Poetry Man

"Poetry Man" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Phoebe Snow. It was written by Snow, produced by Dino Airali, and first appeared on her 1974 self-titled debut album.

"Poetry Man"
Single by Phoebe Snow
from the album Phoebe Snow
B-side"Either or Both"
ReleasedDecember 1974
Recorded1974
GenrePop
Length4:36 (album version)
3:15 (single edit)
LabelShelter Records
Songwriter(s)Phoebe Snow
Producer(s)Dino Airali
Phoebe Snow singles chronology
"Poetry Man"
(1974)		 "Harpo's Blues"
(1975)

Overview

Released as a single in late 1974, "Poetry Man" became Snow's first charting hit, rising to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1975[1] and #4 in the Canadian RPM Magazine charts.[2] The previous month, the song reached #1 on the Billboard easy listening (adult contemporary) chart, where it remained for one week.[3] The success of "Poetry Man" helped Snow achieve a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1975, an award that was won that year by composer Marvin Hamlisch.

Retrospectively, Snow stated that the production of the record was more jazz-oriented than the eclectic, acoustic guitar-based music she often performed throughout her career, saying that she "never intended to be a jazz artist. That takes a heavy amount of background."[3] The saxophone part on the recording is played by Zoot Sims.

Phoebe Snow's ultimate assessment of "Poetry Man"
My head was in a particular place when I wrote that [song which]...condon[es] extramarital relations, which now I do not at all condone. I was a silly kid back then who had no idea what was going on & I had sex with a married man. How can I stand up there...now & sing what purports to be this little romantic ditty about sleeping with somebody else's husband? That makes me crazy. I'm glad I'm saying this publicly because I don't like to preach during my shows. I just like to entertain...Now I sound like an old fart. But I just think extramarital affairs bring sorrow & bad karma...It's just really a bad idea.[4]

On the 13 September 1980 edition of American Top 40, Casey Kasem claimed "we" (presumably Kasem's organization) interviewed Phoebe Snow about the Poetry Man, and she had said that the song is about Jackson Browne.[5] This was later dispelled by Snow as a rumor that had arisen only because Browne was the first musician she had toured with after release of the song.[6]

Snow, while largely eschewing earlier songs in concert post-1980, would still feel compelled to perform "Poetry Man" live despite developing misgivings about the song (see Sidebox). However Jon Matsumoto of the Los Angeles Times, reviewing Snow's 2 September 1998 Orange County club gig, would opine that "Snow sounded like a heavenly dream while interpreting [her] gorgeous [and] best known song."[7]

Charts

Cover versions

In 1997, Zap Mama, an African-Belgium based group, delivered a rendering on their album, Seven, which included a dialog of sorts with Spearhead's Michael Franti playing the Poetry Man himself.

In 1999, "Poetry Man" returned to the Adult Contemporary chart in a cover by Hawaiian female vocal trio Na Leo Pilimehana, which peaked at #24.

In 2007, Queen Latifah recorded a cover version of "Poetry Man" that was included on her Grammy-nominated album Trav'lin' Light.

In 2008, saxophonist Jessy J recorded an instrumental of "Poetry Man" on her album Tequila Moon.

in 2014, Canadian vocalist Jaclyn Guillou recorded "Poetry Man" on her contemporary jazz album, "Winter for Beginners".

See also

References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (October 5, 2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Billboard Publications. ISBN 978-0823085545.
  2. Top Singles. RPM Magazine. April 19, 1975.
  3. Hyatt, Wesley (June 1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits. Billboard Publications. ISBN 978-0823076932.
  4. Minneapolis Star Tribune 23 August 1998 "Where is the Phoebe Snow of Yesteryear? She's back on track album and a 'turned-around life" by Michael Anthony p.85
  5. Battistini, Pete (January 20, 2010). American Top 40 with Casey Kasem: The 1980s. AuthorHouse. ISBN 9781452050386.
  6. "Phoebe Snow, 'Poetry Man' Singer, Dies". Associated Press. April 26, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  7. Los Angeles Times 4 September 1998 "Poetry Woman Belts Out the Next Verse: the reemerging Phoebe Snow, drawing from a new album of others' material, shows she's ready for more" by Jon D. Matsumoto p.F26
  8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 280. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  10. New Zealand Top 40 Singles, 5 May 1975
  11. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  12. "Adult Contemporary chart for March 1, 1975". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  13. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 12, 1975". Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  14. "Top Singles – Volume 24, No. 14, December 27, 1975". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  15. Top 100 Hits of 1975 Musicoutfitters.com
  16. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1975". Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
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