Customer Reviews

Disappearing Act 1987-1998

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It's ridiculous that the wonderful songs of the sublime Sam Phillips are
not world-famous when so much trivial junk IS. This magical artist writes
and records thoughtful music that is fun listening, supported by top
musicians and production by the tasteful T Bone Burnett. Sam's tunes
are often like Salvador Dali paintings-- intriguing soundscapes with
startling word images, like a striking and bizarre dream around 5 a.m.
She shares often disconcerting views of love relationships, and how our
inner world is often at odds with the indifferent outer reality. Most of
the time, there is a tender compassion (missing from her "Omnipop" tunes).

Raven Records of Australia (is she a star Down Under?) has grouped hits
from all Sam's albums made prior to her three lovely "intimate cabaret"
CDs on Nonesuch Records. The inner booklet provides a history of the
earlier albums, with phrases like "failure to achieve commercial success"
being lamentably repeated. Sam Phillips does not release long CDs or
play long concerts; what you get is short but sweet, quality mattering
more than quantity. But this disc has both, a whopping 78:29! If you
don't know Sam, I think this CD could be "the beginning of a beautiful
friendship!"

This is a great piece of work, from Sam's earlier years. If you're not familiar with her music, this will be a treat. If you are, it's still great music. Almost 80 minutes.

Great music from her virgin catalogue and such albums as The Indescribable Wow (1988), Cruel Inventions (1991), Martinis & Bikinis (1994) and Omnipop (1996). When Leslie Phillips ended her Christian singing career back in the late 80's she began a new career under nick name Sam. I was a fan of hers and had purchased all of her records and cassette tapes. As I heard she had sold hundreds of thousands of records as a contemporary Christian singer. I did not have any idea though that she had started making new records under Sam Phillips. I never seen them promoted, or in any record store. I found out years later by reading a review of one of her albums in Scene magazine (Cleveland). I read how she was saying her new music was not in any way commercial (meant to really sell), and that she felt betrayed by the Christian industry. It wasn't until YEARS later when the internet came along that i could listen and purchase these albums. And they are very good indeed, picking up where The Turning left off. But also covering new ground, intelligent lyrics, unique style, and Beatlesque style. Her virgin material is the best! I have to admit, I am not a big fan of her 2000 music since the switch to her new label and the stripped down tone of Fan Dance and subsequent releases. But this era with the release of The Turning and the Sam Phillips brand 88-96 was truly her BEST!

I absolutely loved this disc the first time that I heard it, which is not usual for me. I will be the first to admit that I don't have enough technical knowledge about music to explain what makes virtually all of the songs on the disc so thoroughtly enjoyable. However, I do know what I like, and I like this disc--a lot. Highly recommended.

I recently fell in love with Sam Phillip's work. This is a great introduction to the music she made while with virgin records