Linda Jones
Linda Jones was an influential American soul singer known for her powerful, gospel-infused voice and the 1967 hit "Hypnotized." Born on December 14, 1944, in Newark, New Jersey, she rose from family gospel roots to become a chart-topping artist before her early death.
Jones began singing at age six with her family's gospel group, the Jones Singers, in Newark. She battled Type 1 diabetes from childhood, which often left her fatigued but did not deter her passion for music. After high school, she worked day jobs while performing in local clubs.
Her debut single, a cover of "Lonely Teardrops" as Linda Lane, came out in 1963 on Cub Records. Songwriters Jerry Harris and George Kerr produced her early hits like "Take The Boy Out Of The Country" on ATCO in 1965. She signed with Loma Records, where "Hypnotized" peaked at #4 R&B and #21 on the Hot 100 in 1967, becoming her signature song recorded in one take.
Follow-up singles included "What've I Done (To Make You Mad)" (#8 R&B, 1967) and "Give My Love A Try" (#34 R&B, 1968). Her debut album Hypnotized (1967) featured these tracks, while later Loma releases like "My Heart Needs A Break" (1968) showcased her emotional depth. In 1972, "For Your Precious Love" reached #15 R&B on Turbo Records.
Jones died on March 14, 1972, at age 27 from complications of diabetes in Newark. Dubbed the "Empress of Soul," her raw emotion and short career cemented her as a cult legend in soul music.
Your Precious Love
Written-By – B. Butler, J. Butler
A2 Don't Go (I Can't Bear To Be Alone)
Written-By – A. Goodman, N. Edmonds, S. Seiger
A3 Behold
Written-By – S. Robinson
A4 Stay With Me Forever
Written-By – G. Kerr, N. Edmonds, S. Seiger
B1 Not On The Outside
Written-By – L. Roberts, S. Robinson
B2 Dancing In The Street
Written-By – Gaye, Stevenson
Written-By [Uncredited] – Ivy Jo Hunter
B3 Let It Be Me
Written-By – G. Becaud, M. Curtis
B4 I Can't Make It Alone
Written-By – C. King, G. Goffin
B5 Doggin Me Around
Label: Turbo Records – TU-7007
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1972
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Southern Soul, Deep Soul
Linda Jones' Your Precious Love is a powerful deep soul album showcasing her signature raw, emotional vocal style, featuring classics like her rendition of "For Your Precious Love," "Dancing in the Street," and "Not on the Outside," solidifying her status as a legendary, albeit tragically short-lived, soul singer known for making standards her own right before her untimely passing from diabetes complications at age 27.
The album highlights Jones's intense, technically brilliant, and passionate delivery, where she'd often launch into the climax of a song, captivating listeners.
She famously reinterpreted existing hits, making them her own with compelling performances, notably "For Your Precious Love" (The Impressions) and "Dancing in the Street" (Martha and the Vandellas).
It's filled with emotionally resonant tracks, considered essential listening for soul fans, including "Not on the Outside" and "Stop Dogging Me Around".
Released near the end of her life, the album captured her incendiary talent at its peak, following her recent hit "Hypnotized," but her sudden death meant little documentation of her live power.
Jones died just as her career was soaring, making this and other late recordings poignant reminders of the superstar she was poised to become.