Linda Lewis – Funky Bubbles (1967-2017) [2017] (5 x CDs) + Bonus

LINDA LEWIS

Linda Lewis – Funky Bubbles (1967-2017) [2017] (5 x CDs) + Bonus

Linda Ann Fredericks (27 September 1950 – 3 May 2023), better known as Linda Lewis, was an English singer, songwriter and musician. She is best known for the singles "Rock-a-Doodle-Doo" (1973) and her version of Betty Everett's "The Shoop Shoop Song" (1975). Her discography includes solo albums, Lark (1972), Not a Little Girl Anymore (1975), Woman Overboard (1977), and the later Second Nature (1995), which became successful in countries such as Japan. Lewis also provided backing vocals for other artists, including David Bowie, Al Kooper, Cat Stevens, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Rick Wakeman, Rod Stewart, Peter Bardens, Hummingbird, Joan Armatrading and Jamiroquai.

She was the eldest of six children, three of whom also had singing careers. Lewis was a self-taught guitarist and keyboard player, influenced by Harry Nilsson, Billie Holiday and Smokey Robinson, also drawing inspiration from others such as Joni Mitchell. Her music blended folk, funk and soul. (Wikipedia)

It remains something of a perplexing mystery as to why an artist as talented as Linda Lewis is not a household name in her own country, though recent collaborations with the likes of Basement Jaxx, Common, Turin Brakes and Jamiroquai, shows how highly regarded she is by our hottest chart acts. Linda was way ahead of her time, fusing seemingly disparate musical elements together – folk, soul, pop, rock and reggae – into a totally unique signature sound. With the recent emergence of black female artists cast in a similar stylistic mould to Linda Lewis, the kind of cultural and musical cross-pollination that Linda Lewis pioneered some 30 years ago is now an accepted part of the popular music landscape. There couldn’t be a better time for a re-evaluation of the remarkable contribution Linda Lewis has made to the UK music scene.

Linda inked a contract with Warner in 1971, signing to the company’s Reprise imprint. Unsurprisingly, Ian Samwell produced Linda’s first recording sessions for the label, which were released as the album “Say No More” the same year.  By the time of her second outing for Reprise, 1972’s “Lark,” Linda had accrued sufficient confidence and experience to produce her own records (she was assisted by her then boyfriend and future husband, guitarist Jim Cregan, erstwhile member of the group Blossom Toes). Despite the fact that they were both inexperienced as far as producing records was concerned, the duo discovered a potent creative chemistry and delivered an acclaimed album. Linda concurs that “Lark” represents one of her best pieces of work. “I think the vibe of that album is fantastic,” she enthuses. “It has a happy, joyful vibe because I was in love with Jim and it was summertime. It was all magical and I was full of creativity.” Perhaps the most significant aspect of “Lark” was the fact that it heralded Linda’s transformation into a fully-fledged composer. As a songwriter, she drew almost exclusively on autobiographical experience as the source of her material, distilling her own sound from musical influences as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Harry Nilsson, Billie Holiday and Smokey Robinson.

To commemorate 50 years of recording and releasing records in the music industry the Troubadour label presents a box set of rarities, hits and jewels of one of Britain's most talented singer-songwriters. Co-compiled by Linda herself the box set features unreleased tracks including a recently discovered reel of tape-recorded live-in Boston USA, an exclusive interview with Linda by Liverpool DJ Jon Kirkman and unpublished photographs. Featured classic tracks include 'Sideway Shuffle', 'Rock a Doodle Do' and 'You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet' (which has become a much sought after northern soul collectable 45) originally issued in 1967 plus one of the songs in the collaboration with Basement Jaxx 'When the Lights Go Down'. (Amazon)

It remains something of a perplexing mystery as to why an artist as talented as Linda Lewis is not a household name in her own country, though recent collaborations with the likes of Basement Jaxx, Common, Turin Brakes and Jamiroquai, shows how highly regarded she is by our hottest chart acts. Linda was way ahead of her time, fusing seemingly disparate musical elements together – folk, soul, pop, rock and reggae – into a totally unique signature sound. With the recent emergence of black female artists cast in a similar stylistic mould to Linda Lewis, the kind of cultural and musical cross-pollination that Linda Lewis pioneered some 30 years ago is now an accepted part of the popular music landscape. There couldn’t be a better time for a re-evaluation of the remarkable contribution Linda Lewis has made to the UK music scene.

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Track lists

CD01

01 Linda Lewis - So Sixties 3:57

02 Linda Lewis - Love Inside 4:34

03 Linda Lewis - Whatever 4:35

04 Linda Lewis - Do Ya Know Dino 5:00

05 Linda Lewis - In The Heat 3:45

06 Linda Lewis - Love Plateau 4:15

07 Linda Lewis - Sweet To Do Nothing 4:20

08 Linda Lewis - I Don't Do Don't (Unreleased On Cd) 4:16

08 Linda Lewis - What's All This About 4:21

09 Linda Lewis - All My Laugh 3:51

10 Linda Lewis - Easy 4:53

11 Linda Lewis - Our Day Will Come 4:21

12 Linda Lewis - Born Performer 3:31

CD02

01 Linda Lewis - For Love Sake 4:08

02 Linda Lewis - Don't Come Crying 4:45

03 Linda Lewis - Breathing Space 4:47

04 Linda Lewis - Too Good To Be True 3:23

05 Linda Lewis - He's A Diamond 5:12

06 Linda Lewis - More Than Enough 4:32

07 Linda Lewis - Wearing Wings 3:40

08 Linda Lewis - Darlin' (Groove) 4:17

09 Linda Lewis - Nobody But You 3:22

10 Linda Lewis - Soon Come 5:02

11 Linda Lewis - Makes You Wonder 4:37

12 Linda Lewis - Last Call 4:55

CD03

01 Linda Lewis - Sideway Shuffle 4:38

02 Linda Lewis - Far Cry 4:42

03 Linda Lewis - Like I Dance 4:16

04 Linda Lewis - Mr Respectable 4:43

05 Linda Lewis - Earthed Again 3:49

06 Linda Lewis - Kiss Of Life 4:14

07 Linda Lewis - (You Are An) Angry Young Man 3:04

08 Linda Lewis - Doin' The Right Thing 3:33

09 Linda Lewis - He's A Diamond (Calypso) 5:01

10 Linda Lewis - Don't Come Crying (Acoustic) 4:04

11 Linda Lewis - And Of The Sun 4:26

CD04

01 Linda Lewis With Basement Jaxx - When The Lights Go Down 5:15

02 Linda Lewis - You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet 2:24

03 Linda Lewis - Do You Believe In Love 2:18

04 Linda Lewis - Song For Alice 2:55

05 Linda Lewis - I Know You Well 3:15

06 Linda Lewis - Can't Stop Now 3:44

07 Linda Lewis - Little Indians 2:52

09 Linda Lewis - I Keep A Wish 4:18

10 Linda Lewis - I'm In Love Again (Unreleased Tv Session) 4:03

11 Linda Lewis - Wise Eye (Unreleased Tv Session) 3:59

12 Linda Lewis - It's The Frame (Unreleased Tv Session) 2:51

13 Linda Lewis - What Are You Asking Me For (Unreleased Tv Session) 2:37

14 Linda Lewis - Rock A Doodle Do (Live Broadcast Version) 3:29

15 Linda Lewis - Light Years Away (The Basement Sessions) 3:23

CD05

01 Linda Lewis - Feel The Feeling 4:01

02 Linda Lewis - Lark 3:33

03 Linda Lewis - Spring Song 3:16

04 Linda Lewis - It's The Frame 4:29

05 Linda Lewis - What Are You Asking Me For 3:27

06 Linda Lewis - Unknown Blues 3:51

07 Linda Lewis - Funky Kitchen 2:12

08 Linda Lewis - Little Indians 6:18

09 Linda Lewis - Gladly Give You My Hand 3:38

10 Linda Lewis - If I Could 3:43

11 Linda Lewis - I'm In Love Again 4:26

12 Linda Lewis - Old Smokey 3:57

13 Linda Lewis - Rock A Doodle Doo 5:29

14 Linda Lewis - On The Stage 3:47

Bonus CD06 - Lark [1972]

01 Linda Lewis - Spring Song 2:06

02 Linda Lewis - Reach for the Truth 4:47

03 Linda Lewis - It's the Frame 3:37

04 Linda Lewis - Feeling Feeling 3:04

05 Linda Lewis - What Are You Asking Me For 2:48

06 Linda Lewis - Lark 4:29

07 Linda Lewis - Old Smokey 3:17

08 Linda Lewis - Gladly Give My Hand 2:39

09 Linda Lewis - More Than a Fool 3:21

10 Linda Lewis - Been My Best 2:51

11 Linda Lewis - Waterbaby 3:50

12 Linda Lewis - Little Indians 3:07

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