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There's a unique pportnity to see Linda
Lewis, one of the U.K's legendary female singer/songritwers at The Cellars at Eastney this Wednesday
Linda was way ahead of her time, fusing
together elements of folk, soul, pop, rock and reggae into a totally unique
signature sound.
In 1971, she released her first album, "Say No More", which was followed by 1972's "Lark", both on the Reprise label.
The latter heralded
Linda's transformation into a songwriter, distilling her own sound from musical
influences as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Harry Nilsson, Billie Holiday
and Smokey Robinson.
A year later
Linda released "Fathoms Deep", consolidating her status as one of Britain's most promising young female
singer/songwriters. To support the album Linda embarked
on an extensive American tour with Cat Stevens.
Linda's
growing band of admirers included Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell and Eric
Clapton. During this period, she contributed vocals to albums by David
Bowie ("Aladdin Sane"), Cat Stevens ("Catch Bull At Four"), Al Kooper,
Chris Spedding, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and Rick Wakeman.
In
1974, Reprise issued the compilation"Heartstrings," which
comprised tracks from "Lark" and "Fathoms
Deep" - plus two songs
previously unissued on album - "Rock-A-Doodle-Doo" and "Sideway
Shuffle
." The former became
the singer's first UK hit when it reached Number 15 in the singles
chart in the summer of 1973. As a result of her newfound chart status,
she also appeared several times on
"Top Of The Pops."
Linda
signed to Arista in 1975 and released her debut album for the company,
"Not A Little Girl Anymore," later that year. The album yielded a
massive international hit in the form of a disco version of "The
Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)" originally recorded by soul singer
Betty Everett in 1964.
Linda's rendition peaked at Number Six in the UK
singles chart Linda
released another disco-oriented album, "Woman Overboard," in 1977.
She made one album for the Ariola
label entitled "Hacienda View", followed at the beginning of the 1980 by "A Tear And A Smile," for Epic Records.
She then temporarily retired from the music business to bring up her family, and during this period livied in both the U.S.A. & in the U.K.
Her comeback album "Second Nature", was released in 1995, and
became a hit in Japan, a place where Linda's popularity has never
diminished. Other albums followed - 1997's "Whatever" and
1999's "Kiss Of Life".
In 2002, Warner Music
released "Reach For The Truth - The Best of T
he Reprise Years", an
anthology covering Linda's work during the Seventies.
In
2003, BMG also released a retrospective including all her hit singles
for the label, entitled "The Best of Linda Lewis" and in 2005 released
a 3 CD box set which includes all her hits plus several rarities.
More recently, Linda's song "Old Smokey" was used by hot R&B artist,
Common and his producer Kanye West on the track "Go!", the single from
the No.1 R&B album, "Be".
Linda continues
to record and perform live, appearing at Glastonbury Festival, Montreux
Jazz Festival and London hot spots, Ronnie Scott's Club and The Jazz
Café. She was also the special guest of George Benson at the famous
Monte Carlo Sporting Club.
Her album "Live In
Old Smokey" (recorded at Ronnie Scotts in London), was released in
March 2006, together with the single "I Keep A Wish".
Don't miss this amazing artiste at The Eastney Cellars this Wednesday! Tickets are just £12 in advance.
You can purchase your tickets at the bar of “The Cellars At Eastney” from 2 pm - 11.30 pm Monday - Wednesday
You can pay by credit card online, either on the Cellars website, www.thecellars.co.uk. or ring 02392 826249
Please ring The Cellars first to confirm ticket availability..