It was 1975, the year I graduated from high school. Among the rock/jazz crossover musicians of the day was a 23 year old unusual looking woman, Phoebe Snow, with a voice of - well, as the New York Times of the day observed, “ a contralto grounded in a bluesy growl and capable of sweeping over four octaves.” Although known as a great cover artist, that year Snow had her first successful self-written recording, “Poetry Man,” a soft jazzy bluesy acoustic gem sung with staccato delivery that fit seamlessly with the decade’s soft rockers such as James Taylor, Harry Chapin, Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt and Carly Simon. Despite a lifetime of disputes with record companies and personal difficulties Snow continued to record up through 2008 (in fact she performed at the wedding of satellite radio star Howard Stern.) She was scheduled to release a new album and tour in 2010 but, on January 19, 2010, suffered a brain hemorrhage, underwent surgery, and was placed in a medically induced coma. Since that time she has only briefly regained consciousness.
Snow captured hearts with a string of singles in the top 100 on the UK and US pop and adult contemporary charts. By 1981 she had amassed an amazing body of work, the best of which was compiled on her 1981 compilation release The Best Of Phoebe Snow. The 1981 album should not be confused with her 2002 greatest hits compilation “Very Best Of Phoebe Snow.” “The Best Of Phoebe Snow” has Snow’s best studio work while “Very Best Of Phoebe Snow” contains a smattering of hits and covers with three live performances.
Snow is a music stylist. She is not normally a songwriter yet many of her own pieces became hits. On “The Best Of Phoebe Snow” you hear the studio versions of her best music.
First comes her song “Two-Fisted Love.” It is reminiscent of work by Minnie Ripperton, a Snow contemporary. It is a wondrous soft jazz rock piece - although the violent imagery of the song makes it very non-P.C. today. “All Over” is another song that Snow wrote. It is a late 1970’s catchy hit that allowed Snow to stretch her vocal range. Snow also sings her self-written hit “Poetry Man” and follows it up with an old jazz blues called “Teach Me Tonight” that was written by Gene DePaul and Sammy Cahn.
On the “Best Of” album she covers one Beatles song, “Don’t Let Me Down” and a tune written by Paul McCartney, Antoine "Fats" Domino and Dave Bartholomew called “Every Night.” Snow’s beautiful renditions put the originals to shame. The studio musicianship is incredible and Snow’s voice is intoxicating. She also covers Stephen Bishop’s “Never Letting Go” that, once heard, will get a hold on you, and she croons beautiful renditions of “Shakey Ground” written by A.C. Boyd, Alphonso Boyd, E. Hazel, J.T. Bowen and Jeffrey Bowen and “Love Makes A Woman” by C. Davis, E. Record, G. Simms, and W. Sanders.
The last track on the album is “Harpo’s Blues,” a song penned by Snow that reached No. 20 on the adult contemporary charts in 1975. It is as close to a sultry jazz nursery rhyme as you can get. It is dinner jazz punctuated by beautiful piano, slow acoustic guitar, sax accents, stand-up bass and drums played with brushes.
Phoebe may not be able to speak to us now, but, in 1981 her “Best Of” album spoke to us directly and, today, is still the perfect background for a quiet evening at home with someone you love.
- Old School
Buy here: Best of
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