LINDA HOYLE

Pieces Of Me, Vertigo, UK, 1971, £1,100

Perhaps best known for her work with jazz-rock/pop greats Affinity, singer Linda Hoyle is a largely unsung British artist. After her departure from Affinity in early 1971, manager Ronnie Scott instigated a collaboration with Karl Jenkins (then of Nucleus, later of

Soft Machine), which led to Pieces Of Me. The album – now one of the rarest Vertigo releases – is a reflective album of twists and turns, seemingly documenting a turning point in Hoyle’s life. Unfortunately it would prove to be her swan song as a recording artist, at least until 2015’s excellent comeback album The Fetch.

The album begins with a strong rendition of Backlash Blues, previously recorded and co-written by Nina Simone, which is followed by the beautifully crafted love ballad Paper Tulips.

While the performances are striking and the quality of compositions outstanding throughout, there’s perhaps too much variation. Black Crow is a fantastic pop-rocker, but it’s the riproaring title track that will be of most interest to hard rock fans. It seems to blast out of nowhere with manic wah-wah guitar (by Chris Spedding), fuzz bass, distorted organ, pounding drums and energetic vocals. One can only wonder how great an entire album of such mayhem would have been.

Elsewhere there are melancholic piano and vocal tracks alongside orchestral moments, best exemplified by the beautiful Journey’s End. LD

‘The rip-roaring title track seems to blast out of nowhere.’