands for vast sums. An essential reissue. “Rebirth” is another classy track and features the vocals of Linda Tillery.
In demand northern/crossover soul record. Original copies exchange hands for £150
In demand northern/crossover soul record. Original copies exchange hands for £150
TRACK LISTING
1. Rebirth
2. I Wouldn't Change A Thing
Louisiana Soul singer Bobby King first recorded as a solo artist in 1973 for the Reprise label where he also sang for Ry Cooder. In 1981 he switched to the main Warner Brorthers imprint and recorded what has become for soul fans a most highly regarded self-titled album. “If You Don’t Want My Love” became a single, an original pressing for this ‘modern’ dancefloor record recently onsale for £300. It is coupled with an exceptuional track from the album “Lovers By Night” not previously available on 7” vinyl.
Rare A side, in-demand B Side first time on 7”
Rare A side, in-demand B Side first time on 7”
TRACK LISTING
1. If You Don't Want My Love
2. Lovers By Night
Expansion’s most successful and longest running compilation series returns with a 2017 edition. The concept remains the same, fifteen must-have modern soul room gems taken from the year’s biggest dance floor spins on the soul scene. While tracks here have topped UK soul charts, many have not been available in all formats. Once again, attention is paid to the ‘flow’ of the 15 gems chosen here from shuffling beats to boogie to more soulful house as played at modern soul events. Participants this year include Omar with Los Charly’s Orchestra, Tawatha Agree (voice of Mtume’s “Juicy Fruit”) with Aeroplane, Kenny Thomas with Thames River Soul produced by and featuring Incognito, and both Wez and The Groove Association formerly members of Brit Funk group Second Image. Leela James is here after her stint in a US realty TV show “R&B Divas: Los Angeles”, other guests including Amp Fiddler, Faith Evans, Trina Broussard and Lifford.
Biggest modern soul room tracks of 2017 Most tracks released on physical format for the first time.
Biggest modern soul room tracks of 2017 Most tracks released on physical format for the first time.
TRACK LISTING
1. History - Los Charly Orchestra Feat. Omar
2. Love On Hold (Extended Mix) - Aeroplane Feat. Tawatha Agee
3. 2nd Time Around - Tuxedo
4. Love X Love - Thames River Soul Feat. Kenny Thomas
5. There 4 U - Leela James
6. When I Luv - Mike City Feat. Faith Evans
7. Lost Without You - Will Sessions And Amp Fiddler
8. T's All Divine (extended Boogie Back Mix) - James Day
9. Good Kinda Lovin - Jay King
10. Doublin' Down - The Jack Moves
11. Keepin' Love New (Club Mix) - Wez
12. Flowered Tears (DJ Spen Soul Flower Remix) - S.E.L
13. One For The Money (Gold Digger Mix) - The Groove Association Feat. Georgie B, Wez & Everis
14. Back To You - Paul Craver
15. Kissing You (Original Mix) - Wipe The Needle Feat. Lifford
Following his role establishing the Motown sound as part of Holland/Dozier/Holland, Lamont went solo and these two tracks come from his 1981 album “Working On You”. Originally released by Columbia in the smooth, lush sounding style of the day, complete with Lamont’s signature vocal, neither of the two tracks here were released as single despite finding huge favour with modern soul audiences. “You Made Me A Believer” is one of his most enduring soul night floorfillers. Expansion also released the full “Working On You” album on remastered CD.
TRACK LISTING
1. You Made Me A Believer
2. Starting Over