She's a singer/songwriter from the 60s and 70s (mostly). She wrote "Wedding Bell Blues" and "Stoned Soul Picnic" which were hits for other people. She died of cancer. There was a fun tribute album of her songs out called "Time and Love" after one of her songs.
I think that I first heard the Fifth Dimension's cover of "Stoned Soul Picnic" as a child because my parents had that album. And I'm pretty sure I heard Wedding Bell Blues somewhere on the way. My local library used to have some Laura Nyro and I'd look at it but didn't try listening 'til Time and Love came out. Anyway, she's got a great warm voice and sometimes Laura Nyro is exactly the only thing you want to listen to.
There was a fun tribute album of her songs out called "Time and Love"
I have this. It's terrific.
Her wikipedia article is pretty good: [link]
My favorite bit:
Bob Dylan reportedly startled a young Laura Nyro when he approached her at a party and declared "I love your chords!"
Not sure whether to post this here, in Technology, or in Premium cable. From PopBitch:
How music promotion works - part 2
Wire have received a nice paycheck thanks to "I Don't Understand" being used on a recent Victoria's Secret advert. And how did that come about? Someone at the lingerie company's advertising agency was trying to download an episode of The Wire TV series from a file-sharing site, but accidentally ended up with Wire's "Read & Burn 01" album.
Who wants to tell me about Laura Nyro?
Ooh, Dana, I think you'd really like her. She had this rich, soulful voice and was one of those singer/songwriters who approached lyrics like poetry. One of my favorite songs of hers is "And When I Die" -- I've just put it up at buffistarawk2 (m4a format). If you like it, check out her albums
The First Songs
and
Eli and the Thirteenth Confession
first.
Thanks, Kate! (Can someone send me the login info for buffistarawk2?)
You're welcome! Insent with the login info.
Dana, I agree with Kate that you'd love her stuff.
Particularly
New York Tendaberry
and
Eli and the Thirteenth Confession.
She melded pop, Broadway, Brill Building, R&B and folk into a unique mix. Great voice, very tuneful, very distinctive.
Nyro peaked early, and Eli and the Thirteenth Confession, just her second album, remains her best. It's not only because it contains the original versions of no less than three songs that were big hits for other artists: "Sweet Blindness" (covered by the 5th Dimension), "Stoned Soul Picnic" (also covered by the 5th Dimension), and "Eli's Comin'" (done by Three Dog Night). It's not even just because those three songs are so outstanding. It's because the album as a whole is so outstanding, with its invigorating blend of blue-eyed soul, New York pop, and early confessional singer/songwriting. Nyro sang of love, inscrutably enigmatic romantic daredevils, getting drunk, lonely women, and sensual desire with an infectious joie de vivre. The arrangements superbly complemented the material with lively brass, wailing counterpoint backup vocals, and Nyro's own ebullient piano. The 2002 CD reissue adds three previously unreleased demos, with no instrumental accompaniment save piano, of "Lu," "Stoned Soul Picnic," and "Emmie." - Richie Unterberger, All-Music
