The A&M Years 1988-1990

Such a wonderful surprise to see this set nearly 30 years after Stop! was first released. Can it really be that long ago? I still love Stop! and April Moon, both superb and Sam's voice is still a joy to listen to. Not sure if the new versions of these CDs sound better than the originals as I haven't compared them yet, but if you've not heard them before, they are worth the price alone. My main interest though was in the two CDs of extra tracks, a few of which I already had as B sides, but most of which were new to me. These are not just alternate versions of songs I already knew either - there's a lot of new material, almost all of if great. There's also a bunch of demos included that are an extra bonus. The DVD of videos was of less interest to me, but still fun to watch, particularly with Sam's commentary in between. A massive thanks to Paul Sinclair, Sam, and everyone else involved in this release. I for one really appreciate it!

Loved this and I have loved Sam ever since I saw her at the Tik-Tok club in Coventry with her dad in the audience.Sad loss of her mum, then her voice and she keeps on smiling, when most would have crumbled.At the heart a love of music and some fab songwriting. And lately Ukelele not sure how you spell it.Lovely demos and outtakes and you see the development from ideas to finished, polished article.

This box set covers everything that Miss Brown did whilst at a&m records. The sleeve notes are surprisingly candid and show that Sam didn’t always like what the studio were thinking and was best. The videos are lovely but it’s the unparalleled voice that captures you. Sam Brown is still my all-time favourite female vocalist. No one has ever comeClose in terms of range, passion and power. She went on to record several more wonderful albums that were more representative of her as an artist but this is a great place to start, or to complete the set of her recorded work.Oh, and if you ever get the chance to pick up the duet she did with Black (Colin Vearnecombe), don’t hesitate- it’s a thing of beauty.

This collection brought back so many memories of owning these albums first time around and most of the B-sides on 12" singles. If some of the B-sides had been album tracks instead, who's to say that Sam Brown would've been huuuuge(r) than she is.

Great!

It's fair to say as singer/songwriters go , this is by far the most comprehensive "Mini" box-set of what was the delightful talents of Sam's beginning and by far most commercial period of her own music-making.Sam has often joked , and always proclaimed herself as a "One Hit Wonder" , but from what were The "A&M years" , its very plain to see from the very depths and heights of what was once a jolly and quite successful stream of singles , that this body of work from this phase of her life is something to be taken in , tasted and appreciated..The material here is bountiful with the bonus discs compiling A, B and C-sides to what were additional tracks , on what used to be "C.D. singles" all of which had 3 more tracks on supporting the main single , so when put together on one CD you have an album "with-in" an Album all stunningly placed as they ran on the original CD's on their initial release.Added to 4 the jam-packed CD's are a video collection of original Promo's mastered onto DVD for the 1st time completing the perfect package into a window of a lovely young ladies life into "pop" music at a time before TV talent shows where the door in and the internet was the way forward.I am fortunate enough to have been there at the genesis of Sam's performing seeing her play in Pub's and through early tours even sharing a mic with her at one of her many nights at "The Borderline" club in London's Charing Cross Road..It was the kind of music she was making at a time when I was young and impressionable , which moved me enough to want to play and learn myself ending with me buying my 1st Bass guitar to learn the melodies and play along to the tones of "Walking Back To Me" to name a few.These Albums have not been Re-mastered , Re-mixed or juiced up in any way either..These recordings are from the original A&M archive of all of Sam's analogue tapes that when recorded and finished , were then transferred digitally on CD.I actually compared my 1988 CD next to this new 2017 CD and the sound levels were almost identical , however there is a clarity and lustre that on my 5.1 home audio system did make every track sound balanced with a studio quality far better then I have ever herd these recordings sound over the thousands of plays I have given to Sam's music over the passing decades..Beautifully packaged containing a booklet with a written introduction by Sam to this re-visit onto her first steps into the world of pop stardom , with added notes on each album track explaining background to its writing and production.The biggest thrill for me and to perhaps most that take the time to wade through this plethora of sounds and sights , are the precious 4 track cassette demos Sam recorded testing out what were to become polished and very different sounding versions..Its a time capsule of a "time" , and proof that someone singing their little heart out can make a name through sheer guts and determination (and with a little luck and good , creative friends around you)..When Sam Left A&M at the beginning of the 1990's her life and songwriting changed , and her heartfelt music developed with deeper and more personal tone , nothing in the vain these early A&M projects could have ever allowed Sam to reach.But , you have to start somewhere ...And this little Pandora's box of perfection is no better insight to the undertakings of what to do if you want to sing , write , produce and share your music with the on-looking public..A lovely , lovely collection of heartfelt and wonderful times spread across 5 discs of delight..Marvellous !

We have waited a VERY long time for this!!!! So good to see Sam herself involved in the project. It cost me a small fortune to collect all her cd singles and i am sure there are tracks i missed. This box set is a work of art.