The hardest question for any music fan to answer surely is, “Who is you favourite singer?”

I have a list as long as your arm of favourite bands and, from that list, my favourite on any given day could vary wildly from one of the top few. Equally, I have many favourite songs. The winner of that category would depend on the day of the week, my current mood, the news, the weather or a multitude of other factors. The same rules apply to favourite genre, album, guitar solo, percussion interlude, etc.

Driving home from work this afternoon, I was about to leave the car park and was hesitating over what to play on the journey. Scrolling through my many playlists didn’t cause anything to immediately appeal to me. I’d pressed the button to speak to Siri, with still no idea of my musical direction but felt committed now so resorted to an album that’s been a favourite of mine since its release 33 years ago.

Sam Brown has the voice of an angel, in my opinion. From deep earthy tones to glass-shattering peaks she delivers lyrics filled with emotion and with an honesty that lingers long after the experience ends. This album, her debut, is a masterpiece. A soulful journey filled with uplifting crescendos and heart rending ballads. Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd) makes an appearance in a couple of songs and the album is rounded off on a high with joyful covers of Marvin Gaye’s “Can I Get A Witness” and Tina Turner’s “Nutbush City Limits”.

The fact that I’ve returned to this album consistently for over 3 decades stands testament to it’s ability to delight… at least to me.

Sam released a further 5 albums, each of which are definitely worth checking out, before her career was cut short prematurely by a medical issue. She currently runs the North London Ukulele Collective… I may have to check that out!