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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
Beginning as a mystery Diplomats Of Soul (D.O.S) 12” release in September, this record raised multiple questions: was it new? Was it old? Was it a bootleg? Who are D.O.S? Soon the limited edition 12” pressing release, serviced to a handful of DJs and tastemakers, was commanding £100 online.
The record is a re-make of a Carmen Amez disco/boogie record from 1983 - which itself trades for over £200 on a questionable quality pressing - that demanded a freshly re-recorded version with strings, horns, bells, whistles and Vanessa Haynes on vocals. The song was originally a Paul Anka composition/ recording but this version has Diplomats Of Soul in collaboration with Incognito’s Bluey and an outstanding cast of UK musicians. D.O.S. and Bluey previously worked together on renditions of “Sweet Power Your Embrace” and “Brighter Tomorrow”. Puzzle solved! The record is available now.
The record is a re-make of a Carmen Amez disco/boogie record from 1983 - which itself trades for over £200 on a questionable quality pressing - that demanded a freshly re-recorded version with strings, horns, bells, whistles and Vanessa Haynes on vocals. The song was originally a Paul Anka composition/ recording but this version has Diplomats Of Soul in collaboration with Incognito’s Bluey and an outstanding cast of UK musicians. D.O.S. and Bluey previously worked together on renditions of “Sweet Power Your Embrace” and “Brighter Tomorrow”. Puzzle solved! The record is available now.
TRACK LISTING
1. Never Gonna Fall In Love Again (Like I Fell In Love With You) - Vocal
2. Never Gonna Fall In Love Again (Like I Fell In Love With You) - Disco Instrumental
The standout track on Porter's 2010 LP "Water", "1960 What?" was soon picked up by Expansion, introducing the wilder world to the expressive vocals and jazz-flecked style of the now universally acclaimed soulman. Taking a civil rights flashpoint as his inspiration, Porter offers a lyrical narrative of injustice, police brutality and rioting, his rich voice expressing emotional complexity and moral maturity as he goes. When taken with the propulsive double bass line, crashing jazz percussion and thunderous brass, the message takes on a revelatory weight, especially considering the contemporary issues of racial discrimation and police brutality overshadowing the USA. Alongside the deep and political soul jazz of the A-side, the Expansion release offered a STELLAR remix from boogie revivalist Opolopo, who quantised the track for easy mixing and dance floor consistency before adding a weighty club kick and thick synth bassline, resulting in a fresh version which filled dancefloors for the house, soul, jazz funk and disco scenes. Killer stuff.
STAFF COMMENTS
Patrick says: Expansion give a fresh press to one of their finest contemporary releases (It's 7 years old, but Dave swears it was yesterday), Gregory Porter's protest soul smasher "1960 What?", with that killer Opopolo house remix taking the lead. Essential stuff.TRACK LISTING
1. 1960 What? (Opolopo Kick & Bass Re-Rub)
2. 1960 What?
“Get It Up For Love” is an all time balearic classic. Written by Ned Doheny (whose uncle, Daniel Day Lewis's character in 'There Will Be Blood' was based) it's appeared on more comps than we can count. This version from 1974, was the first cover version. It went on to be recorded by Tata Vega, the Average White Band and of course, Ned himself on his second album, 'Hard Candy'.
Original 7” copies exchange hands for between £50 and £100.
Stephen's version is, dare I say it? as good as, if not better, than Ned's. A bit faster, a bit funkier but could still soundtrack any number of Adriatic sunsets and, as if that weren't enough, it's coupled with the full-length album version on the flip.
Diplomats Of Soul is a new subsidiary of Expansion aiming to reissue hidden gems that you never knew you needed.
Original 7” copies exchange hands for between £50 and £100.
Stephen's version is, dare I say it? as good as, if not better, than Ned's. A bit faster, a bit funkier but could still soundtrack any number of Adriatic sunsets and, as if that weren't enough, it's coupled with the full-length album version on the flip.
Diplomats Of Soul is a new subsidiary of Expansion aiming to reissue hidden gems that you never knew you needed.
TRACK LISTING
1. Get It Up For Love (Album Version)
2. Get It Up For Love
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
Debra Laws is sister to Ronnie Laws, Hubert Laws and Eloise Laws, all of whom have enjoyed solo success. The family came together in 1981 on Debra’s solo album “Very Special” with vocal, musical, songwriting and production contributions alongside other outstanding names of the day. “On My Own” was written and produced by Ronnie Laws who also features on sax. The song was one of the classiest dance floor records of its day and has become sought after again on 12” vinyl. “Very Special” again features Ronnie Laws and features Arthur Adams on guitar. It is co-produced by Hubert Laws, original 12” copies of this exchanging hands for up to £150. It has been sampled by Jennifer Lopez (featuring LL Cool J), Big Daddy Kane, Mary J. Blige and others. This is the first time both these tracks have been combined on the same 12” release.
TRACK LISTING
1. Very Special
2. On My Own
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