Expansion Records

Ronnie Dyson – All Over Your Face / You Better Be Fierce

Label: Expansion / Cotillion (Atlantic)

Format: 7" Vinyl Single (45 RPM)

Catalog Number: EX7002 Release Year: 2015 (Original track 1983)

Side A: All Over Your Face

Taken from the 1983 album The Lady in Red, this is a masterpiece of "Uptown" 80s Boogie. It features a sophisticated, driving rhythm section and Ronnie’s incredible vocal range. It was a massive anthem at the Paradise Garage in New York and remains a "peak-time" essential for the UK’s Soul and Jazz-Funk scene.

Side B: You Better Be Fierce

A rare, high-energy funk-soul track that showcases Ronnie’s more aggressive, rhythmic delivery. It serves as the perfect "double-sider," giving collectors a more obscure cut to balance the famous A-side.

Fascinating Collector’s Facts & Figures

1. The John Morales "M&M" Mix

The reason this track sounds so spectacular on a sound system is due to the mixing desk genius of John Morales.

• The Fact: Morales was one half of the legendary M&M Mix team. He specialized in extending the "groove" of a track to make it work for the club culture of the early 80s.

• The Figure: Collectors value the Expansion release because it captures the punch and clarity of the original Cotillion master tapes, which can often sound "muddy" on poorly preserved original 12-inch singles.

2. The Butch Ingram Production

The track was produced by Butch Ingram, part of the famous Ingram family of Philadelphia.

• The Detail: This brings a distinct "Philly-meets-NYC" energy to the record. It has the musicality of a Philadelphia production but the hard-driving, electronic edge of the New York club scene.

3. The "Rare Groove" Status

In the UK, "All Over Your Face" is a cornerstone of the Rare Groove movement.

• The Impact: During the mid-to-late 80s, this track was a "secret weapon" for London DJs. Because Ronnie Dyson was often perceived as a "Broadway" or "Ballad" singer, this high-energy dance track took many by surprise and became a cult classic.

4. The Cotillion Label Identity

Expansion utilized the iconic Cotillion Records label design (the "C" logo with the blue and pink/orange background).

• The Visual: Cotillion was a subsidiary of Atlantic Records and served as the home for many of the label's more adventurous R&B and dance acts in the early 80s.

Technical Specs for Collectors

• Mastering: Remastered specifically for 45 RPM. The bassline is significantly more defined on this 2015 pressing compared to the original LP cut, which had to accommodate 4-5 other tracks on the same side.

• Tempo: The A-side sits at roughly 114 BPM, making it the perfect partner for tracks by The Whispers or Shalamar.

Collector's Tip: Ronnie Dyson records are often undervalued by general collectors but are "trophy" items for soul purists. If you play EX7002 right after Michael Wycoff (EXS010), you will maintain a perfect early-80s "Boogie" energy that is impossible for a dancefloor to resist.