Samuel Purdey Media Player

Four tracks from the 'Remastered' version of Musically Adrift - released 21st Jan' 2009 by Grey Dog's Records in Japan. Includes the No.1 single, Whatever I Do.

A bit about Samuel Purdey

Hailing originally from Brighton, on the UK’s Sussex Riviera, Samuel Purdey consists of songwriting partnership, Barney Hurley and Gavin Dodds.

Before forming Samuel Purdey, Barney had a brief spell touring with Acid Jazz old boys Jamiroquai and Mother Earth, as well as occasional session appearances with amongst others, Robbie Gordon of Gil Scott Heron fame. Gavin also had a life before Samuel Purdey recording and touring with Jamiroquai.

Initially, albeit temporarily, the pair worked with Acid Jazz who included their Tower of Power cover of “Clever Girl” on Totally Wired 11. Quickly however they moved on and signed to the Sony backed “Good Sounds” label which would become their home for the recording of their first and to date, only album, “Musically Adrfit”, released in 1999.

Prior to the release of “Musically Adrift” 2 offerings were made to the great unwashed in the form of “Good Sounds Sampler 1” which as well as Samuel Purdey’s “Santa Rosa” and “Whatever I Do” included Tom Scott’s little know classic “Jump Back” from the cult cartoon movie “The Nine Lives Of Fritz the Cat” (1974) plus the painfully rare “The Theme from Black Belt Jones” by Dennis Coffey from the planned but never released Good Sounds soundtrack compilation “Movie Grooves”. Next came the single “Lucky Radio” which charted at number 5 in the Tokio Hot 100 and also appeared on “Acid Jazz Past & Present” (Prophecy USA) and “X-Press 2 – Choice – A Collection of Classics” (Azuli UK). Lucky Radio was also recently released [July '09] on the compilation Mellow Groove (P-Vine Records, Japan).

Musically Adrift

Samuel Purdey’s 1999 album “Musically Adrift” is exactly that. Right record, wrong time; a little known classic overlooked in the main but nevertheless a timeless body of work as good now as it was then, regardless of current trends and other distractions.

Even the chronically deaf could not fail to identify the influences; Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald, Earth Wind & Fire, early Hall & Oates, early Chicago, Tower Of Power, Airplay, Blood, Sweat & Tears... I could go on but I’m sure you get the picture.

And the personnel on the record is not too be sniffed at either, further validating the pedigree of this precious gem which over time is earning the cult status it so deserves. Ten points for spotting performances of any of the following (day jobs in brackets to give you a head start): Frank Floyd (Donald Fagen/Steely Dan), Elliott Randall (Steely Dan/John Lennon), Robbie Gordon (Gil Scott Heron), Stuart Zender (Jamiroquai), Jan Kincaid and Andrew Levy (The Brand New Heavies), Ian Thomas (Tom Jones) and Neil Cowley (The Neil Cowley Trio). And the guys twiddling the knobs weren’t bad: Elliot Scheiner (The Eagles/Steely Dan/Van Morrison) and Bob Power (A Tribe Called Quest/De La Soul).

A few nice things some famous people have said about Samuel Purdey and their music

Jay Kay (Jamiroquai)

Lucky Radio was the best single of 1997.

Elliott Randall (Steely Dan/John Lennon)

It's pretty unusual, in this day and age, to find a more dedicated, fun, and inventive bunch of guys than 'Samuel Purdey'. My hat is off to them, and I can't wait to make more magic with these folks.

Ashley Beadle (X-Press 2)

This record has echoes of The Doobie Brothers & Steely Dan, & being a great white soul freak it just struck home right away. The only thing written on the label is Samuel Purdey, and the label it was sent out on went bust before it even got started. It's mysterious - and i like it like that! Why wasn't it a massive hit? It's called Lucky Radio and sounds brilliant on the radio, it should be in the top five today. It's timeless. I'll pick this record up in ten years and it will still sound just as fresh as it does today. It's in its own era - which is no era.

Bill Champlin (The Sons Of Champlin/Chicago)

Man, your stuff sounds great. Kind of a cross between 3 or 4 great things out there. Steely meets Ambrosia meets The Average White Band and, well, after 3 tunes I just realized you got your own thing and it's really good.

Richard Page (Pages/Mr. Mister)

Nice to hear someone's keeping the old flame burning.

Jan Kincaid (The Brand New Heavies)

I honestly really like this band.

Paul Crockford (Manager of Mark Knopfler, et al)

Swimming out from a sea of shoe gazing miserable Northerners came the cool, cool sounds of Samuel Purdey on a wave of honey sweet harmonies, irresistible tunes, punchy horn arrangements and facial hair.

The combined talents of Barney Hurley and Gavin Dodds bring you the unique but achingly familiar sound of their only album. Meticulously recorded and delivered with a swagger that is redolent of Laurel Canyon and the Santa Monica beaches but actually created on the UK’s own London by Sea of Brighton, ‘Musically Adrift’ is a triumph very rarely delivered by English musicians.

Standing proud of its musicianship and cocking a snoop at fashion of any kind, including sartorial, Gavin and Barney drift down the airwaves steadfastly ploughing their own furrow and daring to be photographed looking like a pair of Californian beach bums without the sun or sex appeal. Who can look at the shot of them next to and astride the radio and not be impressed?

These guys want to have their music played, they want you to like it and if you have intelligent feet they want you to dance to it. Multiple time signatures yet haunting refrains that insinuate themselves and stick around like '60s cop show themes, this is music to be appreciated, applauded and shouted from the highest point on Brighton Racecourse.

Buy this record and play it to your friends with that smug awareness that says, ‘I have something that you don’t.’ The feeling of superiority will be worth it.