Claudia Schmidt's recording career got off to an impressive start with this self-titled effort, which wasn't well-known in the pop market but was highly regarded in folk circles. Combining folk with everything from blues and country to pop, the Chicago-based singer brought a great deal of charisma and honesty to originals like "Lady," "Whale Song," and "Fuzzy" as well as the traditional "Horse Thief."
Schmidt successfully moves into a jazz/R&B environment on her convincing interpretation of
Buddy Johnson's "Since I Fell for You," but top honors must go to the darkly compelling "Old Woman Lament." Taking a look at the plight of an old woman who finds herself coping with crime and poverty in a large city, the song sends a chill up your spine. But on the whole, this acoustic-oriented session is more optimistic. Originally a vinyl LP,
Claudia Schmidt was reissued on CD in 1989. ~ Alex Henderson