Shelter from the Smoke

Scat Records offers up a definitive edition of Bill Fox's debut solo disc, Shelter From the Smoke, back in print after more than half a decade. Originally self-released in 1997 and reissued the following year by SpinArt, both previous versions featured different tracklists. This edition includes all songs from both versions, as well as the two tracks from a scarce 1996 Scat 7".

In the early '90s, Bill Fox began a series of home recordings which revealed a growing preference for acoustically based music and formed the basis for Shelter From the Smoke as well as the follow-up Transit Byzantium. Shelter includes four electric tracks recorded with Fox's short-lived band The Radio Flyers.

Fox is one of those rare musicians who really does not enjoy the limelight, which has probably only helped the growing cadre of music fans who sees his solo albums as mysterious, lost classics. Or perhaps they just delight in the ringing sound of Fox's perfectly pitched voice or his deft lyricism. Either way, Fox's two solo albums are jewels not to be missed by anyone who enjoys traditional songcraft or iconic vocalists.