Thank you for this! Sidewalk and pigeon . . . Laura is my favorite, too. I still tell people that when I die, I just want to go to wherever Laura Nyro now resides.
That's a splendid piece, Robert! I was a Laura acolyte from the beginning. Gonna Take A Miracle is an all-time favourite, if only for the work with LaBelle.
The Intensity of Eli and New York Tendaberry meant it wasn't background music while chit-chat went on. It was reserved for headphones and the lyrics floating through your head. The Fifth Dimension did some of the tunes justice, but, as you say, some of the feeling was missing. Still, I hope that the royalties helped Laura make her way.
I lost track of Laura after a fashion, and then, suddenly she was gone, and I wondered what happened.
Thanks for helping me re-visit unique artist. Now, I must find time to listen to those first albums.
Her first five albums are about as good as a run as any artist has had. I've always liked the 5th Dimension's interpretations of Nyro's music - I think they had a feel for what she was doing and that their covers helped listeners to check out her records (that's how I discovered her). 'Gonna Take a Miracle' is amazing - the cover of 'Spanish Harlem' on it is about as good as it gets - beauty that words are inadequate to qualify.
Thanks for the suggestions. I definitely want to write about Jon Hendricks at some point - particularly his association with Dave Lambert and Annie Ross. I wrote a little bit about him (and them, by extension) in an essay I wrote about Joe Williams and Count Basie earlier this year. Here's the link, in case you missed it: https://www.listeningsessions.ca/p/joe-williams-and-count-basie-have
Thank you for this! Sidewalk and pigeon . . . Laura is my favorite, too. I still tell people that when I die, I just want to go to wherever Laura Nyro now resides.
Thank you for the kind words.
That's a splendid piece, Robert! I was a Laura acolyte from the beginning. Gonna Take A Miracle is an all-time favourite, if only for the work with LaBelle.
The Intensity of Eli and New York Tendaberry meant it wasn't background music while chit-chat went on. It was reserved for headphones and the lyrics floating through your head. The Fifth Dimension did some of the tunes justice, but, as you say, some of the feeling was missing. Still, I hope that the royalties helped Laura make her way.
I lost track of Laura after a fashion, and then, suddenly she was gone, and I wondered what happened.
Thanks for helping me re-visit unique artist. Now, I must find time to listen to those first albums.
Her first five albums are about as good as a run as any artist has had. I've always liked the 5th Dimension's interpretations of Nyro's music - I think they had a feel for what she was doing and that their covers helped listeners to check out her records (that's how I discovered her). 'Gonna Take a Miracle' is amazing - the cover of 'Spanish Harlem' on it is about as good as it gets - beauty that words are inadequate to qualify.
Fantastic, as always, Robert! I didn't know a whole lot of Nyro's work outside of 'Wedding Bell Blues.'
Thank you, Kevin. Laura Nyro is one of my favourite artists period. I love, love, love her music.
In case you take suggestions, Robert, here are a few I'd love to see covered: Blossom Dearie, Susannah McCorkle, Lenny Breau, Jon Jendricks.
Wishin' and hopin'.🙏
Thanks for the suggestions. I definitely want to write about Jon Hendricks at some point - particularly his association with Dave Lambert and Annie Ross. I wrote a little bit about him (and them, by extension) in an essay I wrote about Joe Williams and Count Basie earlier this year. Here's the link, in case you missed it: https://www.listeningsessions.ca/p/joe-williams-and-count-basie-have
Beautiful, Robert.
Thank you!
Another fine piece Robert! My college roommates had a few of her albums. I liked her song writing and lyrics. She died way too young.
Thank you! Indeed she did but glad that more people these days know her music and glad that she has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.