Love, Sax and Flashbacks is the debut studio album by English singer, songwriter and rapper Fleur East.

In 2005, East was in the girl group Addictiv Ladies, who were on the second series of The X Factor, mentored by judge and head of Syco Music, Simon Cowell, but were eliminated in the first week after ending up in the bottom two with Chico Slimani.

[6] East worked as a waitress at the London nightclub Aura Mayfair to help support her music career, and was a fitness model with the agency W Athletic, but struggled with her finances.

[7][8][9] East later said that by early 2014, she was "definitely depressed" and considering ending her music career, until her friends and relatives encouraged her to audition for The X Factor.

In the ninth week of the live shows, East performed "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars.

"[22] East revisited her cover of "Uptown Funk", which she had recorded as a studio track prior to her performance on The X Factor, and subsequently re-recorded it for the album.

[22] East's cover of Alicia Keys' song "Girl on Fire" was used in Virgin Media's television advertisement for broadband.

Neil Z. Yeung from AllMusic gave the album three and a half stars out of five, arguing that despite the "strong '80s throwback vibe" its production was "by no means derivative and lazy", and considered that "for a runner-up and her first outing, this is top-spot quality pop".

[27] Digital Spy awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars, calling it "more than just funky brass" and identifying the "refreshing" lack of balladry present.

They described the album as "a sassy, funky, brass-infused collection that is equal parts nostalgia trip and sugar rush."

What it does have is a breezy, likable charm, and enough interesting twists to feel like a promising start for Fleur East on her quest to become an all-singing, all-dancing pop sensation" and calling it a "true standout".

While they commended East's "enormous energy", they criticised the record for lacking substance, suggesting that it fails in its "assumption that if the songs dazzle with bright lights and fanfare the public might not notice its vacancy".

[31] Evening Standard also gave the album 2 out 5 stars, saying the "signature note of Syco cheapness clings to the whole production and ultimately lets her down.