Abbey Lincoln's Affair... A Story of a Girl in Love is the debut album by jazz vocalist Abbey Lincoln. It was recorded on November 5 and 6, 1956, in Hollywood, California, and was released in 1957 by Liberty Records. On the album, which features jazz standards arranged by Benny Carter, Jack Montrose, and Marty Paich, Lincoln is accompanied by various groups of anonymous musicians. In 1993, the album was reissued by Capitol Records with six additional tracks recorded during July 1956.[1][2][3]
The album cover depicts Lincoln sprawled on the floor, wearing a tight gown.[4] Years later, she reflected: "That was the way they packaged women singers then, and I went along with it because I didn't know any better. I didn't yet think of myself as a serious artist—or as a serious person, either. All I wanted was to be thought of as beautiful and desirable."[5]
In a review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow wrote: "At the time, Lincoln was making the transition from a potential sex symbol and lounge singer to a dramatic jazz interpreter... Lincoln's straightforward delivery was already impressive and pleasing."[1]
A reviewer for Billboard described Lincoln as "a highly provocative singer," and called the album "an outstanding one from all views, selection of repertoire, music and Miss Lincoln's singing."[9]
