Sam Phillips – A Boot And A Shoe
This California-born artist has a unique style & tone coupled with a creativity that is on par with someone like Tom Waits. Sam Phillips (guitar/rhythm guitar/vocals) isn’t as weird or strange as Waits, but she captures an essence that pop singers don’t approach.
Songs like “All Night,” & “Reflecting Light” have this songwriting & performance inventiveness that sounds vintage yet maintains its modern captivating radiance. Then, Ms. Phillips dips gently into the big band/swing/easy listening cauldron with “Infiltration” which sounds like Gershwin, Cole Porter or Hoagy Carmichael guided her hand.
Produced by then-husband T Bone Burnett (bass/guitar) the 13 original songs found on A Boot And A Shoe (Omnivore/Nonesuch Records/34:41) were originally released in 2004. They have the luxury of Sam’s creative embellishments with spare primitive Waits-like percussion on well-defined tunes like “I Wanted To Be Alone.” A monochrome song with all the diverse surging implements that not only create a musical experience but a mood, an atmosphere & a noir landscape.
Intonation-wise & with a deep tone Sam manages to navigate through a percussive rootsy tune “Draw Man” that dare I say, Billie Holiday could’ve covered. This is quite a cool territory to be immersed in as a singer. Sam Phillips doesn’t sound like anyone – she’s not progressive, avant-garde, mystical, or fantasy-driven like Kate Bush. She rewires her melodic savviness through percussive techniques & misty vocalizations that enthrall her.
Her subject matter is fascinating & the arrangements of her songs – even some of the songs that sound a little leaner are accomplished & disciplined. It isn’t like all the other pop music heard on mainstream radio. Ms. Phillips sounds like she goes out of her way to be certain her material has a signature sound – her sound. I find it alluring, interesting & evocative. This showcase is well worth rediscovering & none of it sounds dated.
Highlights – “All Night,” “Reflecting Light,” “Infiltration,” “I Wanted To Be Alone,” “Draw Man,” “Hole In My Pocket” & “One Day Late.”
Musicians – Carla Azar, Jay Bellerose, Jim Keltner (drums), David Piltch & Mike Elizondo (bass), Marc Ribot, Chris Bruce (electric guitar), Patrick Warren (string arrangement/piano/pump organ), The Section Quartet: Eric Gorfain (violin), Daphne Chen (violin), Richard Dodd (cello) & Leah Katz (viola).
Color image courtesy of Autumn de Wilde. A 12pp stitched lyric insert is included. CD @ Amazon & https://samphillips.com/
