A Girl Named Sam

Chances are, you’ve probably heard the music of Sam Phillips and didn’t even realize it. Her song ‘I Need Love’ has been showcased predominantly in movie soundtracks (1996′s Stealing Beauty and 2000′s Down To You and Here On Earth – just to name a few) and is still the song Ralph Lauren uses in its perfume ads. The WB’s Gilmore Girls even cites Sam has providing the score to the popular show.

My introduction to Phillips’ music was when I had first listened to her 1994 album, Martinis & Bikinis. It was then that I knew she was someone to watch. That album, which showcased Phillips’ heavy influence from the Beatles (and even featured an awesome cover of Lennon’s ‘Gimme Some Truth’) sparked my interest and left the flame burning.

A decade later, Phillips has released A Boot And A Shoe and she’s still on fire. The album’s theme is about imbalance and the sound is stripped down to allow for the music to truly shine through. Intimate, clever and extremely well-crafted, this could possibly be Sam’s best album.

The tracks featured below are taken from a radio show appearance Phillips made prior to the album’s release. Both songs prove her talent and offer a true taste to the album’s mood, but don’t explain why she remains a shadow in a world populated by artists with lesser talent.