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"...You Make Things All
Rhyme..."
Like Dory Previn, Judee Sill
and even Melissa Manchester - New York's Phoebe Snow released albums that made
noises at the time (in this case a career peak position of No. 4 in the States
in the Autumn of 1974) - but in truth her work has taken decades for true
appreciation to be shown - for the rest of the world to catch up so to speak.
Over in Blighty - Snow
remained something of a cult figure for years making a whopping four further
albums on Columbia Records (issued through CBS here) between 1976 and 1979. I
can recall they would sit in the secondhand racks of Reckless in Soho and
Islington for months on end – nestled forlornly alongside Richie Furay, Eric
Anderson and Bobby Whitlock LPs - hoping to be bought and loved by someone.
Well better late than never...
Gorgeously produced by Dino
Airali and mixed by Phil Ramone - the self-titled 9-track album originally on
Shelter Records in the USA also boasted top musician contributions - Dave Mason
of Traffic, Americana guitar supremo Dave Bromberg, uber sessionman Hugh
McDonald on Bass, Bob James on Organ and Zoot Sims on Tenor Sax, Percussionist
Ralph Mac Donald and even The Persuasions old-timey Vocal Group lending their
lovely lungs on an inspired cover of Sam Cooke's "Good Times (aka Let The
Good Times Roll)".
But what marks this CD
reissue out for special praise is a glorious Remaster by Steve Hoffman (done at
Future Disc Systems in Hollywood) - one of the Engineers behind the 'Audio
Fidelity' CD Reissue Label and someone many Audiophiles will seek out just
because he twiddled with the master tapes. Let's get to the 'manifold
expressions' and poetry men...
US release 22 June 1995 -
"Phoebe Snow" by PHOEBE SNOW on The Right Stuff/Shelter T2-31972
(Barcode 724383197224) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue of the 1974 album on
Shelter Records with One Bonus Track (Non-Album B-side of a Single) that plays
out as follows (39:52 minutes):
1. Good Times [Side 1]
2. Harpo's Blues
3. Poetry Man
4. Either Or Both
5. San Francisco Bay Blues
6. I Don't Want The Night To
End [Side 2]
7. Take Your Children Home
8. It Must Be Sunday
9. No Show Tonight
Tracks 1 to 9 are her debut
album "Phoebe Snow" - released July 1974 in the USA on Shelter
Records SR 2109 and September 1974 in the UK on Island/Shelter ISA 5010.
Produced by DINO AIRALI (Co-Produced and Engineered by PHIL RAMONE) -
"Phoebe Snow" peaked at No. 4 in the USA (didn't chart UK). All songs
written by Phoebe Snow except "Good Times" by Sam Cooke and "San
Francisco Blues" by Jesse Fuller.
BONUS TRACK:
10. Easy Street
Non-album B-side to
"Harpo's Blues" - a US 7" single released April 1975 in the USA
on Shelter SR-40400
The 8-page booklet is a
fairly functional affair – album credits, the lyrics, the side-profile photo of
Phoebe that adorned the rear sleeve but not a lot else (shame there wasn’t an
assessment of her achievements). But the big news is a STEVE HOFFMAN Remaster
(assisted by Engineer TOM BAKER) from original tapes – and this album sounds
GLORIOUS – lovely warmth glowing from each song – a transfer that brings out
that combo of top session playing and quality production. This is a
mellow-mellow Soft Rock LP – it required a deft touch and that’s what you get.
Classy indeed. To the slinky music...
With the album released in
early July 1974 and not doing much business, Shelter USA pushed out the first
of three singles to promote interest - and it worked. The impossibly hooky and
Summer vibe-ish cover of Sam Cooke's "Let The Good Times Roll" b/w
the equally catchy "Harpo's Blues" led the charge in August 1974 on
Shelter SR-40278. Although it didn't make Top 20 per say - strong radio play
saw the LP finally hit the Billboard charts in early September 1974 – from
whence it made a steady climb to an impressive No. 4. Trying again with
"Poetry Man" b/w "Either Or Both" in December 1974 on
Shelter SR-40353 - it too would take the long road - finally charting in April
1975 and eventually giving Phoebe Laub (her real name) her first hit single on
Billboard. The hugely popular song (and undoubted album highlight) enjoyed an
11-week run - peaking at No. 5 - aided in no small part by her guest duet vocal
appearance on the "Gone At Last" track from Paul Simon's 1975
"Still Crazy After All These Years" album. Shelter seized the day
again - reaching once more for "Harpo's Blues” as 45 Number Three - but
this time putting the non-album "Easy Street" on the flipside - added
onto this CD as a Bonus Track.
Side 1 opens with "Good
Times" - a soft-shoe-shuffle through a famous Sam Cooke hit that features
Steve Burgh of Jacobs Creek on Guitar with the dulcet tones of The Persuasions.
You're immediately struck by her strangely intoxicating voice - a warbling
refrain as she strums Acoustic Guitar. It gently slides into the Soft Rock of
"Harpo's Blues" - Teddy Wilson on Piano, Zoot Sims on Tenor Sax and
Bob James on Organ. The self-serving ladie's man wooing all the chicks with his
fervent lines inhabits "Poetry Man" - Snow's knowing lyrics filled
with sweetness one moment and savagery the next ("..Home's that place,
somewhere you go each day, to see your wife..."). Acoustic Americana sails
in with "Either Or Both" - just her and Dave Bromberg working an
Acoustic Guitar and Dobro - sliding bluesy notes and her doubled vocals making
the song feel like an intimate evening in some cellar downtown where you
discover a magical force behind the microphone. Side 1 ends on a soft Blues
shuffle - just her with an acoustic and Chuck Israels on Upright Bass working
their way through the second cover version on the album - Jesse Fuller's
"San Francisco Blues" - Snow sounding not unlike a female Tom Waits
moaning about a woman who took the ocean liner and ain't likely to be coming
back any time soon (what a bounder).
Side 2 opens with a
double-dose of mid-tempo shuffles - "I Don't Want The Night To End"
and "Take Your Children Home" - the first a sexy 'oh daddy' longing
song whilst the next has a plea to love children. Lyrically "It Must Be
Sunday" is probably the wordiest song on the album - emotional desperados
drinking Vermouth, shopping the pain away - lonely hearts dreading the
reminders laced into another solo New Year's Eve (Zoot Sims on Tenor Sax and
Bob James on Organ). Stage fright and malaise consume Phoebe in "No Show
Tonight" - drowning in the dressing room - take back that Oscar (Dave
Mason of Traffic plays Lead Guitar). "Easy Street" turns out to be a
sweetie for a B-side - a feeling lost, kind of ill, last dollar bill song -
pleading to God for help - a few tips on crossing over to Easy Street. It ends
the CD on a high.
IN 2013 "Phoebe
Snow" received what many would consider to be the ultimate Audiophile
accolade - a vinyl reissue by the highly regarded Analogue Productions as a 2LP
set played at 45 speed. If you want the absolute CD business then the 1994 DCC
Compact Classics 24-Carat Gold Reissue with the Bonus Track as listed above but
also with an extra six demo versions of albums tracks - is the one for you (DCC
Compact Classics GZS 1051 - Barcode 010963105124 for the right issue). The
Demos are absolutely gorgeous by the way and I sometimes find myself playing
them more that the more sophisticated finished versions. But beware, it's been
deleted some years now and like much of DCC's Audiophile catalogue has acquired
a bit of a nasty price tag. In the meantime you can settle for this easily
available 1995 American CD reissue version - Barcode 724383197224. And it’s
cheap too.
“...Do you like or
love...either or both of me...” - Snow sings pleadingly on “Either Or
Both". I’ll settle for this one to love ta very much...
