Mascara - See You In L.A.

Way before he became a global 80s soul megastar, Luther Vandross was recruited by legendary UK soul DJ and producer Jurgen S Korduletsch to be part of a disco-fired studio band called Mascara. The one-shot outfit made one album, 1979's See You In L.A, which largely flopped but did catch the ear of some of the UK's more progressive soul DJs. It's an album that had its moments, the glorious title track - here given the reissue treatment by Expansions - being the real standout.

Presented in edited and full-length LP version forms, it remains a classic chunk of late-period disco - all recreated airport PA announcements, atmospheric pianos, sweeping orchestration, Blaxploitation-tinged dancefloor grooves and typically emotive lead vocals from Vandross. It also boasts a genuinely sing-along chorus for those 'end of night' moments. Essential!