For anyone who grew up in the jazz-funk belt of Kent, London and Essex in the 1970s and 80s, Expansions is a key text alongside Head Hunters and Black Byrd. Majestically groovy and thoroughly in tune with its time, Expansions built on the solid foundations of LLS’ previous LPs Astral Travelling and Cosmic Funk .

This year the album celebrates its half-century and for this anniversary edition, Frank Merritt at London’s Carvery mastering studio has gone back to the original Flying Dutchman tapes and has cut them in an all-analogue chain, and has done the same superb job here as he did on Ace’s Gil Scott-Heron reissues of a couple of years back. What sound! And what music! From the tinkling percussion that introduces the title track, we’re taken on a joyous journey that’s as bright and breezy (‘Summer Days’) as it is cosmically shimmering (‘Expansions’) and thought-provoking (‘Peace’).

Apart from LLS himself, the crucial presence here is Cecil McBee, whose propulsive, elastic basslines provide the album’s spine and irresistable momentum as much as Lonnie’s catchy melodies. Add in new sleevenotes and a glorious and glossy gatefold sleeve to the massively upgraded sound, and you have an essential release – whether you first grooved to this at a South-East London club in 1975 or not.