April Moon is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Sam Brown, released on 2 April 1990 by A&M Records. The album was produced by Sam Brown, and her brother Pete Brown. The album peaked at number 38 on the UK Albums Chart and number 30 on the Australian ARIA Charts. The album spawned three charting singles in the United Kingdom: "With a Little Love" peaked at number 44 on the UK Singles Chart; "Kissing Gate" at number 23; "Mindworks" at number 77. The album has sold over half a million copies worldwide. April Moon was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 17 October 1990. Then-Pink Floyd member David Gilmour sang backing vocals on the track "Troubled Soul" (he had also appeared on Brown's debut album, Stop!, in 1988).

Critical reception

Music & Media named it their Album of the Week, noting that "the follow-up to Brown's 1988 debut LP Stop! is a confident step into artistic maturity. Backed by a string of outstanding musicians and vocalists including Dave Gilmour and Phil Saatchi, the artist extends her soulful voice to its limits. The new material is a varied bunch of strong soul-rooted pop songs wrapped in sophisticated arrangements that will stand the test of time." Russ Hudson of Record Mirror described April Moon as an "eclectic overview of contemporary musical modes which has resulted in a directionless album full of melodrama, 'nice' arrangements, and very little else". He noted the broad range of musicians on the album had resulted in a "lack of continuity" and added that "more originality, energy and rawness is needed [to] give Brown's impressive vocals the material they deserve". In their review, The Canberra Times commented that "it is a couple of years since Sam Brown launched herself into the charts...if her new album, April Moon, is any indication, she has spent those two years consolidating and refining. Gone is her tendency to over-sing (yell is a blunter word for it). Her voice is now much more controlled and flows easily and confidently through a set of melodious and reasonably catchy tracks....Not a world-shattering album, but easy on the ears and gentle on the intellect."

Track listing

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes.

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Certifications