Mindworks Explained

Mindworks
Cover:	Sam Brown Mindworks 1990 single cover.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Sam Brown
Album:	April Moon
B-Side:	No Man Is an Island
Released:	9 July 1990^[1]
Length:	4:10
Label:	A&M
Producer:	Pete Brown Sam Brown
Prev Title:	Once in Your Life
Prev Year:	1990
Next Title:	As One
Next Year:	1990

"Mindworks" is a song by English singer-songwriter Sam Brown, released on 9 July 1990 as the fourth single from her second studio album April Moon. It was written by Sam Brown and Richard Newman, and produced by Pete Brown and Sam Brown. "Mindworks" reached number 77 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for four weeks.^[2]

Release

In addition to the standard 7-inch format, a limited edition 7-inch single was issued featuring a pop-up sleeve.^[3] The 12-inch and CD formats of the single include "Feel Like Making Love", a cover of the 1975 song by English supergroup Bad Company.^[4]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Giblets, a group of directors made up of Rob MacGillivray, Mike Sumpter, Carol MacGillivray and Michael Olley.^[5]

Critical reception

On its release, Tim Booth of the English rock band James, as guest reviewer for Record Mirror, stated, "Well I'm done in by that. It's a really fine song. What a shock, I actually like a Sam Brown record. That will teach me to have preconceptions."^[6] In a review of April Moon, Simon Williams of New Musical Express described the song as being "all bluesy schmaltz", with an "odd arrangement making the tune a pleasing touch harder to decipher".^[7] Marcus Hodge of the Cambridge Evening News felt the song to be a "gentle ballad where her coarse delivery detracts from the fragility of the musical backing."^[8]

Track listing

7-inch single (UK, Germany and Australia) and cassette single (UK)^{[9] [10] [11] [12]}

1. "Mindworks" – 4:10
2. "No Man Is an Island" – 4:50

12-inch single (UK) and CD single (UK and Germany)^{[13] [14] [15]}

1. "Mindworks" – 4:10
2. "The Tune with No Name" – 3:09
3. "No Man Is an Island" – 4:50
4. "Feel Like Making Love" – 5:07

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD single liner notes.^[14]

"Mindworks"

• Sam Brown – vocals, piano, organ, Minimoog bass
• Pete Brown – Roland SH-101 synthesiser, acoustic guitars, backing vocals
• Paul Bangash – guitars
• Richard Newman – drums

"No Man Is an Island"

• Sam Brown – vocals, keyboards
• Pete Brown, Paul Bangash – guitar
• David Levy – bass
• Richard Newman – drums
• Doris Brendel – whistle

"The Tune with No Name"

• Sam Brown – vocals, piano
• Paul Bangash, Pete Brown – guitars
• Stan Loubières – bass
• Richard Newman – percussion, timpani

"Feel Like Making Love"

• Sam Brown – vocals, keyboards
• Pete Brown, Paul Bangash – guitar
• David Levy – bass
• Richard Newman – drums
• Doris Brendel – backing vocals

Production

• Pete Brown – producer (all tracks), additional engineering on "Mindworks" and "The Tune with No Name", mixing on "No Man Is an Island" and "Feel Like Making Love"
• Sam Brown – producer (all tracks)
• Robin Evans – recording and mixing engineer on "Mindworks" and "The Tune with No Name"
• Jock Loveband – second engineer on "Mindworks" and "The Tune with No Name", recording engineer on "No Man Is an Island" and "Feel Like Making Love"
• Sarah Ozholl – second engineer on "No Man Is an Island" and "Feel Like Making Love"

Other

• Mike Owen – photography
• Jeremy Pearce – design

Notes and References

1. Robin Smith . This Week: The Next Seven Days in View - Releases . . 7 July 1990 . 34 . 0144-5804.
2. Web site: SAM BROWN; full Official Chart History . . 20 June 2022.
3. Mindworks . . 1990 . UK 7-inch single sleeve notes . . AMS 566.
4. 13 July 1990 . World Music: B-Sides the Point . . 848 . 37 . World Radio History . 20 June 2022.
5. The Videos . . 1990 . UK VHS sleeve credits . . AMV 869.
6. Booth . Tim . 14 July 1990 . Singles . . 14.
7. Williams . Simon . 21 April 1990 . Long Play . . 34 . 0028-6362.
8. News: Hodge . Marcus . 7 May 1990 . Albums: Same 'formula' for Sam Brown's second album. . 12–13.
9. Mindworks . . 1990 . UK 7-inch single sleeve notes . . AM 566, AMS 566.
10. Mindworks . . 1990 . German 7-inch single sleeve notes . . 390597-7.
11. Mindworks . . 1990 . Australian 7-inch single sleeve notes . . 3905067.
12. Mindworks . . 1990 . UK cassette single sleeve notes . . AMMC 566.
13. Mindworks . . 1990 . UK 7-inch single sleeve notes . . AMY 566.
14. Mindworks . . 1990 . UK CD single liner notes . . AMCD 566.
15. Mindworks . . 1990 . German CD single liner notes . . 390 597-2.