Expansion Records

Eighties Ladies – Ladies of the Eighties

Label: Expansion / Uno Melodic

Format: LP (180g Vinyl)

Catalog Number: EXLPM66 Release Year: 2020 (Original release 1980)

The Vision

Produced and arranged by Roy Ayers and James Bedford, the group consisted of five vocalists: Sylvia Striplin, Marva Hicks, Denie Corbett, Susan Beaumont, and Sheila Guy. The album is a masterclass in Ayers’ "Vibe-Soul"—characterised by bubbling basslines, ethereal vocal harmonies, and sophisticated, breezy arrangements.

Key Tracks & Highlights

• "Turned On To You": The crown jewel of the album. A mid-tempo "Two-Step" anthem that has been sampled and covered countless times. On this 180g pressing, the warm, round bassline is exceptionally prominent.

• "Give Me Your Love": A high-energy disco-funk track that showcases Sylvia Striplin’s unique, high-register vocals.

• "Ladies of the Eighties": The title track, which acts as a rhythmic manifesto for the "Uptown" New York sound of the era.

• "He Is Mine Forever": A sophisticated ballad that highlights the group's incredible harmonic tightness.

Fascinating Collector’s Facts & Figures

1. The "Uno Melodic" Rarity

Original 1980 copies of this LP on the Uno Melodic label are legendary among collectors.

• The Figure: An original US pressing in Near Mint condition regularly fetches between £400 and £600 ($500–$750).

• The Scarcity: Because the label was independent and had limited distribution, very few copies survived the club scene of the early 80s. EXLPM66 provided the first official, high-quality alternative for those who couldn't afford the original.

2. The Sylvia Striplin Connection

This album served as the springboard for Sylvia Striplin’s solo career.

• The Detail: Sylvia’s voice is the "lead" sound of the Eighties Ladies. Shortly after this album, she recorded her own solo masterpiece, Give Me Your Love, which also sits on the Uno Melodic label and is equally sought after.

3. The James Bedford "Secret Weapon"

While Roy Ayers’ name is on the front, collectors know that James Bedford was the structural genius behind the sound.

• The Fact: Bedford’s production style—characterized by "clean" percussion and melodic synth-bass—is what differentiates the Eighties Ladies from Ayers' more improvisational jazz-funk records on Polydor.

4. The Expansion "Masterpiece" Treatment

Expansion went to great lengths to ensure EXLPM66 was an audiophile-grade release.

• The Detail: Unlike the 1990s Japanese reissues which were sometimes sourced from vinyl, Expansion worked from the original master tapes.

• The Visual: The LP features the iconic original artwork and the "Uno Melodic" logo, maintaining the historical integrity of the release.

Technical Specs for Collectors

• Vinyl Weight: 180g Heavyweight Vinyl (providing a lower noise floor and better bass response).

• Mastering: Transferred from the original 1980 master tapes. The 2020 remastering is noted for its "clarity"—allowing the listener to hear the intricate vibraphone layers that Ayers tucked into the background of the mix.

Collector's Tip: If you own this LP, you own the "blueprints" for 80s soul. Tracks from this album were the primary inspiration for the UK Jazz-Funk movement and the "Acid Jazz" scene that followed a decade later.

Side One

1. Ladies Of The Eighties
2. Tell Him
3. He Is Mine Forever
4. Ladies Of The Eighties (Inst.)

Side Two

1. I Knew That Love
2. It's Easy To Move
3. Sing Me
4. Turned On To You