“Look at it! There’s a guy in a Muslim skull cap and glasses, singing about space and love – wicked! Blows your mind!” Norman Jay
Lonnie Liston Smith's "Expansions" is one of the most influential records ever to have been released with its sound ricocheting through many different music scenes. It is one of dance music's fundamental building blocks, and an anthem to UK club-land.
Now for its 50th Anniversary we are celebrating that influence by a ultra-high quality deluxe vinyl edition of the album. Using the original album master tape we decamped to Frank Merritt's East London studio, the Carvery, for an all Analogue cut of the album - it has never sounded better!
We have housed this in a tip-on a laminated gatefold sleeve, which has allows Jack Martin's original painting of Lonnie to shine as never before. We have also a fully illustrated sleeve note by Frank Tope, telling the story of how the record took its journey through the universe from its spiritual jazz routed to become a club land anthem. This story is told with help from Gilles Peterson, Norman Jay and more.
The album as a whole is essential, going beyond the dance-ability of the title track, through its seven tracks to be one of the great jazz albums of the 70s. Produced by Lonnie and Bob Thiele (producer of Gil Scott-Heron's “Pieces Of A Man” and John Coltrane's “A Love Supreme”) it should be in every record collection.
