The Samples
There are at least two bands with this name:
1) an American band formed … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two bands with this name:
1) an American band formed in Boulder, Colorado, in early 1987
2) a British punk band from Worcester, England, formed in 1978
1. The Samples are an American band formed in Boulder, Colorado, in early 1987. The band's name came from the members' early sustenance of food samples from the local grocery store. The music has been described as "reggae influenced folk and rock/pop". The founding members were Sean Kelly (Guitar/Vocals), Andy Sheldon (Bass/Vocals), Charles Hambleton (guitar), Jeep MacNichol (Drums/Vocals), and Al Laughlin (Keyboards, Vocals). They have not released an album since 2005. Since 2008, they have only performed live sporadically, and sometimes under the name "Sean Kelly and The Samples".
Sean Kelly and Charles Hambleton met in 1985 in Burlington, Vermont at an open mic called The Sheik, leading to the formation of the band Secret City in 1986. After playing together in Burlington for a year, the pair moved to Boulder, CO and met up with Andy Sheldon, a friend and member of a prior band with Kelly. Jeep MacNichol joined the band as drummer after responding to an ad posted at the University of Colorado. After playing around the area, Al Laughlin saw the group perform at a frat party and asked if the group needed a keyboardist, an offer the band accepted.
The band gradually gained fame and released their first self-titled album The Samples on their own label. Following the release, they signed with Arista Records and re-released the same album in May 1989. However, the relationship with Arista was short-lived as irreconcilable differences quickly came up from the label's desire to change their sound. Their contract with Arista was terminated and the band continued to tour unsigned. In 1991, Hambleton left the band to flee to the Caribbean over a heroin charge. He later appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean and was associate producer of the film The Cove.
The Samples continued to tour and released their own self-published album, Underwater People, composed of both studio-recorded and live tracks. The band soon joined the newly-formed independent label, W.A.R.? - What Are Records?. Their records, including "Underwater People" (1992), "No Room" (1992), "The Last Drag" (1993) and "Autopilot" (1994) blended pop sensibility with a mix of folk, reggae, jazz, and rock to create their own signature sound. Sean Kelly, as the main songwriter, wrote songs about nature and the environment giving the band an "eco-friendly" reputation. Sheldon's thumping bass, MacNichol's Stewart Copeland-inspired beats and Laughlin's off-beat reggae chords supported Kelly's inspired songwriting and Sting-like vocals. They became a success throughout the early 1990s, selling over one million copies of their catalogue based on a genuine grass roots campaign. Their live shows helped them on the college circuit selling out venues in college towns across the country. The band headlined some of the H.O.R.D.E. tour shows in 1993 and 1996 and they shared the bill with big names such as The Allman Brothers Band, Blues Traveler, and Phish. On their own tours, many up and coming bands opened up for them including Dave Matthews Band, Hootie & the Blowfish, and Lisa Loeb. The success included television performances on The Tonight Show and House of Blues.
In 1996, The Samples signed with MCA Records and released "Outpost", their 5th studio album. Due to a buyout, MCA was experiencing financial difficulties and significant corporate reshuffling, and, as a result, many small or recently-signed bands were dropped from the label that year. The Samples' contract with MCA was subsequently terminated. The following year, The Samples often toured as a three-piece while Laughlin stayed in Colorado to address his heroin abuse and a robbery charge. He would leave the band shortly thereafter, along with MacNichol who left to pursue a solo career. The Samples rejoined What Are Records? and released three more albums, Transmissions from the Sea of Tranquility, The Tan Mule and Here and Somewhere Else. In 2000 the band began to release albums independently. Since 1997, there have been numerous member changes with the exception of Sean Kelly as frontman.
In April 2008, The Samples came to an end, as Sean Kelly wrote: "The long and winding road for The Samples has ended. Outside of possibly playing a few rumored dates with the original line up next fall, The Samples will be no longer." However, the band continued to play a few shows through 2009. The original five-piece lineup reunited for a show at Mile High Music Festival in 2010 and formed a new lineup and played the Denver Day of Rock. They continued to tour the spring and summer of 2011.
2. The Samples were a UK punk band from Worcester England, formed in 1978.
Sean 'Badger' Taylor - Vocals
Dave Evans - Ld Guitar
Dave Saunders - Rh Guitar
Pascal 'Pecker' Smith - Bass
Tony Allen - Drums
Rick 'Vividhead' Mayhew - Drums
Worcester's finest for nearly 12 years, The Samples played, danced and got very pissed at some 200+ live dates. They played with the likes of The Fall, Blitz, Vice Squad, Discharge etc..and most of the Oi! period Punk bands; anyone who was anybody promised The Samples dates or support slots - only a few came up with the goods. They played at The Lyceum in London, the 100 Club on several occasions and most of the London club venues - always for crap money and flat beer, but that was the fun of it - The Samples always did it for fun, they didn't wantto be trendy or Garry Bushell's favourite 'dish of the week', it wasn't important. Signing to No Future gave The Samples a world-wide audience with letters coming from all over the globe. Dead Hero sold 7,500 and reached the Independent top 10 and 104 in the national chart. Oh what fame! Without a second single or LP, The Samples carried on regardless and played many CND, Anti-Hunt and Animal Liberation gigs. Although not an Anarchist band, The Samples belief was a true Left Wing approach to the world's problems.
As the eighties approached its end, The Samples became 'semi-retired', coming out to play now and again, still managing to attract 200-300 in their home town. The last London gig was supporting Broken Bones. The whole Punk thing became far too pretentious and fashionable - I believe it was someone called Johnny Rotten who said it became 'No Fun' - and how right he was...
Their only single for No Future, "Dead Hero", was coincidently released a week before the Falklands War. A couple of music papers refused to print promotions for the single until a press release was issued explaining that the song was written about the First World War. It went on to sell 7,500 copies. A follow-up single entitled "Nobody Cares" was recorded for No Future, but the label folded before its release.
This is also the incorrect tag for the electronic/glitch-hop artist Samples: http://www.bensamples.com/
1) an American band formed … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two bands with this name:
1) an American band formed in Boulder, Colorado, in early 1987
2) a British punk band from Worcester, England, formed in 1978
1. The Samples are an American band formed in Boulder, Colorado, in early 1987. The band's name came from the members' early sustenance of food samples from the local grocery store. The music has been described as "reggae influenced folk and rock/pop". The founding members were Sean Kelly (Guitar/Vocals), Andy Sheldon (Bass/Vocals), Charles Hambleton (guitar), Jeep MacNichol (Drums/Vocals), and Al Laughlin (Keyboards, Vocals). They have not released an album since 2005. Since 2008, they have only performed live sporadically, and sometimes under the name "Sean Kelly and The Samples".
Sean Kelly and Charles Hambleton met in 1985 in Burlington, Vermont at an open mic called The Sheik, leading to the formation of the band Secret City in 1986. After playing together in Burlington for a year, the pair moved to Boulder, CO and met up with Andy Sheldon, a friend and member of a prior band with Kelly. Jeep MacNichol joined the band as drummer after responding to an ad posted at the University of Colorado. After playing around the area, Al Laughlin saw the group perform at a frat party and asked if the group needed a keyboardist, an offer the band accepted.
The band gradually gained fame and released their first self-titled album The Samples on their own label. Following the release, they signed with Arista Records and re-released the same album in May 1989. However, the relationship with Arista was short-lived as irreconcilable differences quickly came up from the label's desire to change their sound. Their contract with Arista was terminated and the band continued to tour unsigned. In 1991, Hambleton left the band to flee to the Caribbean over a heroin charge. He later appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean and was associate producer of the film The Cove.
The Samples continued to tour and released their own self-published album, Underwater People, composed of both studio-recorded and live tracks. The band soon joined the newly-formed independent label, W.A.R.? - What Are Records?. Their records, including "Underwater People" (1992), "No Room" (1992), "The Last Drag" (1993) and "Autopilot" (1994) blended pop sensibility with a mix of folk, reggae, jazz, and rock to create their own signature sound. Sean Kelly, as the main songwriter, wrote songs about nature and the environment giving the band an "eco-friendly" reputation. Sheldon's thumping bass, MacNichol's Stewart Copeland-inspired beats and Laughlin's off-beat reggae chords supported Kelly's inspired songwriting and Sting-like vocals. They became a success throughout the early 1990s, selling over one million copies of their catalogue based on a genuine grass roots campaign. Their live shows helped them on the college circuit selling out venues in college towns across the country. The band headlined some of the H.O.R.D.E. tour shows in 1993 and 1996 and they shared the bill with big names such as The Allman Brothers Band, Blues Traveler, and Phish. On their own tours, many up and coming bands opened up for them including Dave Matthews Band, Hootie & the Blowfish, and Lisa Loeb. The success included television performances on The Tonight Show and House of Blues.
In 1996, The Samples signed with MCA Records and released "Outpost", their 5th studio album. Due to a buyout, MCA was experiencing financial difficulties and significant corporate reshuffling, and, as a result, many small or recently-signed bands were dropped from the label that year. The Samples' contract with MCA was subsequently terminated. The following year, The Samples often toured as a three-piece while Laughlin stayed in Colorado to address his heroin abuse and a robbery charge. He would leave the band shortly thereafter, along with MacNichol who left to pursue a solo career. The Samples rejoined What Are Records? and released three more albums, Transmissions from the Sea of Tranquility, The Tan Mule and Here and Somewhere Else. In 2000 the band began to release albums independently. Since 1997, there have been numerous member changes with the exception of Sean Kelly as frontman.
In April 2008, The Samples came to an end, as Sean Kelly wrote: "The long and winding road for The Samples has ended. Outside of possibly playing a few rumored dates with the original line up next fall, The Samples will be no longer." However, the band continued to play a few shows through 2009. The original five-piece lineup reunited for a show at Mile High Music Festival in 2010 and formed a new lineup and played the Denver Day of Rock. They continued to tour the spring and summer of 2011.
2. The Samples were a UK punk band from Worcester England, formed in 1978.
Sean 'Badger' Taylor - Vocals
Dave Evans - Ld Guitar
Dave Saunders - Rh Guitar
Pascal 'Pecker' Smith - Bass
Tony Allen - Drums
Rick 'Vividhead' Mayhew - Drums
Worcester's finest for nearly 12 years, The Samples played, danced and got very pissed at some 200+ live dates. They played with the likes of The Fall, Blitz, Vice Squad, Discharge etc..and most of the Oi! period Punk bands; anyone who was anybody promised The Samples dates or support slots - only a few came up with the goods. They played at The Lyceum in London, the 100 Club on several occasions and most of the London club venues - always for crap money and flat beer, but that was the fun of it - The Samples always did it for fun, they didn't wantto be trendy or Garry Bushell's favourite 'dish of the week', it wasn't important. Signing to No Future gave The Samples a world-wide audience with letters coming from all over the globe. Dead Hero sold 7,500 and reached the Independent top 10 and 104 in the national chart. Oh what fame! Without a second single or LP, The Samples carried on regardless and played many CND, Anti-Hunt and Animal Liberation gigs. Although not an Anarchist band, The Samples belief was a true Left Wing approach to the world's problems.
As the eighties approached its end, The Samples became 'semi-retired', coming out to play now and again, still managing to attract 200-300 in their home town. The last London gig was supporting Broken Bones. The whole Punk thing became far too pretentious and fashionable - I believe it was someone called Johnny Rotten who said it became 'No Fun' - and how right he was...
Their only single for No Future, "Dead Hero", was coincidently released a week before the Falklands War. A couple of music papers refused to print promotions for the single until a press release was issued explaining that the song was written about the First World War. It went on to sell 7,500 copies. A follow-up single entitled "Nobody Cares" was recorded for No Future, but the label folded before its release.
This is also the incorrect tag for the electronic/glitch-hop artist Samples: http://www.bensamples.com/
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The Samples Lyrics
14th and Euclid so I walk through the fields again a splash of water…
Across the Sea Across the sea There's a little house Where all our dreams D…
African Ivory For every minute that goes by there's an unanswered questi…
After the Rain Out in the fields there's workers every day farming the land…
All Move On I believe in a better land, A place of peace in…
All My Thoughts All my thoughts are of yesterday You couldn't bring me from…
Another Disaster every day another page gets printed a picture taken through…
Any Other Day I came back down today, Saw the stars up on the…
Anymore I packed my bags the first thing this morning. I packed…
Anyone Did you see this coming from somewhere far away? standing in…
As Tears Fall If you need water I'm your rain If you need fire I'm your…
Beautiful Girl What beautiful woman What a beautiful girl What a beautiful…
Big Bird All night long it seems I'm waiting To get up with…
Birth Of Words it's been a long time I've been waking up at twelve…
Black & White Black and white Always fighting Blue and green It'll soon…
Black and White Black and white Always fighting Blue and green It'll soon be…
Blue Great blue ocean under me Take me far away To the land…
Braidwood It's a year-long reunion only I am a stranger Surrounded by…
Buffalo Herds & Windmills In the old days when the wheels went round and…
Carry On Trusting is one thing I don't know When it comes to…
Close to the Fires The blue skies are turning brown. Trees fall without a sound…
Conquistador He sees the moon reflect Off the shiny steel And though it's…
Could It Be Another Change The only time I feel good falling Is when I'm falling…
Darkside Sometimes I can be your best friend So much fun to…
Did You Ever Look So Nice we were children in our places with the world beneath our…
Dinosaur Bones From dinosaur bones to telephones they call across the count…
Dreams Come True Trees are green Sky is blue I have seen Dreams come true Dre…
Eatonville It's not every day I see you waiting here On the…
Everytime I'm not going home The same way I came But I'll see…
Faces So many faces have gone The time slips away The days may…
Falling in Love Don't lead me on because you want to Turn off and…
Feel Us Shakin gentle thoughts meander through the sand as the ship-made c…
Feel Us Shaking gentle thoughts meander through the sand as the ship-made cu…
Finest Role You had a job as a dancing waitress that's what you…
Flying I was looking Looking out the windows at the moon I was…
Foreign Countries She paints pictures of the sky She hides feelings in her…
Giants as i woke this morning the sun gone without warning giants w…
Going Through Changes Somewhere in the sky There is a star named after you; Name…
Great Blue Ocean Great blue ocean under me Take me far away To the land…
Here and Somewhere Else There's a warmth in your eyes, so far away. There's a…
Hypocrite Here's a story about a world And all the places we…
I Remember Dying If you meet me by the river I'll tell you what's…
Indiana I remember the first time I drove through Indiana watching f…
Indiána I remember the first time I drove through Indiana Watching f…
Information Give me some information Tell me the world's not that bad Po…
Inside Out It turns me inside out It turns me inside out It turns…
It's Curtains Who can't see clearly Who fights himself Those barely whispe…
Landing on the Sidewalk When it's dark and late at night I think about the…
Last Summer There's trouble on the wing I just can't see the floor I…
Learjet If I was a Learjet With nowhere left to fly So high…
Little People Wake me up when I'm falling asleep, Falling asleep on you. …
Little Silver Ring Growing old, wathing silver turn to gold Snowing cold, why a…
Little Whale Oh little whale Won't you come out and play Oh little whale …
Lizard Skin I'm looking for something that cannot be reached I'm searchi…
Losing End of Distance I've been on the losing end of distance A little too…
Lullaby Good night good night sleep my angel peace on earth awaits…
Madmen They were born without a name winning every crooked game a d…
Misery Behind a window with no borders I cry myself to sleep And…
Moonlit Treese One day in the evening A moonlit tree came to me…
My Town 'm going back to my town won't be there for long I'm…
Nature Nature it's all around me Nature is so astounding It puts me…
Nature Of The Beast Nature it's all around me Nature is so astounding It puts …
Nitrous Fall Cold and fog, dawn is breaking now And if you ever…
Nothing Lasts for Long take my hand and walk with me and tell me who…
Ocean of War Psychedelic waves in the ocean of war nothing was learned f…
Only To You Gonna come and see Gonna come and see See what we are Only…
Overthrow there's no time there's no more places for us to run away an…
Pain On the t.v. or in the news on the front page…
Pioneer Square Looking Down On Town Tonight There's Quiet In The Air All Th…
Pioneer Square 2012 Looking down on town tonight, There's quiet in the air. Al…
Playground Stay away from me 'Cause I can't help you Don't make me…
Prehistoric Bird Prehistoric bird Headed for the ocean Can I catch a ride Fro…
Prophet of Doom How can I pretend there's no end sitting in this…
Radio Song I love to listen to the radio Just love to sit…
Return To Earth Life's ok, even though it fades away. The day was dark…
Sacred Stones Would you catch me if I was falling? Would you answer…
Sea of Broken Hearts When the water flows down From her ocean of sadness, Look fo…
Seany Boy seany boy better get yourself in school the teachers called …
Seasons In The City Standing on a corner fall is in the air When looking…
Seventeen Oh Oh A broken wing A wooden chair I keep falling like a fea…
Shine On Mother earth A big blue marble The dancing moon The falling …
Smile for the Camera In the summer sun of 1962 The prettiest eyes were closing Fr…
St. Mary I can see by your gaze, I'm feeling in my…
Still Water I can still remeber you Like a wish that won't come…
Stone Tears when it was dark above the ground heat from below was…
Streets in the Rain I'm looking for people That I used to know And I'm looking…
Suburbia somewhere in the city built of iron and steel where the wate…
Summertime well the trust was broke 'cause the words were wrong and fai…
Take My Heart Take my heart And keep it in a box Keep it only…
Taking Us Home When I saw the churches The stained glass was gone And the…
Taxi We drink from the same glass Whe share the same past A…
The Birds Of Paradise She Explores The Birds Of Paradise The Shiny Moon Splashing …
The Hunt Out in the yard cave wires are burning Can't see too…
The Last Drag Can you look me straight in my eyes? And tell me…
The Lost Children You come and go But tell me you're not leaving It's hard…
The Streets in the Rain I'm looking for people That I used to know And I'm looking…
The Tree Outside Somewhere in the sky it's harvest time Looking at the things…
Tom Joad walked back through the wash today was too day to take…
Under the Bridge My mother went this morning, October in the fall. There wasn…
Underwater People I woke up in the morning All that I could see Fish…
Waited Up We tried to get along we tried to just get…
Walking Through the Snow one night i was walkin through the snow i was lookin…
War Psychedelic waves in the ocean of war nothing was learned f…
Watching The Wheels People say I'm crazy, doing what I'm doing Well, they give…
Water Rush All is lost never to be found When the tears fill…
Water Under the Bridge My mother went this morning October in the fall There wasn't…
We All Move On I believe in a better land, A place of peace in…
Weight of the World With my hands I will build you castles in the sand A promise…
When It's Raining when years pass between us and the light shines on the…
When the Day is Done When the day is done I hope, you're still the same I…
Who Am I Another starry night is above us For the last ten million…
Won Used to win I used to lose That's one thing you'll…