I only listen to top-notch, first rate material. I want nothing less in my music collection, absolutely no filler allowed! Lisa Stansfield's still outstanding U.S. debut is the kind of album that belongs in my library of sounds. It's one of those rare albums that manages to balance the fire and enthusiasm of a brilliant, gifted new singer, sharp, solid production and a batch of songs that still don't sound dated, even 10 years later. You all know the hits; the impeccable "All Around The World" with it's hushed spoken word intro and sweeping orchestral arrangement, "This Is The Right Time" which ushered in a new era of dance music, and fairly explodes with joyful, girlish glee. Just give it a spin and it's techno sound is just as refreshing as it was in 1990. My personal favorites have always been "The Love In Me" featuring a note perfect trumpet solo that actually lifts the song to an ecstatic crescendo and a driving beat that never lets up, "Affection" "Sincerity",& "Just The Way You Want It" the funkiest tracks on the album, and the (well deserved) Number 1 R&B hit "You Can't Deny It" are all flawless. Every one of these songs is anchored by the real star of this set, Ms. Stansfield's miraculous voice. From deep, sensual tones, to throaty, thick, sexy crooning, this woman's instrument is positively addictive. Unjustly criticized for being too 'disco' at the time of it's release, "Affection" hasn't aged a day and has my vote as one of the essential albums of the 90's. It's solid from start to finish, and again there is no filler to be found here. It re-introduced dance music to clubs, pop radio, and blew up on r&b stations worldwide as well, but never comes across as trite or overtly commercial. All modern music should be this good. A Perfect Album. Period.

When I visited a friend in England in late 1989 he played this disc for me. I thought Lisa's voice back then was incredible. I even liked how the arrangements had a Barry White flavor to them. It was obvious who Lisa's main influence is. This disc is "tight" from top to bottom. It has stood the test of time, when I played it on New Years, I realized tracks like "You Can't Deny it", "Sincerity", and "All Around the World" can still hold their own with today's music. If there is any mention of the word DIVA it should include LISA STANSFIELD!

Erupting on the international scene with the hit "All Around the World", Lisa Stansfield was a definite force and this album justly solidified her place in music of the 90's. Her debut album boasts three top ten hits and several tracks that were popular on the world's dance floors. It is an album the consistently delivers and has not lost the spark that it had upon its release in 1990.

While she still records and charts in her native England, Stansfield has been somewhat absent from American radio airplay.

That, unfortunately, is our loss and we are paying for it with the cookie cutter, soulless ingénues' that comprise most of contemporary pop/R & B.

This is the album that proved to the world (as well as Black folks everywhere) that Teena Marie isn't the only white girl with soul. Proclaiming Barry White as her primary influence, Lisa Stansfield was an overnight sensation with the release of Affection. Although not solid all the way through, it's still worthy of being picked up the next time you see it in the used bin if you never bought the album. Affection had a soulful dance groove that can heard in a lot of other music by the likes of the Brand New Heavies and Soul II Soul. Classic cuts like the infectious singles "All Around The World," "You Can't Deny It," and "This Is The Right Time" will definitely have you reverting back to the easy-going times of the early 90s. And even though "All Woman" was a huge single on her follow-up album, Affection still stands the test of time as being the standout album of Lisa Stansfield's career.

Remember 1990? New Kids On The Block? Sinead O'Connor? Earth Day? In 1990, while I was writing a novel that was never published, Lisa Stansfield was having a lot more success with her huge hit, "All Around The World". I loved the song, but for some reason it took me 15 years to get around to buying the CD. Anyway, I'm glad I did. What I found is a fabulous collection of beats, in a lyrical setting where Love is Master, for better or worse. The musical arrangements, to a great extent latter-day disco in the first part of the album, give way to excellent early 90's club music as it progresses. A slight jazz tinge can be heard throughout. Lisa sings with soul and authority, and her warm, expressive voice is complemented perfectly by the swirling strings and glistening synths. By the way, 63 minutes, 13 cuts and none of them bad - this adds up to "your money's worth" on a very good CD.