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There's no mistaking little Sammie for Sammy, the post-Pavement indie-rock combo of the mid-'90s. No, Sammie is an urban R&B singer. He's also a kid, not that you'd really be able to tell that from a cursory listen of his debut album, From the Bottom to the Top. At times, his voice does sound a little thin, but for the most part, it's surprisingly soulful and convincing -- not as stunning and assured as the young Michael Jackson, but certainly a lot better than most child singers. If he's not yet skillful enough to disguise the sometimes uneven material, that's still forgivable, because the tracks that do work, work really well. By and large, those are the songs written and produced by executive producer Dallas Austin, who keeps the beats fresh and light and the hooks strong and catchy -- particularly on uptempo numbers like the opener "The Bottom" and "Can't Let Go," featuring Lloyd of N'Toon. That's not to say that other producers and writers come up empty or that Sammie can't handle slower songs -- the midtempo soul of "Crazy Things I Do," produced and written by C. "Tricky" Stewart, is proof that he can -- but he sounds his most infectious when the beat is a little faster and the hooks are a little sharper. Perhaps that's due to the songwriting, which gets a little undistinguished as the tempo slows, or perhaps it's due to the fact that while Sammie is an impressive talent, he has yet to mature. Either way, the end result is the same: From the Bottom to the Top is entertaining, but not always engaging. Still, we have to remember that this is a debut album from a child singer. Judged on that basis, it's charming and, at times, impressive. Sammie does well this time out, and he'll probably do better next time around.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Dallas Austin, Composer, Producer, Executive Producer - Colin Wolfe, Composer, Producer - Debra Killings, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Leslie Brathwaite, Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Sheppard, Engineer, Sound Design, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Goodchild, Recording Engineer, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Vega, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Carlton Lynn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sammie Bush, MainArtist - Andrew Lyn, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ty Hudson, Recording Engineer, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - JT Money, Composer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 1999 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Dallas Austin, Composer, Producer, Executive Producer - Debra Killings, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gary White, Composer - Sammie, MainArtist - Leslie Brathwaite, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Kresco, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Sheppard, Engineer, Sound Design, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Piske, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vega, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Carlton Lynn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ty Hudson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JT Money, FeaturedArtist
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 1999 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Dallas Austin, Composer, Producer, Executive Producer - Debra Killings, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tomi Martin, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sammie, MainArtist - Leslie Brathwaite, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Sheppard, Engineer, Sound Design, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Alvin Speights, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carlton Lynn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lloyd Polite, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Claudine Pontier, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Vernon J. Mungo, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ty Hudson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 2000 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Dallas Austin, Producer, Executive Producer - Traci Hale, Composer - Tab, Composer - Sammie, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Christopher A. Stewart, Composer - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin "KD" Davis, Mixer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - C. "tricky" Stewart, Producer, Programmer - C "Tricky" Stewart for Red Zone Entertainment, Producer, Programmer - Stephanie Vonarx, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Stephanie Vonrax, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J Irby, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian "B-Luv" Thomas, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 2000 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Dallas Austin, Composer, Producer, Executive Producer - Debra Killings, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sammie, MainArtist - Leslie Brathwaite, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Sheppard, Engineer, Sound Design, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Alvin Speights, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Carlton Lynn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vernon J. Mungo, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ty Hudson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joyce Irby, Producer, Executive Producer
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 2000 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Dallas Austin, Producer, Executive Producer - Sammie, MainArtist - Devine Evans, Composer - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alvin Speights, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Indiana Joan, Producer - Caesar Pardes, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joyce Irby, Producer, Executive Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 2000 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Dallas Austin, Producer, Executive Producer - Jasper Cameron, Composer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ricciano Lumpkins, Composer, Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sammie, MainArtist - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alvin Speights, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vernon J. Mungo, Recording Engineer, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Isaac Lumpkins, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Derrick "Boo Boo" Culbreath, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ty Hudson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Joyce Irby, Producer, Executive Producer - Szhachilea "Dymond" Chunn, Composer
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 2000 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Dallas Austin, Producer, Executive Producer - Charles Pettaway, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Debra Killings, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jasper Cameron, Composer - Ricciano Lumpkins, Composer, Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sammie, MainArtist - Leslie Brathwaite, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joyce Irby, Producer, Executive Producer
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 2000 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Dallas Austin, Producer, Executive Producer - Debra Killings, Composer, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jasper Cameron, Composer - Sammie, MainArtist - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alvin Speights, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Horesco, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Vernon J. Mungo, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James Killings, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joyce Irby, Producer, Executive Producer
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 2000 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Dallas Austin, Composer, Producer, Executive Producer - Colin Wolfe, Composer, Producer - Debra Killings, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sammie, MainArtist - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Sheppard, Engineer, Sound Design, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Alvin Speights, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Carlton Lynn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ty Hudson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joyce Irby, Producer, Executive Producer
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 2000 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Dallas Austin, Composer, Producer, Executive Producer - Debra Killings, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gary White, Composer - Jasper Cameron, Composer - Sammie, MainArtist - Leslie Brathwaite, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Sheppard, Engineer, Sound Design, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Goodchild, Recording Engineer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Horesco, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ty Hudson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joyce Irby, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian K. Smith, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 2000 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Dallas Austin, Producer, Executive Producer - Charles Pettaway, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Debra Killings, Composer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gary White, Composer - Jasper Cameron, Composer - Ricciano Lumpkins, Composer, Producer - Sammie, MainArtist - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alvin Speights, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Carlton Lynn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vernon J. Mungo, Recording Engineer, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kelshon Choir, Vocal Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Kelvin Broughton, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Paris Killings, Voices, AssociatedPerformer - Joyce Irby, Producer, Executive Producer - Szhachilea "Dymond" Chunn, Composer
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 2000 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Dallas Austin, Producer, Executive Producer - Jasper Cameron, Composer - Sammie, MainArtist - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Harris, Composer - Alvin Speights, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Indiana Joan, Producer - Joyce Irby, Composer, Producer, Executive Producer
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 2000 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Dallas Austin, Composer, Producer, Executive Producer - Debra Killings, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gary White, Composer - Sammie, MainArtist - Leslie Brathwaite, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Kresco, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Sheppard, Engineer, Sound Design, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Piske, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vega, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Carlton Lynn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ty Hudson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2000 Freeworld Entertainment ℗ 1999 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
Album review
There's no mistaking little Sammie for Sammy, the post-Pavement indie-rock combo of the mid-'90s. No, Sammie is an urban R&B singer. He's also a kid, not that you'd really be able to tell that from a cursory listen of his debut album, From the Bottom to the Top. At times, his voice does sound a little thin, but for the most part, it's surprisingly soulful and convincing -- not as stunning and assured as the young Michael Jackson, but certainly a lot better than most child singers. If he's not yet skillful enough to disguise the sometimes uneven material, that's still forgivable, because the tracks that do work, work really well. By and large, those are the songs written and produced by executive producer Dallas Austin, who keeps the beats fresh and light and the hooks strong and catchy -- particularly on uptempo numbers like the opener "The Bottom" and "Can't Let Go," featuring Lloyd of N'Toon. That's not to say that other producers and writers come up empty or that Sammie can't handle slower songs -- the midtempo soul of "Crazy Things I Do," produced and written by C. "Tricky" Stewart, is proof that he can -- but he sounds his most infectious when the beat is a little faster and the hooks are a little sharper. Perhaps that's due to the songwriting, which gets a little undistinguished as the tempo slows, or perhaps it's due to the fact that while Sammie is an impressive talent, he has yet to mature. Either way, the end result is the same: From the Bottom to the Top is entertaining, but not always engaging. Still, we have to remember that this is a debut album from a child singer. Judged on that basis, it's charming and, at times, impressive. Sammie does well this time out, and he'll probably do better next time around.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:53:43
- Main artists: Sammie
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Capitol Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2000 Freeworld Entertainment LLC ℗ 2000 Freeworld Entertainment LLC
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