Affinity: Affinity (Remastered & Expanded 4 CD 1970-2021)

 

Affinity were an English jazz-rock band, active from mid-1968 to January 1972. 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, 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.
                             

Affinity played their first London show at the Revolution Club in Bruton Place in Mayfair, West End on

5 October 1968. One of the gigs they were playing at the time was broadcast on BBC Radio Jazz Club. Ronnie Scott, heard a recording of the show and subsequently agreed to manage them. He also agreed to give them regular bookings at his world-famous jazz club.
                                

From this point on they received much live work in London's discotheque and club scene and on the

college circuit. They also toured in Europe and Scandinavia and some festivals. They appeared on TV spots, including Disco 2 which was the forerunner to The Old Grey Whistle Test. They recorded the theme for a Shredded Wheat commercial series ("There are 2 men in my life..."). They released an eponymously titled album on the Vertigo label in 1970.
                             

                             
They received many rave reviews, most for the band, but some for individual members, and from Derek Jewell of The Sunday Times, who commented "Naiff is already a virtuso, soul-style, and the whole

group is probably the best new thing heard in the jazz-pop area this year." Billboard Magazine described Naiff as "a musician of great promise". Naiff and Foster had to write a second album when Hoyle announced that she'd had enough and wanted to quit both the band and the music business. Her last concert with Affinity was due to have been in Cardiff on 8 February 1971, but the show was cancelled. The actual last performance was 10 February 1971 in Bournemouth's Winter Gardens theatre.
                             

                      
Between February and June that year the remaining members, along with their new keyboard player Dave Watts, continued to play a mini tour with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band. In June 1971,

it was announced that Affinity were reforming, with original members Jopp, Foster and Serpell plus new recruits Vivienne McAuliffe on vocals and ex-Geno Washington organist Dave Watts (Naiff was by now in Abednego, and by the year's end had joined Toe Fat). A five-day tour of Holland beginning late June and work on a new album were announced. However, a few weeks later Jopp, Foster and Serpell had all been enlisted by ex-Manfred Mann singer Mike D'Abo to back him on his upcoming US tour, alongside sax/flautist Jack Lancaster.
                        

Studio albums

Affinity — (1970, Vertigo), (2002, Angel Air)
1971-1972 — (Recorded 1971-72, released 2003, Angel Air)

MEMBERS

Linda Hoyle - Vocals
Mike Jopp - Acoustic, Electric and 12-string Guitars, Percussion
Lynton Naiff - Hammond, Piano, Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Harpsichord, Vibraphone, Percussion
Mo Foster - Bass, Double Bass, Percussion
Grant Serpell - Drums, Percussion
With:
John Paul Jones - Brass & String Arrangements
Chris Hughes - Brass Arrangements

              

Affinity – Affinity (Remastered & Expanded) (1970, 2021)
Released: 1970
Label: Esoteric - Cherry Red ECLEC42775
Format: CD, Reissue 19 Nov 2021
Country: UK
Genre: Jazz, Rock
Style: Prog Rock, Jazz-Rock

DISC 1. AFFINITY

                            

01. I Am And So Are You (3:31)
02. Night Flight (7:16)
03. I Wonder If I'll Care As Much (3:21)
04. Mr. Joy (5:03)
05. Three Sisters (4:59)
06. Coconut Grove (2:36)
07. All Along The Watchtower (11:40)

BONUS TRACKS

08. Eli's Coming (3:27)
09. United States Of Mind (2:45)
10. Yes Man (7:25)
11. If You Live (3:16)
12. You Met Your Match (2:59)
13. I Am The Walrus (2:55)
14. Little Lonely Man (3:58)
15. All Along The Watchtower/It's About That Time (Live, The Torrington, Finchley, 1971) (13:06)

DISC 2. LIVE INSTRUMENTALS 1969

                                      

16. Jive Samba (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) (4:51)
17. Dis Here (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) (5:48)
18. Comin' Home Baby (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) (3:48)
19. Out Of The Storm (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) (7:25)
20. Fever (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) (3:15)
21. 13 Death March (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) (5:42)
22. All Blues (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) (4:17)
23. 81 (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) (4:01)
24. A Day In The Life (Live, Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, London, January 1969) (6:48)
25. All Blues (Live, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, August 1968) (4:23)
26. 81 (Live, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, August 1968) (4:35)
27. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Live, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, August 1968) (4:45)
28. Jive Samba (Live, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, August 1968) (3:42)
29. A Day In The Life (Live, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, 1970) (6:51)

DISC 3. ORIGINS 1965 - 1967

                                  

30. Autumn Leaves (4:39)
31. Django (3:25)
32. My Funny Valentine (3:08)
33. I Got Plenty Of Nothing (4:46)
34. Dat Dere (6:08)
35. Lover Man (5:13)
36. Blues Etude (Training Film Version) (2:05)
37. Someday My Prince Will Come (2:27)
38. Cubano Chant (2:33)
39. Jordu (0:54)
40. My Funny Valentine (Training Film Version) (4:58)
41. Autumn Leaves (ABC TV Version) (5:31)
42. You Look Good To Me (6:05)
43. The Preacher (5:30)
44. Waltz For Debby (4:16)
45. Django (feat. The US Jazz Trio) (3:56)
46. On Green Dolphin Street (4:37)

DISC 4. AFFINITY 1971 - 1972

                           

47. Moira's Hand (5:18)
48. Grey Skies (8:38)
49. Cream On Your Face (5:19)
50. Sunshower (5:44)
51. All Along The Watchtower / It's About That Time (Demo) (7:41)
52. Rio (4:45)
53. Poor Man's Son (3:21)
54. Sarah's Wardrobe (4:18)
55. Highgate (3:56)

DISC 1   (Tracks 01-14)  

MP3 @ 320 Size: 151 MB        Flac  Size: 393 MB

 
DISC 2   (Tracks 15-26)   

MP3 @ 320 Size: 157 MB        Flac  Size: 276 MB

 
DISC 3   (Tracks 27-42) 

MP3 @ 320 Size: 155 MB        Flac  Size: 284 MB

DISC 4   (Tracks 43-55)  

MP3 @ 320 Size: 155 MB        Flac  Size: 384 MB

The Milkshakes: Wild Tales (9 Albums)

 

The Milkshakes were a very prolific group, recording nine records in their four years together, and the

band was very much a blend of Childish’s primitive songwriting and Hampshire’s more melodic leanings. The group also masterminded and backed a Medway girl group, "The Delmonas". When Mickey left The Milkshakes in 1984 Childish, Brand and Agnew went on to form "Thee Mighty Caesars".
               

Mickey and Bruce now play in The Masonics along with Ludella Black from The Del Monas, and Russ lives in Scotland and fronts the Wildebeests as well as being Lord Rochester.
                             

When punk rock group "The Pop Rivets" broke up in 1980, Billy Childish joined forces with Mickey

Hampshire, a Pop Rivets roadie who had been performing in a group called "Mickey and the Milkshakes" with his cohort Banana Bertie. The two began writing songs together and the group released their first LP, "Talking ’bout Milkshakes!" in 1981.
                    

With Childish and Hampshire sharing guitar and vocal duties, Bruce Brand on drums, and Bertie on

bass (later replaced by Russ Wilkins then John Agnew), "The Milkshakes" sound was a primitive blend of British beat groups, like the early Kinks at their toughest, and hard-rocking American guitar instrumentalists like Link Wray.
                              

This sound came to be known as the “Medway sound” and the core members have been playing a variation on it throughout their whole careers.
                   

Damaged Goods first got involved when they reformed for a tour of Japan in 1991 and we released a

storming (long deleted) 7” called "Red Hot". We then  re-released three albums…"In Germany" was originally released in 1983 on Wall City records from Berlin, Germany.
                  

It has never been re-issued and has never appeared on CD before. The artwork had been lovingly

restored by original Milkshake Bruce Brand and its also been remastered from the bands original master tapes. Original copies have been selling on e-bay for over £75! "Nothing Can Stop These Men" was originally released in 1983 on the bands own MILKSHAKES records based in Kentish Town London. It has never been re-issued and has never appeared on CD before.
                          

This artwork has also been lovingly restored by original Milko Bruce Brand and its also been

remastered from the bands original master tapes. Original copies have been selling on e-bay for over £60! and then the 1986 Media Burn compilation "107 Tapes" (Early demos and live recordings) of demos from July 1981 and a couple of German live shows from April 1983, on double LP for the first time in 24 years ad CD for the first time ever.
                               

In November 2016 we reissued 4 more Milkshakes albums "Talking ‘Bout", "After School Session", "Thee Knights Of Trashe" &  "Revenge – Trash From The Vaults" on LP and two 2-ON-1 CDs as well. The 2-ON-1 CDs sold out pretty quickly. Such was the demand in May 2022 we reissued these four albums in a 4CD set complete with booklet entitled Milk Box. And very nice it is too!

THE MILKSHAKES were mainly 

      

Mickey Hampshire (Git/Vox)
Billy Childish (Git/Vox)
Bruce Brand (Drums)
Russ Wilkins (Bass)

MICKEY & THE MILKSHAKES  -  TALKING 'BOUT...MILKSHAKES!  1981

 
           

 
Mickey & The Milkshakes – Talking 'Bout...Milkshakes!
Label: Hangman's Daughter – SCRAG 4-CD
Format: CD, Album, Mono, Reissue
Country: UK
Released: 1995
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock

TRAXS

                       

01. She'll Be Mine
02. Pretty Baby
03. For She
04. I Want'cha For My Little Girl
05. Ruhrgebeat
06. After Midnight
07. Bull's Nose
08. Shed Country
09. Don't Love Another
10. Tell Me Where's That Girl
11. Can'tcha See
12. Love You The Whole Night Through
13. Nothing You Can Say Or Do
14. I Say You Lie

MEMBERS

Bass – Mark Gilbert
Drums – Bruce Brand
Guitar, Vocals – Wild Billy Childish, Michael Hampshire
Saxophone [Occasional] – Martin Waller
Written-By – Childish, Hampshire

CD reissue of the first Milkshakes LP (1981). The full artist name is only written on the CD face.

MP3 @ 320 Size: 76 MB
Flac  Size: 210 MB

THE MILKSHAKES  -  IN GERMANY 1983

              

  

The Milkshakes – In Germany
Label: Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 249-CD
Format:    CD, Album
Country: UK
Released: 2005
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock, Rock & Roll

TRAXS

01. I'll Find Another
02. If I Get You
03. Last Night (Was The Last Time)
04. She's The Kind Of Girl
05. Love Can Lose
06. Comes Along Midnight
07. One Day You Die
08. Late At Night
09. I'm Asking You
10. I Need Lovin'
11. Found My Girl
12. Sometimes I Wantcha (For Your Money)

MP3 @ 320 Size: 73 MB
Flac  Size: 208 MB

THE MILKSHAKES  -  AFTER SCHOOL SESSION 1983

 
       

 

The Milkshakes – After School Session
Label: Hangman's Daughter – SCRAG 10-CD
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: UK
Released: 1997
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock, Rock & Roll

TRAXS

01. Shimmy Shake  (Written-By – Land, South)   1:39
02. I Can Tell  (Written-By – McDaniel, Smith)   2:46
03. Tell Me Child    2:00
04. Goodbye Girl    1:46
05. More Honey    2:03
06. Soldiers Of Love  (Written-By – Cason, Moon)   2:06
07. El Salvador    2:41
08. Let's Stomp  (Written-By – Feldman, Goldstein, Gotterher)   1:39
09. Hide And Scatter    2:23
10. Jaguar    2:34
11. That Girl Of Mine    2:32
12. You Can Only Lose    1:37
13. Little Minnie    2:27
14. Cadillac  (Written-By – E. McDaniel)   2:21

NOTES

Backing Vocals – The Milk-Boilers
Written-By – Childish (tracks: 3 to 5, 7, 9 to 13), Hampshire (tracks: 3 to 5, 7, 9 to 13)

MP3 @ 320 Size: 76 MB
Flac  Size: 197 MB

THE MILKSHAKES  -  20 ROCK AND ROLL HITS OF THE 50's AND 60's   1984

 
           

 

The Milkshakes – 20 Rock And Roll Hits Of The 50's And 60's
Label: Big Beat Records – CDWIKM 20
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: UK
Released: 1991
Genre: Rock
Style: Rock & Roll, Garage Rock

TRAXS

01. Hippy Hippy Shake  (Written-By – Chan Romero)   1:36
02. Rip It Up  (Written-By – John Marascalco, Robert Blackwell)   2:02
03. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry  (Written-By – Diggs, Thomas)   2:12
04. Say Mama  (Written-By – J Earl, J Meeks)   1:52
05. Peggy Sue  (Written-By – B Holly, J Allison, N Petty)   1:34
06. Jaguar And The Thunderbird  (Written-By – C Berry)   1:55
07. Comanche  (Written-By – L Wray, M Grant)   1:40
08. I'm Talking About You  (Written-By – C Berry)   1:50
09. Sweet Little Sixteen  (Written-By – C Berry)   2:27
10. Money   (That's What I Want)(Written-By – Gordy Jr, Bradford)   2:26
11. Carol  (Written-By – C Berry)   2:20
12. Boys  (Written-By – Dixon, Farrell)   1:51
13. Something Else  (Written-By – Cochran, Sheeley)   1:48
14. Some Other Guy  (Written-By – Leiber, Stoller, Barrett)   1:50
15. Who Do You Love  (Written-By – Ellas McDaniel)   1:48
16. Jezebel  (Written-By – Shanklin)   2:23
17. Hidden Charms  (Written-By – W Dixon)   1:58
18. Little Queenie  (Written-By – C Berry)   2:33
19. Ya Ya (Twist)  (Written-By – Robinson, Lewis, Dorsey)   1:37
20. I Wanna Be Your Man  (Written-By – Lennon, McCartney)   1:54

MP3 @ 320 Size: 98 MB
Flac  Size: 269 MB

THE MILKSHAKES  -  NOTHING CAN STOP THESE MEN 1984

 
          

The Milkshakes – Nothing Can Stop These Men
Label: Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 250-CD
Format:    CDr, Promo, Test Pressing
Country: UK
Released: 2005
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock

TRAXS

01. You Got Me Girl
02. Little Bettina
03. Ida Honey (Tell Me You'll Be Mine)
04. She's No Good To Me
05. Chatham Train
06. Dull Knife
07. She's Just Fifteen Years Old
08. The Grim Reaper
09. Everywhere I Look
10. I'm The One For You
11. That's My Revenge
12. You've Been Lyin'

MP3 @ 320 Size: 71 MB
Flac  Size: 202 MB

THEE MILKSHAKES  -  THEE KNIGHTS OF TRASHE 1984

           

 
 

Thee Milkshakes – Thee Knights Of Trashe
Label: Hangman's Daughter – SCRAG 5-CD
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue
Country: UK
Released: 1995
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock

TRAXS

01. I'll Use Evil    2:51
02. What You've Got    2:00
03. Girl, It No Good    2:25
04. I'm Out Of Control    2:39
05. I Dreamt Last Night (That I Lay Dead)    2:39
06. Bill's Beat    2:03
07. Old Time Shimmy    1:45
08. Can't Seem To Love That Girl    2:34
09. Club M.I.C.    1:37
10. Despite The Danger    2:45
11. You're Asking Too Much    1:45
12. Cassandra    2:33
13. Green Hornet    2:15

MP3 @ 320 Size: 75 MB
Flac  Size: 169 MB

THE MILKSHAKES  -  THE 107 TAPES (EARLY DEMOS & LIVE RECORDINGS) 1986

 
          

Milkshakes! – 107 Tapes (Early Demos & Live Recordings)
Label: Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 363-CD
Format:    CD, Album
Country: UK
Released: 2010
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock

TRAXS

Early Demos

01. Pretty Baby
02. Ruhrge Beat
03. Well Well
04. I Want You
05. Flat Foot
06. I Say You Lie
07. Shed Country '81
08. Don't Love Another
09. Mumble The Peg
10. You Did Her Wrong
11. The Red Monkey

Live In Germany

12. Let's Stomp
13. Eaten More Honey
14. Tell Me Where's That Girl
15. A Girl Called Mine
16. Little Queenie
17. Jaguar
18. Black Sails (In The Moonlight)
19. Sit Right Down And Cry
20. She Tells Me She Loves Me
21. Soldiers Of Love
22. Monkey Business
23. Let Me Love You
24. El Salvador
25. Boys

Bass – Banana Bertie (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 6, 7 to 9), Russ Wilkins (tracks: 4, 10, 11)
Compiled By – Billy Childish
Drums – Bruce Brand
Guitar, Vocals – Wild Billy Childish, Mickey Hampshire
Saxophone – Martin Waller (tracks: 1 to 6, 7 to 11)

Early Demos - Recorded live at 107, Rochester Street, Chatham, Kent on July 3rd 1981.
Plus Bonus 15 Tracks Recorded Live In Germany 1983

MP3 @ 320 Size: 151 MB
Flac  Size: 373 MB

THE MILKSHAKES  -  REVENGE!  1987 (THE LEGENDARY MISSING 9th ALBUM)

 
     

The Milkshakes – The Milkshakes' Revenge!
Label: Hand Of Glory – HOG 1
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue
Country: UK
Released: 1993
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock

TRAXS

01. Let Me Love You    2:17
02. I Want You    1:57
03. If I Saw You    2:04
04. Graveyard Words    2:17
05. Boys  (Written-By – Dixon, Farrell)   1:53
06. Little Girl Be Good    1:46
07. Pipeline  (Written-By – Spickard, Carmen)   2:16
08. She Tells Me She Loves Me    2:40
09. Little Girl (Mumble The Peg)    2:27
10. Every Girl I Meet    2:03
11. The One I Get    2:26
12. Baby What's Wrong?  (Written-By – Reed)   2:42

Bass Guitar, Vocals – Russ
Drums, Maracas [Maraccas], Vocals – Bruce
Liner Notes – Hasty Bananas
Vocals, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Mickey
Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar – Billy
Written-By – Childish (tracks: 1 to 4, 6, 8 to 11), Hampshire (tracks: 1 to 4, 6, 8 to 11)

Subtitled: The Legendary Missing 9th Album
Recorded 1983, not released until 1987.

MP3 @ 320 Size: 67 MB
Flac  Size: 179 MB

THE MILKSHAKES - STILL TALKIN' BOUT...MILKSHAKES! 1992

 
           

Thee Milkshakes – Still Talking 'Bout Milkshakes!
Label: ASKCD 10
Format:    CD, Album
Country: UK
Released: Jul 13, 1992
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock, Rock & Roll

TRAXS

01. I Won't Be There    2:10
02. Man And The Donkey  (Written-By – Chuck Berry)   1:58
03. Medicine Man    2:37
04. Hocus Pocus    2:03
05. The Girl That Radiates That Charm  (Written-By – Jimmy Isle, Ron Isle)   2:27
06. Gallis Poll    2:22
07. What Became    2:17
08. Who'll Be Next In Line  (Written-By – R. Davies)   1:48
09. Minute Man    2:50
10. I Told You It's Right    2:28
11. Dancing Girl  (Written-By – E. McDaniel)   2:29
12. Time's Against You    2:22
13. Loving Is Believing  (Written-By – Emerson)   2:20
14. Dizzy Miss Lizzy  (Written-By – L. Williams)   2:30

Bass – John
Design [Package Design] – Nick Garrard
Drums – Bruce
Guitar – Billy, Mick
Producer – Bill Kerr, Graham Stark
Vocals – Billy, Mick
Written-By – Childish (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12), Hampshire (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12)

"In 1990 Thee Milkshakes re-formed for two weeks to play some shows in Tokyo, Japan. To mark this celebration, as well as the 10th anniversary of The Milkshakes formation, a reunion album was commissioned..."

MP3 @ 320 Size: 110 MB
Flac  Size: 198 MB

THE GENIUS OF BILLY CHILDISH

 

Billy Childish (born Steven John Hamper, 1 December 1959) is an English painter, author, poet, photographer, film maker, singer and guitarist. Since the late 1970s, Childish has been prolific in creating music, writing and visual art.

He has led and played in bands including the Pop Rivets, Thee Milkshakes, Thee Headcoats, and the Musicians of the British Empire, primarily working in the genres of garage rock, punk and surf and releasing more than 100 albums.

He is known for his explicit and prolific work – he has detailed his love life and childhood sexual abuse, notably in his early poetry and the novels My Fault (1996), Notebooks of a Naked Youth (1997), Sex Crimes of the Futcher (2004) – The Idiocy of Idears (2007), and in several of his songs, notably in the instrumental "Paedophile" (1992) (featuring a photograph of the man who sexually abused him on the front cover) and "Every Bit of Me" (1993). From 1981 until 1987 Childish had a relationship with artist Tracey Emin.  

Childish was accepted into art school four times on the strength of his paintings and drawings. He did a foundation year at Medway College of Design (now the University for the Creative Arts) in 1977–78, and was then accepted onto the painting department of Saint Martin's School of Art in 1978, before quitting a month later.

He was re-accepted at St Martins in 1980, but was expelled in 1982 for refusing to paint in the art school and other unruly behaviour. Childish has exhibited extensively since the 1980s, and was featured in the British Art Show in 2000.

In 2010, a major exhibition of Childish's paintings, writing and music was held at The ICA London, with a concurrent painting show running at White Columns Gallery in New York. In October 2012, alongside Art Below, Childish presented his work at the exhibition 'Art Below Regents Park' in Regent's Park Tube station to coincide with Frieze Art Fair, one of the most important international contemporary art fairs that takes place each October in London. In 2013 Childish began a painting collaboration with Edgeworth Johnstone, later titled Heckel's Horse. Since 2013 Heckel's Horse have made over 150 paintings.