Affinity - Affinity (Remastered & Expanded) [2021] (4 x CDs)

PROGRESSIVE ROCK

Affinity - Affinity (Remastered & Expanded) [2021] (4 x CDs)

The origin of Affinity was circa 1965 in the science department of the University of Sussex in Brighton, England. Three science students Lynton Naiff (keyboards), Grant Serpell (drums), and Nick Nicholas (double bass) had formed the US Jazz Trio,[1] they played at University events and local gigs. When Serpell graduated a year later he was replaced by Mo Foster who had earlier been playing bass guitar in his school band but had now adapted to playing drums. After university Naiff and Serpell, along with members of other bands gathered from other university bands, formed the pop group Ice. Although Ice was moderately successful commercially it only lasted for about a year before it disbanded.

The auditions continued for a singer. They unanimously decided on an English teacher they had met previously, Linda Hoyle.

After obtaining a loan, which was guaranteed by Jopp's father, they bought the equipment needed to start the band. They bought Impact amplifiers, a Hammond M102 organ, a Gibson EBO bass guitar, some microphones and a grey Ford Transit van. They then spent the summer of 1968 rehearsing, writing, and generally chilling out at a rented bungalow on the edge of Brighton. The first thing they needed to do though was invent a name for themselves, eventually they settled on "Affinity" which came from the name of Oscar Peterson's 1961 LP Affinity.

 (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affinity_(band)

Back in 1970, Affinity dropped their one and only studio album on the legendary Vertigo label, and it quickly became a cult classic in the progressive jazz-rock underground. Fast forward to 2021, and Esoteric Recordings gave it the deluxe treatment with a 4CD remastered and expanded box set, that’s nothing short of a treasure chest.

CD1, brings the original album back to life, remastered and sounding glorious. You get standout tracks like “Three Sisters”, “Night Flight”, and a thunderous take on “All Along the Watchtower”, all anchored by Linda Hoyle’s powerhouse vocals and Lynton Naiff’s swirling Hammond organ. Bonus cuts include rare singles, BBC sessions, and even a bootleg live medley from 1971.

CD2, is a jazz lover’s dream: live instrumentals from 1969, recorded during a residency at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club while Hoyle was recovering from surgery. The band, minus vocals, tears through “Jive Samba”, “All Blues”, and “A Day in the Life” with serious chops.

CD3, rewinds to the US Jazz Trio era (1965-67), when Naiff, Foster, and Nick Nicholas were still university students. These early recordings are pure jazz standards, think “Autumn Leaves”, “My Funny Valentine”, and “Cubano Chant” — and show just how deep their musical roots go.

CD4, gives us Affinity II, the post-Hoyle lineup from 1971–72. With Vivienne McAuliffe on vocals, the band explores a more soulful, psych-tinged sound on tracks like “Moira’s Hand”, “Sunshower”, and “Sarah’s Wardrobe”. It’s the album that never was, now finally unearthed.

Compiled by Mo Foster, the set includes a beautifully illustrated booklet packed with liner notes, photos, and session details. For fans of British prog and jazz-rock, this box is a full-circle moment, lovingly restored and ready to be rediscovered. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Affinity - I Am and So Are You 3:31

02 Affinity - Night Flight 7:16

03 Affinity - I Wonder If I'll Care as Much 3:21

04 Affinity - Mr. Joy 5:03

05 Affinity - Three Sisters 4:58

06 Affinity - Coconut Grove 2:35

07 Affinity - All Along The Watchtower 11:40

08 Affinity - Eli's Coming 3:27

09 Affinity - United States of Mind 2:45

10 Affinity - Yes Man 7:24

11 Affinity - If You Live 3:16

12 Affinity - You Met Your Match 2:59

13 Affinity - I Am The Walrus 2:55

14 Affinity - Little Lonely Man 3:58

15 Affinity - All Along The Watchtower/It's About That Time  (Live, The Torrington, Finchley, 1971) 13:05

CD2

01 Affinity - Jive Samba  (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) 4:50

02 Affinity - Dis Here  (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) 5:48

03 Affinity - Comin' Home Baby  (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) 3:48

04 Affinity - Out of The Storm  (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) 7:24

05 Affinity - Fever  (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) 3:15

06 Affinity - 13 Death March  (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) 5:42

07 Affinity - All Blues  (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) 4:16

08 Affinity - 81  (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) 4:01

09 Affinity - A Day in The Life  (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) 6:47

10 Affinity - All Blues  (Live, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, August 1968) 4:23

11 Affinity - 81  (Live, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, August 1968) 4:34

12 Affinity - Mercy, Mercy, Mercy  (Live, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, August 1968) 4:45

13 Affinity - Jive Samba  (Live, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, August 1968) 3:41

14 Affinity - A Day in The Life  (Live, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, 1970) 6:51

CD3

01 Affinity - Autumn Leaves 4:39

02 Affinity - Django 3:25

03 Affinity - My Funny Valentine 3:07

04 Affinity - I Got Plenty of Nothing 4:46

05 Affinity - Dat Dere 6:07

06 Affinity - Lover Man 5:13

07 Affinity - Blues Etude  (Training Film Version) 2:05

08 Affinity - Someday My Prince Will Come 2:26

09 Affinity - Cubano Chant 2:32

10 Affinity - Jordu 0:54

11 Affinity - My Funny Valentine  (Training Film Version) 4:57

12 Affinity - Autumn Leaves  (ABC TV Version) 5:30

13 Affinity - You Look Good to Me 6:04

14 Affinity - The Preacher 5:30

15 Affinity - Waltz for Debby 4:16

16 Affinity - Django (feat. The US Jazz Trio) 3:56

17 Affinity - On Green Dolphin Street 4:37

CD4

01 Affinity - Moira's Hand 5:18

02 Affinity - Grey Skies 8:38

03 Affinity - Cream on Your Face 5:19

04 Affinity - Sunshower 5:43

05 Affinity - All Along The Watchtower / It's About That Time  (Demo) 7:40

06 Affinity - Rio 4:45

07 Affinity - Poor Man's Son 3:20

08 Affinity - Sarah's Wardrobe 4:18

09 Affinity - Highgate 3:56

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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