Album Notes

THE CD

The CD feel consists of twelve original songs composed and performed by Sam Turton. From an ever-growing library of compositions, songs were selected which best illustrate the central theme-a vibrant, primal, fully feeling way of life.

It is Sam's intention to defy rigid categorization and offer music that presents a wide range of emotional states and musical styles. Some songs are introspective while others are lighthearted. Some express personal pain while others express personal joy.

In a society that leans more and more towards a restless and superficial lifestyle of distraction, entertainment, and consumption, feel speaks of deeper, rooted connections within us and with those around us. To express these feelings, Sam has chosen musical styles that are rooted in tradition, styles that were created for personal expression rather than marketing product.

This CD was independently funded in order to preserve the artistic integrity of the writer and the performers. The music on this CD is not created with profit in mind, it is created for the sake of its own expression.

THE ARTIST

Sam has been writing songs and playing lead guitar for over thirty years. In Halifax he led the roots rock band "Ya," and in Ontario his guitar playing was an essential part of the R&B band "Soul Obsession" and the blues band "Drivin' South."

In 1998, Sam began to perform as a solo artist in St. Catharines, Ontario, singing his original songs accompanied by acoustic guitar. In 1999 he joined forces with young guitar virtuoso Christine Bougie and formed the "Turton Bougie Band," an ensemble driven by Sam's robust acoustic rhythm and Christine's tasteful improvisations. Sam has opened for Big Sugar and Ron Sexsmith, and shared the stage with award-winning horn player Nick "The Brownman" Ali and harmonica virtuoso Carlos Del Junco.

In 2001, Sam and his partner Jane Lewis moved to the vibrant arts and music community of Guelph, Ontario. For two years he focused on writing rather than performing, and developed his therapy practice. Sam's Primal Integration practice, which informs his music, is a unified approach to personal growth that is an expression of his extensive background in Zen, Taoism, aboriginal awareness, natural living and primal. Primal Integration is a more humanistic parallel to the Primal Therapy that John Lennon experienced before recording the powerfully revealing "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" album. In many ways, Sam is continuing Lennon's legacy of creating music from this very deep personal and emotional source.

Sam is also an accomplished artist and writer. His illustrations and designs have appeared in many publications, and his extensive writings on primal integration can be viewed on his Primalworks website.

In February of 2003, Sam joined with talented R&B performer Shane Philips to produce the CD "feel," Sam's first recording as a solo artist. In this new first release, Sam takes Motown back to New Orleans and Liverpool back to the Mississippi Delta. Think Lyle Lovett singing James Taylor and Eric Clapton—with the guitar of Ry Cooder and the heart of John Lennon. "feel" is a compelling collection of 12 original songs that range from hard-driving to heartbreaking, personal to political.