ARTIST: Phoebe Snow 
TITLE: Phoebe Snow
YEAR RELEASED: 1974
CHART ACTION: #4
SINGLES: Poetry Man (#5), Harpo’s Blues
OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: Where Eagles Dare
LINEUP: Phoebe Snow and many sessioneers
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Debut for jazz-pop-folk singer is her career highlight.
SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: In 1974, things were looking up for Phoebe Snow. Her acoustic based jazzy and folk inspired songs gained critical acclaim and a deserved hit for “Poetry Man”.
Her voice was unique; she had range and dynamics. The production and arrangements by Dino Airali and Phil Ramone complemented her songs and her voice well, staying out of the way of the songs yet enhancing them. Eight of the ten tracks were originals, and she showed promise as a songwriter.
For various reasons (most notably being a parent of a special needs child that she refused to institutionalize), her career never materialized into long lasting success. So this is probably the best thing to pick up if you heard “Poetry Man” and were intrigued.
NOTES & MINUTIAE: She had record company issues as well (Shelter Records reared its head again – like it did for Dwight Twilley and Tom Petty). There are compilations that have bits and pieces of her other albums streaming, but this material is only streaming on the original album.
IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: Yes, with demos and B-sides.
GRADE A: A very pleasant record. Her songs are well written and evocative, and the arrangements fit them well.
But Is It Any Good? 