Françoise Samson

Samson’s career goes back to the mid-1970s London pub and club circuit, where early members included future Squeeze drummer Paul Gunn, and ex Zzebra bassist John McCoy. By 1977 the line-up had stabilised with future Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr, and ex- Steamhammer, Castle and Tiger Lily bassist Chris Aylmer. 1979 saw the release of their debut, “Survivors”, with John McCoy producing and playing bass, alongside fellow Gillan member Colin Towns on keyboards. The Heavy Metal Crusade” tour, with Samson supported by upcoming London band Iron Maiden as guests, alongside with Saxon, Angelwitch and the Nicky Moore Band, is renowned for being the start of what became known as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (or NWOBHM for short). By July 1979, the band expanded to a four piece with the addition of vocalist Bruce Dickinson, then going under the stage name of Bruce Bruce. Over the following two years they released “Head On” and “Shock Tactics” to critical acclaim, touring with Rainbow, Robin Trower and Uriah Heep. Following a triumphant show at the 1981 Reading Festival , Bruce left for global success with Iron Maiden, joining ex-Samson drummer Clive Burr. Dickinson was replaced by ex-Hackensack and Tiger powerhouse vocalist Nicky Moore for a run of albums on Polydor records.

Originally released in November 1969 on small Impact label (subsidiary to Immediate Records) this beautiful concept album was carefully composed and very convincing blend of The Beatles & The Kinks-like pop-psychedelia, vocal harmonies reminiscent of psychedelic era The Pretty Things and The Zombies and early progressive elements of early Deep Purple, Caravan's debut LP and less-known bands like Velvett Fogg, The Fox and Koobas. Within weeks of the band's release the Immediate label went bankrupt and with practically no promotion it's not surprising that this very promising album had minimal sales figures. This carefully remastered CD edition has been expanded with rare single from 1970.

Throughout her career, most of Françoise Hardy's arrangements have tended toward the lush, though in a good way. La Question is lush too, but it's one of her most sparsely produced efforts, usually finding her voice accompanied by little more than an acoustic guitar, touches of bass, and very subtle orchestration.

Françoise Hardy is a pop and fashion icon celebrated as a French national treasure. With her signature breathy alto, she was one of the earliest and most definitive French participants in the yé-yé movement (a style of pop music that initially emerged from Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and Portugal before spreading to France in the early 1960s). She is one of only a few female vocalists who could or would write and perform her own material.