Leslie Ann Phillips, better known as Sam Phillips, began her music career on the Christian pop circuit by going big as “Christian Cyndi Lauper”. (No, really!) What a long and strange journey it has been. If she sounds familiar, she also appeared as the mute terrorist Katya in Bruce Willis Die hard with a vengeance.
She made a career U-turn in alternative pop, and in 1994 released the seminal ‘Martinis and Bikinis’ – something that put her in the upper echelon of songwriters and earned her another Grammy nomination.
You might recognize her work from the many Phillips tracks used in the soundtracks of “Gilmore Girls”, “Bunheads”, and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”.
All I can tell you is that I looked through four copies of “Martinis and Bikinis.” It’s still one of my favorite albums worldwide, especially because of the strong Beatlesque influence. (Not by chance – listen to his version of “Gimme Some Truth” or “Strawberry Road.”)
And here’s another one of my favorite tracks, “I Need Love”, with lyrics that I find myself singing along to almost every day:
And I need love
Not a sentimental prison
i need god
Not the political church
i need fire
To melt the frozen sea inside me
I need Love.