Samson -

Samson was an English brass-psych band from Manchester that made the 1969 album Are You Samson. Paul Korda produced the album for Instant, the short-lived sub-label of Immediate Records, established by ex-Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham.

Members: Les Jones (guitar), Norman Findley (organ), Paul Ford (trumpet), Les Olbinson (bass), Mike Delaney (drums), Ian Kewley (vocals, french horn)

Background

Samson formed in 1969 when Manchester group Baker Street Limited moved to London under Don Arden’s agency and adopted the Samson name. The album-era sextet comprised singer–French horn player Ian Kewley, bassist Les Olbinson, drummer Mike Delaney, guitarist Les Jones, organist Norman Findlay, and trumpeter Paul Ford.

Delaney joined the Rainmakers after a stint with Manchester beat group the Scorpions, whose Fats Domino cover “Hello Josephine” reached second place on Radio Veronica’s Dutch chart. Kewley came from Wythenshawe and studied French horn at the Royal Manchester College of Music. Kewley knew Jones through the Boys’ Brigade and connected the group with Ford and trombonist John Hubbard.

The Rainmakers returned from Germany in June 1966 and expanded into the Big City Soul Band with brass. The group toured Scotland that September with bassist–singer Dave Macdonald, Jones, Delaney, Ford, and Hubbard. Macdonald left in summer 1967 as Kewley entered the working lineup, while Hubbard moved from trombone to the road crew and Norman Findlay joined on Hammond organ.

The Big City Soul Band worked Manchester-area clubs through the Alan Arnison agency, with Top of the Town as a regular booking. A Nottingham agency subsequently brought wider engagements, including support dates with The Who and Jethro Tull. The group cut the demo “I Need a Woman” at Strawberry Studios in Stockport, produced by ex-Mindbender Eric Stewart.

The musicians adopted the Baker Street Limited name as they developed original material and a more progressive set. Baker Street Limited returned from another German tour and chose full-time professional work, then signed with Don Arden’s agency and relocated to London. Samson played venues including the Marquee and secured a contract with Andrew Loog Oldham’s Instant label, which also signed The Outer Limits, Twinkle, Copperfield, and Gulliver’s Travels. The group entered debut-album sessions with producer Paul Korda for Are You Samson.

Discography: