Expansion Records

If you are a fan of Jazz-Funk with a heavy "West Coast" lean, EXS036 is a mandatory addition to your collection. Based in Portland, Oregon, Pleasure was the premier outfit for a specific brand of sophisticated, rhythmically complex funk that paved the way for the 80s "Boogie" scene. This Expansion 45 pairs two of their most refined tracks from the late 70s, making it a "double-sider" for both the dancefloor and the deep-listening sessions. The Product: Pleasure – Thoughts of Old Flames / Joyous Label: Expansion / Fantasy Format: 7" Vinyl Single (45 RPM) Catalog Number: EXS036 Release Year: 2021 Side A: "Thoughts of Old Flames" Taken from the 1979 album Future Now, this is the pinnacle of "Quiet Storm" Jazz-Funk. It is a smooth, atmospheric mid-tempo builder featuring a haunting bassline and a brass arrangement that breathes with effortless cool. It has become an anthem on the UK's Modern Soul and "Two-Step" scenes. Side B: "Joyous" The total opposite of the A-side. Originally the title track of their 1977 album, "Joyous" is a high-octane, percussion-heavy funk monster. It features a relentless groove and cosmic synth flourishes that made it a staple in the boxes of everyone from Larry Levan at the Paradise Garage to early Hip-Hop DJs in the Bronx. Fascinating Collector’s Facts & Figures 1. The Wayne Henderson Production Pleasure were the protégés of Wayne Henderson (of The Crusaders). The Fact: Henderson signed them to his own production company and brought that signature "Crusaders" crispness to their sound. The Figure: You can hear the high-level musicianship—the band members were so proficient that they often played as session musicians for other Fantasy Records artists, including Side Effect. 2. The Sample That Defined a Decade If the bassline on "Joyous" feels familiar, it’s because it is one of the most sampled tracks in Hip-Hop and House history. The Figure: It was famously sampled by Janet Jackson ("Feedback"), Sugarhill Gang, and most notably by Daft Punk. The Impact: Because of its sampling pedigree, original US Fantasy 7-inch copies were often "played to death" or "beat-juggled" by Hip-Hop DJs, making clean copies exceptionally rare. 3. The 42-Year Wait for "Old Flames" While "Joyous" was a hit in '77, "Thoughts of Old Flames" remained an "album-only" gem for most territories. The Scarcity: Before the EXS036 release, collectors who wanted "Thoughts of Old Flames" on a 7-inch single had to hunt for a very rare 1979 US promo or a Japanese pressing. Expansion’s release marks the first time it has been paired with "Joyous" on a high-quality 45. 4. The "Portland Sound" Pleasure was unique because they didn't come from the usual soul hubs like Detroit or Philly. The Fact: They represented the "Portland Sound"—a mix of jazz, funk, and rock influences. This geographic isolation gave them a distinct, technical edge that made their music sound more "futuristic" than their contemporaries, which is why the 1979 album was aptly titled Future Now. Technical Specs for Collectors Mastering: Expansion utilized the Fantasy/Concord masters. The 45 RPM cut on EXS036 is particularly noted for its "bass-heavy" EQ, which is essential for bringing out the intricate thumb-bass work of Nathaniel Phillips on the B-side. The Label: The record features a beautiful recreation of the Fantasy "Lightning Bolt" label design, an iconic image for fans of 70s Jazz-Funk. Collector's Tip: "Thoughts of Old Flames" is a "tempo-changer." DJs often use it to transition a room from high-energy disco back into a soulful, atmospheric groove. Its timeless production means it sounds just as fresh in a modern club as it did in 1979.