In this episode we will explore the sound of the wonderful Linda Lewis.
I have picked my 12 favourite songs from her first 3 albums, and I hope that her voice take you on the same wonderful, dreamy journey that she took me on the first time I heard ‘’Same Song’’, which is the first Linda Lewis song I had ever heard (and the second track in the recording).
Linda Lewis, born Linda Ann Fredericks (She adopted the surname “Lewis” in homage to singer Barbara Lewis) was a British singer-songwriter celebrated for her crazy five-octave vocal range and genre-defying sound. Blending soul, folk, funk, pop, and rock with a deeply expressive voice, she forged a distinctive path through the UK music scene across four decades.
Raised in a musical household, Lewis attended stageschool and appeared in films like A Taste of Honey and A Hard Day’s Night in her youth. A self-taught guitarist and pianist, she was inspired by legends like Billie Holiday and Joni Mitchell but carved out a voice all her own. Her big break came after performing at the first Glastonbury Festival in 1970, where her captivating live presence caught industry attention.
Linda Lewis released her debut album, Say No More (1971), under Reprise Records. The album offered a mix of soul and pop, revealing a young artist experimenting with style and songwriting. Though it went largely unnoticed commercially, it showcased the promise of her expressive range and eclectic influences.
Her second album, Lark (1972), is widely considered her artistic breakthrough. Stripped-down and emotionally resonant, Lark highlighted Lewis’s songwriting and vocal range, accompanied often only by her acoustic guitar or piano. Critics praised it for its intimacy and originality. The album was later cited as a major influence by figures like Gilles Peterson and was included in his list of “albums you must hear before you die.”
In 1973, Lewis released her third album, Fathoms Deep. This work marked a shift toward funkier, more upbeat arrangements while still rooted in her soulful style. It featured a richer production and continued to develop her signature mix of vulnerability and vocal athleticism.
Despite pressure to conform to commercial trends, she resisted being boxed into one genre.
Beyond her solo work, Lewis became a sought-after backing vocalist, recording with legends like David Bowie (on Aladdin Sane), Cat Stevens, Rod Stewart, Joan Armatrading, Rick Wakeman, and later, Jamiroquai. Her song “Old Smokey” was sampled by rapper Common in his 2005 hit “Go!”, exposing her sound to a new generation.
Reflecting on her life, Lewis wrote in her memoirs: “When I look back, I realise I’ve lived an extraordinarily rich life. Would I do it all again, given a chance? No. Would I do some of it again? Certainly.”
Linda Lewis passed away peacefully at home on 3 May 2023, aged 72.
