Expansion Records

The Product: Willie Bobo – Always There / Comin’ Over MeLabel: Expansion / ColumbiaFormat: 7" Vinyl Single (45 RPM)Catalog Number: EXS006 Release Year: 2018Side A: "Always There"This is the "compact" 7" edit of the track from the 1978 album Hell Of An Act To Follow. While the album version is a sprawling jazz-funk odyssey, the EXS006 7-inch version is tightened to 3:49, focusing the energy directly on that iconic horn hook and Bobo’s driving percussion.+1Side B: "Comin’ Over Me"An essential B-side featuring vocals by Errol Knowles. Before this Expansion release, "Comin' Over Me" was strictly an album-only track or found on the flip of rare 12" singles. This marks the first time this vocal gem has ever been issued on a 7" 45 RPM record.+1Collector’s Figures: EXS006 vs. The OriginalsFeatureOriginal US 7" (1978)Expansion EXS006 (2018)B-Side"Fairy Tales For Two""Comin’ Over Me"Market Value£60 – £120+£10 – £15AudioPitman/Styrene PressingsRemastered VinylRarityHigh (Promo Only)In-Print / High DemandWhy EXS006 is a "Must-Have"The B-Side Advantage: For many DJs, the Expansion release is actually more desirable than the original US 7" because it swaps out "Fairy Tales For Two" for the much more dancefloor-friendly "Comin' Over Me."Audio Integrity: Original 1978 US 7" copies were often pressed on Styrene (a cheaper plastic used in the US). Styrene wears down quickly and can develop a "hiss" after many plays. The EXS006 is pressed on high-quality Black Vinyl, ensuring it can survive heavy club use.The "Double Sider" Status: In the Northern and Modern Soul scenes, a "Double Sider" (where both sides are floor-fillers) is the gold standard. EXS006 turned a jazz-funk rarity into a functional, two-sided club weapon. Collector's Fact: The "Always There" melody is so infectious it has been sampled or covered over 20 times, but the Willie Bobo version is the only one that features the specific Afro-Cuban "guaguancó" rhythm underneath the funk, a nod to Bobo's roots as a percussionist for Tito Puente.