Released on 20 November 1989, "Affection" was the debut solo album by British singer Lisa Stansfiled, the album received critical acclaim from music critics and was commercially successful, spawning five singles including the worldwide hit "All Around The World" and "This Is the Right Time", "Live Together", "What Did I Do to You?" and "You Can't Deny It".
Back in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s there was this music style known simply as "house." A mixture of thumping bass, synth, piano and many times coupled with soulful vocals, there were also other genres such as sophistipop, new jack swing and dance pop music, and with a little bit of soul, and you got Lisa Stansfield, in March 1989, Stansfield was featured on Coldcut's song "People Hold On" which she co-wrote. The single became a top forty hit in Europe, reaching number eleven in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it peaked at number six on the Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs. On the strength of this hit, Arista Records signed Stansfield as a solo artist, with Ian Devaney and Andy Morris from their band Blue Zone as her composers, musicians and producers. Coldcut returned the favour by producing Stansfield's next record "This Is the Right Time".
Lisa Stansfield heavy musical influences throughout her childhood in Northern England with the likes of Barry White, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and of course the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin, it was inevitable that these soulful influences would permeate throughout her music, although combined with heavy on the dance/house vibes, making the album an incredibly soulful record, a feat that many pop artists with powerful voices fail to achieve. Affection, maintaining that distinct production style that defined the turn of the decade from the ‘80s to the ‘90s and still sounds fresh and sophisticated today.
Her vocal phrasing and various stylistic influences coupled with an undeniably British coolness, all of which produced a sound that was quintessentially hers. The original release in 1989 consisting of thirteen tracks and five of these being released as singles, Stansfield ensured she covered all bases. Whether it was the sultry and heartbreakingly beautiful "All Around The World," the '70s inspired soul of "Live Together," the R&B inspired with slices of swing and sophistipop "You Can't Deny It" or more upbeat new jack swing on "This Is The Right Time" and "What Did I Do To You,"
Those were the singles, but the rest of the album is pleasant too, with standout tracks like "Mighty Love"—with a spoken intro and violins evoking Chaka Khan, or the beautiful "Sincerity" and the album's title track "Affection" that continue beautifully with the R&B homage that plays throughout the album, while the album’s closing track "The Way You Want It" is a delicious blend of dance meets soul, which ultimately highlights the cross section of this brilliant album.
The album defined an incredibly important moment back then both musically and stylish, Lisa Stansfield stood out alone thanks "Affection" which is a prime album without being pretentious and is unequivocally one of the greatest original debuts to have ever been released, in a time full of exciting releases,
Earning ravourable reviews from music critics, playing well in the R&B arena, and didn't shy away from hip-hop and house music elements, also the producers helped to keep things so fresh sounding by
embracing a decidedly high-tech and very late-'80s/early-'90s production
style, the elegant string sections of the Seventies and Barry White's
better moments of lushness; driving percussive keyboard patterns bring
the mix firmly up to date. More simply, the album is an ideal blend of
clubland energy and the passion of soul music, a dance record you can listen to, and thanks to this, "Affection" was Stansfield's most successful album.
