Against the Grain (Phoebe Snow album)

Against the Grain is the fifth album by singer-songwriter Phoebe Snow, released in 1978.

Overview At the time of the release of Against the Grain, Phoebe Snow called it her "rockiest" album, "a deliberate turning away from the jazz influences" of her earlier recordings.Philadelphia Inquirer 13 December 1978 "Phoebe Snow is Reborn in a New Image" by Christine Arnold p.53

Rising no higher than #100 on the Billboard 200, Against the Grain became Snow's second album to seriously under-perform, ending her association with Columbia Records. Snow would have one album release in the next ten years, which was Rock Away, touted as her move into "rock-&-roll".Detroit Free Press 29 March 1981 "Solid Judgement - Pop" by John Smyntek p.75Philadelphia Inquirer 27 March 1981 "Pop Rock - Albums" by Jack LLoyd p.83Stereo Review Vol 42 #2 (July 1981) "Best of the Month" pp.72-72 (review by Noel Coppage) In interviews concurrent with the 1981 release of Rock Away, Snow would label Against the Grain a "disaster":Allentown Messenger-Press 2 July 1981 "In the Groove - Phoebe Snow Interview" by Steve Wosahta p.6 "[it] tried to be a rock album but had too many opinions. Everybody who played, sang or cleaned up the studio produced that album...Putting [Paul McCartney's "Every Night"]" - which afforded Snow a hit in the UK and Australia - "was the one idea of mine that filtered through."Tampa Bay Time 10 June 1981 "Phoebe is Proud of Picking Her Hit Songs" by Mary Campbell p.58

Critical reception

Peter Reilly of Stereo Review recognized the album's intent to "mark [Snow's] entrance into Outright Rock-&-Roll", dismissing it as "merely a paraphrase of real rock" and lamenting that "a singer who...has shown a real flair for projecting a lyric with poignancy and feeling has made such an awkward and clumsy turnabout."Stereo Review Vol 42 #2 (February 1979) "Popular Discs & Tapes" pp.116-117 (review by Peter Reilly) In a retrospective review for Allmusic, critic William Ruhlmann wrote of the album "The decision to add Barry Beckett as co-producer with Phil Ramone helped add an R&B depth and fervor, but 'Against the Grain' was just a more impassioned effort than its predecessor."

Robert Christgau of the Village Voice declared, "this time she dies on the non-originals...Paul McCartney's Every Night' shows up the hooklessness of almost everything else." Susan Toepfer of the New York Daily News claimed, "Snow may finally be finding her direction with this, her most straight-ahead rock album."

Track listing Songs written by Phoebe Snow, except where noted.

Side One "Every Night" (Paul McCartney) – 3:31 "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" (Chips Moman, Dan Penn) – 4:08 "He's Not Just Another Man" (Clyde Wilson, Brian Holland) – 2:59 "Random Time" – 3:39 "In My Life" (Patti Austin) – 5:02

Side Two "You Have Not Won" – 4:22 "Mama Don't Break Down" – 3:06 "Oh L.A." – 3:17 "The Married Men" (Maggie Roche) – 3:44 "Keep a Watch on the Shoreline" – 4:39

Charts Chart (1979)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) 9

Personnel Phoebe Snow – lead vocals (1–5, 7–10), backing vocals (1–3, 5, 7–10), acoustic guitar (4, 10), all vocals (6) Barry Beckett – acoustic piano (1, 9, 10), keyboards (2, 4, 5, 7, 8), synthesizers (4, 5, 8, 10) Richard Tee – electric piano (3, 10) Dave Grusin – keyboards (6) Steve Burgh – lead electric guitar (1, 3, 10), electric guitar (2, 5, 7, 8), acoustic guitar (4, 9), slide guitar (7, 9) Steve Khan – electric guitar (1, 3–9), acoustic guitar (4), electric guitar solo (6), electric 12-string guitar (10) Hugh McCracken – acoustic guitar (1, 2, 4, 8, 10), electric guitar (3, 7, 9), acoustic 12-string guitar (5) Jeff Mironov – electric guitar (6), acoustic guitar (6) Warren Nichols – pedal steel guitar (1) Will Lee – bass guitar (1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10) Hugh MacDonald – bass guitar (2, 5, 8) Doug Stegmeyer – bass guitar (6) Rick Marotta – drums (1–5, 7–10), Syndrums Liberty DeVitto – drums (6) Ralph MacDonald – percussion (2–4, 7–10) Jon Faddis – flugelhorn solo (4) Michael Brecker – saxophone solo (7) Corky Hale – harp (5) Michael Gray – backing vocals (2, 7) Margo Chapman – backing vocals (3) Linda LaPresti – backing vocals (3) Lani Groves – backing vocals (5) Gwen Guthrie – backing vocals (5)

Horns (Tracks 2, 3, 7 & 9) David Matthews – arrangements Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone Tom Malone – saxophones George Young – saxophones Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone Wayne Andre – trombone Sam Burtis – trombone Keith O'Quinn – trombone Randy Brecker – trumpet John Gatchell – trumpet Lew Soloff – trumpet

Production Barry Beckett – producer, remix engineer, mixing (1–5, 7–10) Phil Ramone – producer, mixing (6) Glenn Berger – basic track engineer Jim Boyer – engineer (3–7, 9, 10) Elliot Scheiner – engineer (8) Burt Szerlip – overdubbing Steve Melton – remix engineer Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York) Paula Scher – design Benno Friedman – photography

References