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Affinity + Bonus Tracks (Angel Air)

Mike Reed | USA | 04/27/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you're not familiar with Affinity,they were a five member English ensemble that had released this sole lp in 1970.The band seems to blend the elements of pop,folk,jazz and blues into their music.A lot of thought,heart and emotion went into the making of this record.Plus there's eight bonus tracks added,that honestly are about as GOOD as the original album.Best cuts are "Night Flight",the delightful "Mr.Joy","Coconut Grove",the eleven minute Bob Dylan cover "All Along The Watchtower","Eli's Coming",the soulful "If You Live","You Met Your Match" and their Beatles cover "I Am The Walrus".Lead vocalist Linda Hoyle appeals as sort of a creative cross between Carol King and Julie Driscoll.Includes a 12-page informative booklet that indicates that the band was planning a U.S. tour a bit after the lp's release,but unfortunately it never happened because Hoyle ended up leaving the group.A second lp was even in the works.Might make a decent gift for someone who enjoys today's adult oriented rock."

This is a real gem....Outstanding!

Strat_Lvr | 08/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I first heard this CD it blew me away, and it still does today. This one and only album from 1970 is a true masterpiece, and the music is just truly wonderful. Vocalist Linda Hoyle has one of the best voices I've ever heard, but unfortunately there's not much more available on her except a solo LP she had out in 1971 called "Pieces Of Me," which I strongly and highly recommend. I totally agree with the other reviewer and the comments made about this CD and the music. The Bonus tracks are just as good, if not better, than some of the songs from the original album! Definitely get the Angel Air CD with all the bonus tracks, you will not be disappointed. There's also another Affinity CD out with unreleased material that was intended to come out as an album, but never happened, and now it's available on CD, and it's from 1971-1972 with a different female vocalist that's quite good too, but maybe not as strong or powerful a voice as Linda Hoyle's, but still very good, and her name was Vivien McAuliffe. Sadly, Vivien is no longer with us, as she passed away in 1998 at just the age of 50. I also recommend that CD as well, the music is outstanding, and you won't be disappointed in Vivien's singing, she really did have a great voice. Glenn Signal Hill,CA USA"

Excellent

William R. Nicholas | Mahwah, NJ USA | 11/28/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Affintiy were part of the first set of bands signed to the great Vertigo labal, along with Manford Mann Chapter Three, Juicy Lucy, Colluseum, and Black Sabbath. For the next five years, the label offered the best in progressive, stoner jazz, glam, and hard rock.



This first and only Affinity album is not a classic, but some of the numbers come close. The wonderful "I am You" and the absoltely swining "Three Sisters" showed this band could get into a jazzy groove, and rock. This was progressive rock, but stripped to a few chords so the musicans could really strech, and when Affinity did so, the magic happens.



Which is the problem with the rest of the album. There is some folkier material here, a Dylan cover, and some pretty formitable rock songs. But none have the improvosational spark of the two numbers mentioned, where Affinity were at their best.



This is a good album and prog fans and Vertigo collectors will not be let down, unless, like me, you heard "Three Sisters" on Time Machine: A Vertigo Retrospective and expect this type of magic swing for a whole album.



The album is great. Just know what you are buying."