EXPANSION reissues an iconic early 80s album from ROY AYER's UNO MELODIC imprint, eight tracks of stunning soul, disco, boggie, and rare groove. Original vinyl copies go for hundreds of pounds, thus this reissue is in high demand.
1980 and 1981 were Sylvia Striplin's biggest years. Fresh from her brief but crucial role in Norman Connors' Aquarian Dream, another essential figure in the jazz-funk phenomenon, Roy Ayers, provided multiple outlets for the sweet-voiced singer. Shortly after Striplin released an album with Ayers' Eighties Ladies' project, she broke out with a solo album. Both of these releases were issued on Ayers' Uno Melodic label, and while they didn't reach full-blown crossover status on the R&B charts, they eventually became rare groove favorites. Ayers, assisted by James Bedford, produced and arranged this affair, but Striplin truly is the star; her voice is neither booming nor wailing, maintaining a youthful but powerful sweetness throughout eight songs that stick to sophisticated R&B constructs. Not a single track is weak, but a few stand out: the slinky, oft-sampled "You Can't Turn Me Away" (its squelching effects should be familiar to any hip-hop fan) shows Striplin at her most sultry. "Give Me Your Love" is an irresistible up-tempo number full of drive and punch, while the low-key and feather-light "All Alone" benefits from subtle string arrangements. One who is into Ayers and/or polished early-'80s R&B cannot afford to overlook this.
| 1 | Look Towards The Sky |
| 2 | Toy Box |
| 3 | You Can't Turn Me Away |
| 4 | All Alone |
| 5 | Give Me Your Love |
| 6 | We Will Ever Pass This Way Again |
| 7 | Searchin' |
| 8 | You Said |
