Phoebe Snow in Concert

"I would rather be nude downtown with a film crew than scat sing," Phoebe Snow tells an appreciative (even with the language barrier) German audience in this 1989 entry in the "Ohne Filter" concert television series. With her smoky alto voice, Snow regales the crowd with humorous anecdotes and, more importantly, some excellent tunes, including her signature '70s ballad "Poetry Man," "Teach Me Tonight," "At Last" (popularized by Etta James), "Thankful and Thoughtful" (a funky Sly & the Family Stone song), and a trio of tunes off her then-current Something Real album (the title track, "If I Can Just Get Through the Night," and "Cardiac Arrest"). Somewhat disappointingly for fans, this is not a greatest hits collection, with notable omissions including "Love Makes a Woman," "Shaky Ground," and "Two Fisted Love"; still, the combination of Snow's strong vocals, nimble guitar playing, solid support from her backup band, and often humorous between song banter make this beautiful sounding Dolby Digital 5.1 release recommended for larger music collections. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)