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Samsara by Tom Maxwell
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fave it with Live-band Production | Traditional Jazz Combo
15 tracks | 39 minutes
Released Aug 2004
on Samsara Ltd
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- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 00:44 Indicatif lyrics BUY MP3 00:44 Indicatif lyrics "GIFT MP3" 00:44 Indicatif
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:18 Sixes and Sevens To Me lyrics BUY MP3 02:18 Sixes and Sevens To Me lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:18 Sixes and Sevens To Me
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:09 The Uptown Stomp lyrics BUY MP3 03:09 The Uptown Stomp lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:09 The Uptown Stomp
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:14 Can't Sleep lyrics BUY MP3 03:14 Can't Sleep lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:14 Can't Sleep
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:27 The Mooche lyrics BUY MP3 03:27 The Mooche lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:27 The Mooche
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:19 If I Had You lyrics BUY MP3 03:19 If I Had You lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:19 If I Had You
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:42 Caveat Emptor lyrics BUY MP3 02:42 Caveat Emptor lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:42 Caveat Emptor
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 01:39 Some Born Singing lyrics BUY MP3 01:39 Some Born Singing lyrics "GIFT MP3" 01:39 Some Born Singing
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:40 Don't Give Me the Runaround lyrics BUY MP3 03:40 Don't Give Me the Runaround lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:40 Don't Give Me the Runaround
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:27 Flame In My Heart lyrics BUY MP3 02:27 Flame In My Heart lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:27 Flame In My Heart
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 00:48 Nobody Likes You lyrics BUY MP3 00:48 Nobody Likes You lyrics "GIFT MP3" 00:48 Nobody Likes You
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:50 Three Fires Blues lyrics BUY MP3 02:50 Three Fires Blues lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:50 Three Fires Blues
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:19 Roll Them Bones lyrics BUY MP3 03:19 Roll Them Bones lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:19 Roll Them Bones
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:28 You Always Get What's Coming lyrics BUY MP3 02:28 You Always Get What's Coming lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:28 You Always Get What's Coming
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:17 Samsara lyrics BUY MP3 03:17 Samsara lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:17 Samsara
Squirrel Nut Zipper hit writer makes post-Swing diversity manifesto.
Editorial review
After giving neo-swing powerhouse Squirrel Nut Zippers its biggest hit in the late '90s with the very addictive calypso, Hell, Tom Maxwell proceeded to lay down the group's most intriguing works -- especially The Kraken and the apocalyptic Soon -- on their ensuing album, Perennial Favorites, before eventually calling it quits and going solo. Maxwell decided to embrace the indie route wholeheartedly, recording and releasing Samsara on his own label of the same name. Although ownership and absolute control helped the multitalented songwriter sleep at night, distribution ended up being a nightmare, and Samsara never got the attention it deserved, especially since the scene-friendly mainstream public dropped jazz like a hot potato once the boy bands took over Top 40. But that's their bad, because Samsara still holds up well against the test of time, mostly because its music is indeed timeless -- with lively versions of Duke Ellington's The Moocher, T-Bone Walker's Don't Give Me the Runaround, George Jones' Flame in My Heart, classic standards like Some Born Singing, as well as Maxwell's usually inventive compositions, Samsara covers quite a bit of sonic territory. Three Fires Blues is a haunting Robert Johnson-like throwback, Caveat Emptor is a kitchen-sink instrumental (featuring, as does the entire disc, Zippers such as Chris Phillips and Ken Mosher) that keeps its boogie tight, and Some Born Singing is an Asian-tinged highlight reel for Maxwell's female counterpart, Holly Harding Baddour, who runs through scales like they're going out of style. And while it is Maxwell's blinding diversity that engineers Samsara's impressive historical feel, it is Baddour that is the disc's secret gift. Her turn on disc's finale, aptly named Samsara (the Buddhist cycle of suffering and self-loss that complements the more desired nirvana), is poignance defined, buttressed as it is by Maxwell's contemplative lyrics ("Trapped at birth/Determine what it's worth/We work the most to gain the things we can the least attain/So thank you for everything beautiful"), Emily Laurance's winsome harp, and an ascending coda that spirals the album into a final peace. Good stuff, to be sure, and something you will not find elsewhere. But it's what those who listen to him have come to expect from Maxwell. Now it's just about getting those who've never heard him on board for the party. ~ Scott Thill, All Music Guide
Bio / Background
Tom Maxwell fueled the Squirrel Nut Zippers' 90s success by penning their hit "Hell," as well as "Put A Lid On It." He quit the band in 1999 and subsequently released "Samsara." This cd shows Maxwell aggressively brush-clearing his new estate. Zippers pals Ken Mosher, Chris Phillips and Stu Cole appear on most of the tracks. Virtuoso Duke Heitger lent his trumpet chops, and Julius McKee from the Dirty Dozen Brass band dropped by to contribute Sousaphone. Holly Harding Baddour sings on a few songs; her voice is truly astounding.
"Samsara" is the only record you'll ever hear that features Swing, pipe organ blues, Chinese Opera, and a George Jones cover, and that's not the half of it!
Maxwell's songs have appeared in scores of movies and television shows, even a Tony-award winning play. "Hell" enjoys perennial success, a new version now being used as the main title for A&Es "Family Plots."