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/
Eatonville
The Samples Lyrics
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On the front porch of the store telling tales
I've come a hundred miles from the everglades
And if you've got some time, tell me of your day
Oh, sit beneath the stars
Oh, the days are hot and long
And my hands no longer work anymore
There's a child in the mud laughing now
She doesn't know her life is running away
Oh, sit beneath the stars
Oh, the days are hot and long
Oh, sit beneath the stars
Oh, the days are hot and long
It's not every day I see you waiting here
On the front porch of the store telling tales
I've come a hundred miles from the everglades
And if you've got some time, tell me of your day
And if you've got some time
Only if you've got some time
If you've got some time
The Samples' song "Eatonville" is a beautiful ballad about reminiscing and the passage of time. The singer comes across an old friend waiting on the front porch of a store and urges him to tell stories of his day. The friend seems to have lost a lot to time, and the singer himself has traveled a long distance to be there. He notes how time has taken away everything from him, and his hands no longer work like they used to do. However, he finds solace in the child in the mud, who is oblivious to the fleeting nature of life. The singer implores his friend to sit beneath the stars with him, highlighting how the days are hot and long- further emphasizing how time seems to drag on. The song ends with the singer urging his friend to talk only if he has time.
The song's lyrics give a sense of nostalgia and sadness, as the singer reminisces about the past and mourns the loss of time. He finds comfort in looking at the child laughing in the mud, and yet the tone of the song is somewhat melancholic. The singer seems to understand that time is fleeting and that everything will eventually be lost, but he still finds meaning in the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not every day I see you waiting here
The singer is surprised to see someone waiting for them on the front porch of a store.
On the front porch of the store telling tales
The person waiting is sharing stories with the singer.
I've come a hundred miles from the everglades
The singer has traveled a long distance to get to where they are now.
And if you've got some time, tell me of your day
The singer is asking the other person to share more about their day with them.
Oh, sit beneath the stars
The singer is suggesting they both sit and relax under the night sky.
Oh, the days are hot and long
The singer is acknowledging that the days can be tiring and difficult.
I think time has taken everything from me
The singer feels like they have lost everything over time.
And my hands no longer work anymore
The singer's hands are no longer able to do what they used to.
There's a child in the mud laughing now
The singer sees a child who is happy and having fun despite the challenges around them.
She doesn't know her life is running away
The singer recognizes that the child is not yet aware of the fleeting nature of life.
And if you've got some time
The singer repeats their earlier request for the other person to share more with them.
Only if you've got some time
The singer emphasizes that they do not want to impose or take away from the other person's day.
If you've got some time
The singer ends the song with a repetition of their earlier request for conversation.
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