Linda Hoyle -Pieces of Me

While Affinity is instrumentally a masterpiece and Linda's voice perfectly fits into it (Affinity is heavy and more moody jazzy rock with the voice of Linda at its most heavy. Similar voices and energy can be heard in Jefferson Airplane, but even more in Julian's Treatment, Analogy, Delivery, but also Sandrose, Curved Air, Earth and Fire,Heart,... I like it very much, even "all along the Watchtower's" 12 minutes more freak out version I find it splendid), her solo album has a different approach and mood. It gives more attention to the singer, with various more soul driven songs, bluesrock, most of it very orchestrated. With songs from Nina Simone and Laura Nyro, it's clear that the area is different here. Never the less there has been (too) much studio work on the songs, making them more heavy and a bit more difficult to consume. The freak-out guitars and organ on the title track come somewhat unexpected. The album is varied, and time is needed to fully comprehend its full range / content. Participating are Chris Spedding and Soft Machine members John Marshall and Karl Jenkins. The album is fine but is more difficult to appreciate and understand immediately after having heard Affinity first. Therefore it's better to compare it with solo albums from other female singers from around these days / times

Backlash Blues
Paper Tulips
Black Crow
For My Darling
Pieces of Me
Lonely Women
Hymn To Valerie Solanas
The Ballad Of Marty Mole
Journey’s End
Morning For One
Barrel House Music

ta-da!

Affinity -Affinity (1970 -Vertigo)

Fronted by vocalist Linda Hoyle Affinity's one and only LP is now worth around BP60 on the collectors' market. Not bad for a band whose entire recorded output consists of just the "Affinity" LP and the single "Eli's Song"/"United States Of Mind" (Vertigo 6059 018) which is in itself worth around BP10. Ably supported by guitarist Mike Jupp, bassist Mo Foster, organist Lynton Naiff and drummer Grant Serpell, Affinity were one of several UK jazz-rock groups signed up by the influential Vertigo Records. But although the band's seven-track debut was well received by the critics, it didn't dissuade the group from splitting up soon after its release in 1970.

Linda Hoyle continued to record for Vertigo, releasing the "Pieces Of Me" LP (Vertigo 6360060) in 1971 on which she was backed by Chris Spedding and Soft Machine members John Marshall and Karl Jenkins. The LP was a much more varied one than Affinity's, ranging from ballads to hard rock, and though it wasn't a commercial success, it's now worth something like BP125 to a dedicated devotee Vertigo Records collector. Drummer Grant Serpell went on to join Sailor, playing on hits like "Girls Girls Girls" and "A Glass Of Champagne", whilst organist Lynton Naiff gigged with Toe Fat, the band led by ex-Rebel Rouser Cliff Bennett. Mo Foster later resurfaced in Ray Fenwick-led Fancy, in the mid 70s.

Tracks :

I Am And So Are You
Night Flight
I Wonder If I Care As Much
Mr. Joy
Three Sisters
Coconut Grove
All Along The Watchtower
Eli's Coming
United States Of Mind

AFFINITY -AFFINITY.rar