43 Minutes

Brown began writing 43 Minutes in 1991, during which time her mother was dying of cancer. Once writing was completed, Brown's label, A&M Records, provided the singer with £11,000 to demo her new material, with recording taking place in the summer of 1992. When presented to A&M, the label raised concerns over the material not being commercial enough. They requested Brown record a cover version of a song with hit potential and include it on the album, but Brown refused and split from the label. Brown then looked at releasing her new material independently. She bought back the rights from A&M, and worked some more on the existing recordings. 43 Minutes was released in 1993 through Brown's own label, Pod Music, and through All At Once Records in Europe. ==Reception==

Upon release, Penny Kiley of the Liverpool Echo commented: "The album is her most mature and most personal so far. Her voice is better than ever and the songs are particularly open - some obviously inspired by the death of her mother." H. M. Dickenson of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote: "Her new songs show more lyrical maturity than her earlier work and sensitive arrangements for real instruments bring out new depth in Sam's voice." In their review, The Canberra Times commented that "if you are expecting the big sound which surrounded hits such as "Stop" and "With a Little Love", this release may take you by surprise. 43 Minutes contains a restrained, mellow sound — real simple piano bar stuff. There is nothing strikingly commercial and at best is a worthwhile dinner accomplice. But this is exactly how Brown wanted to sound, an expressive album which pays respect to her late mother and indicates she has put her personal life and goals into perspective." ==Track listing==

• Sam Brown – vocals, piano, organ, harpsichord on tracks 6 and 8, melotron on track 4 • Pete Brown – guitar, vocals, bass guitar on track 5 • Herbie Flowers – bass guitar, double bass • Tony Newman – drums • Jody Linscott – percussion • Danny Schogger – piano (track 3), keyboards (tracks 2, 6, 10) • Anne Whitnell – cello (tracks 4–6, 10) • Julian Stringle – clarinet (tracks 5–6, 11) • Doris Brendel – backing vocals (tracks 4, 7–10), flageolet (track 11) • Margo Buchanan, Julie Harrington – backing vocals (tracks 4, 7–10) • Neil Gauntlett, Mike Sheridan, Phil Middleton, Alan Garfield – backing vocals (tracks 8–9, 11) • Joe Brown – fiddle (track 1) • Nick Ingman – string quartet arrangement (track 8) • Gavyn Wright, Wilfred Gibson – violin (track 8) • Bob Smissen – voila (track 8) • Anthony Pleeth – cello (track 8) • Paul Bangash – acoustic guitar (track 9) Production • Pete Brown – producer, recording, mixing • Robin Wynn Evans – additional engineering, mixing • Sean De Feo, Henry Binns, Danton Supple, Adrian Moore, Simon Wall – assistant engineers • John Dent – mastering ==References==