What makes Expansions by Lonnie Liston Smith notable?

Expansions is celebrated for its pioneering blend of jazz fusion and spiritual themes, influencing the acid jazz genre and artists such as Erykah Badu. The album's title track became a staple in DJ sets and has been sampled extensively, showcasing its enduring impact on contemporary music. Released in 1975, Expansions was Lonnie Liston Smith's third album, following his breakthrough release, Astral Traveling. At this point in his career, Smith was honing his unique sound, establishing himself as a key figure in the jazz fusion movement while bridging elements of funk and soul.

How many songs are on Expansions?

Expansions has 7 tracks, running approximately 39 minutes.

Expansions

Lonnie Liston Smith · 1975

39 min · 7 tracks · funk

A celestial blend of jazz fusion and soul, weaving intricate rhythms with lush instrumentation that transports listeners to ethereal realms.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Expansions — The title track encapsulates the album's essence, featuring a hypnotic groove and rich arrangements that invite introspection and exploration.
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Voodoo Woman — This track stands out with its infectious rhythm and dynamic horn arrangements, showcasing Smith's ability to fuse traditional jazz elements with modern funk influences.
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Desert Nights — With its evocative melodies and smooth transitions, this track creates an atmospheric journey that highlights Smith's mastery of mood-setting through instrumental work.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

66 /100

Alpine

Higher than 89% of albums we've rated

The album showcases intricate compositions and rich instrumentation, establishing a unique sound within jazz fusion.

What we noticed

The title track features a repetitive, hypnotic groove that builds with layers of instrumentation over its extended runtime.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Expansions 6:08
2 Desert Nights 6:44
3 Summer Days 5:51
4 Voodoo Woman 4:23
5 Peace 4:18
6 Shadows 6:22
7 My Love 5:41

What to play next

Listen next

Visions of a New World

1975

Go back to

Astral Traveling

1973

Full Lonnie Liston Smith discography Artists like Lonnie Liston Smith

funk jazz fusion

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata