Phoebe Snow (album)

Phoebe Snow is the debut album by singer-songwriter Phoebe Snow, released in 1974. It contains her Top 5 Billboard pop hit, "Poetry Man".

Phoebe Snow
Studio album by
Phoebe Snow
ReleasedJuly 1974
Recorded1973–74
GenreSoft rock
Length35:36
LabelShelter
ProducerDino Airali, Denny Cordell, Phil Ramone
Phoebe Snow chronology
Phoebe Snow
(1974)		 Second Childhood
(1976)

Background

Sessions were held in Los Angeles, Nashville and in Tulsa to find the right approach for the album. "She’d play with whoever was around and we’d record and analyze the recordings, try and work out what was ideal for each song, which approach to take," said Shelter president Denny Cordell. "I think she found that rather a long and painful study, but it obviously had its rewards." After the album's release, legal battles took place between Snow and Shelter Records. Snow eventually signed with Columbia Records. It would be two years before her next release on Columbia.[1]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Christgau's Record GuideB+[3]

In a retrospective review for Allmusic, critic Alex Henderson called Snow "a pearl of a singer who never caught on because she simply didn't fit neatly into any one category... With as many risks as she takes, the album is generally quite accessible."[2] Robert Christgau called the album "This woman's languorous, swaying folk-jazz fusion is striking enough to suggest that her debut LP will become some sort of cult item. And it's better than most cult items... The plus is for encouragement, and for the graceful way her voice combines nasality and smoothness."[3]

Track listing

All songs by Phoebe Snow, except where noted

  1. "Good Times" (Sam Cooke) – 2:20
  2. "Harpo's Blues" – 4:22
  3. "Poetry Man" – 4:36
  4. "Either or Both" – 3:52
  5. "San Francisco Bay Blues" (Jesse Fuller) – 3:29
  6. "I Don't Want the Night to End" – 3:55
  7. "Take Your Children Home" – 4:15
  8. "It Must Be Sunday" – 5:50
  9. "No Show Tonight" – 2:57

CD (DCC label Only) bonus tracks
  1. "Easy Street" [original "B Side" of Harpo's Blues single] – 3:20
  2. "Good Times" [original demo] (Cooke) – 2:39
  3. "Harpo's Blues" [original demo] – 4:55
  4. "I Don't Want the Night to End" [original demo] – 3:55
  5. "It Must Be Sunday" [original demo] – 6:42
  6. "San Francisco Bay Blues" [original demo] (Fuller) – 4:09
  7. "Poetry Man" [original demo] – 3:43

Personnel

Production
  • Producer: Dino Airali
  • Co-Producer and Mixing: Phil Ramone
  • Engineers: Steve Hoffman and Phil Ramone
  • Assistant Engineers: Tom Baker, Glenn Berger and Bob Schaper.
  • Recorded at A & R Recording (New York, NY) and Producer's Workshop (Hollywood, CA).
  • Mixed at A & R Recording
  • Production Manager: Roberta Ballard
  • Photography: Ed Caraeff
  • Cover Art: Mick Haggerty

Charts

Album – Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1975 Black Albums 22
1975 Jazz Albums 17
1975 Pop Albums 4

Singles – Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1975 "Poetry Man" Adult Contemporary 1
1975 "Poetry Man" Pop Singles 5

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[4] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

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References
  1. Palmer, Robert (1975). "Phoebe Snow Finds the Suburbs of the Soul". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  2. Henderson, Alex. "Phoebe Snow > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  3. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved April 4, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  4. "American album certifications – Phoebe Snow – Phoebe Snow". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 3, 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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