Immediate’s 60th anniversary brings back one of its rarest treasures: Samson’s “Are You Samson” (1969) — the seminal Prog/Psych holy grail, finally on vinyl again.
When Andrew Loog Oldham, the Rolling Stones’ first manager and producer, launched the revolutionary Immediate label, he rewrote the rules of 60s Rock. Amid its iconic roster, including Small Faces and Billy Nicholls, Samson stood as a cult mystery—one of those rare acts that burned bright, vanished, and left collectors chasing whispers of their genius. Having lit up the mythic Marquee Club and made their mark on the London scene, Samson captivated audiences with a unique sound that set them apart.
The music combines Psychedelic harmonies evocative of the Zombies and the Pretty Things with Progressive textures recalling early Deep Purple. Its forward-looking approach sits comfortably alongside adventurous contemporaries such as Caravan, The Fox, and The Koobas, earning Samson a place in the lineage of late-’60s Progressive Pop/Rock.
Led by keyboardist and vocalist Ian Kewley—later to work with Strider, Limey, and Paul Young—Samson created an album of extraordinary imagination and scope. With its inventive arrangements and choral-style vocal passages, the record remains a striking and singular masterpiece of its era, now celebrated as a revered cult classic.
After decades in the shadows, “Are You Samson” shines brighter than ever—fully restored and remastered for 60s fans and collectors of Immediate’s rarest gems, this reissue arrives exactly 56 years to the day after the original release—an absolute treat.
LP Format Info:
– First-ever vinyl reissue of this cult concept album
– Now restored and remastered to its finest sound
– Unavailable since 1969 — original LPs fetch hundreds on the collector market
– Psychedelic/Prog at its best—Samson shines on Immediate, the label of the Rolling Stones’ first manager
– Shots by famed Rock photographer Gered Mankowitz featured in the artwork
– Reissue released as part of the label’s 60th anniversary celebrations
– Includes collector’s 60th sticker
Pre-Order “Are You Samson” here: https://charlydirect.com/products/are-you-samson
SIDE A
Traffic
Sleep
Journey
Fair
The End Song
SIDE B
Mars
Venus
Saturn
Poem For Sam