Laura Nyro -- Bold Soul Sisters

You all might know Laura Nyro as a "new discovery" of the 60s or as the writer of songs like the 5th Dimension's "Wedding Bell Blues" and "Stoned Soul Picnic." Or you may know of Ms. Nyro as reluctant folk/rock star or new age tree hugger. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce Laura to you in a new way -- as bonafide soul sister.

Laura Nyro's story, very briefly, is that she was one of the original and premiere singer-songwriters of the late 1960s. The reason why more people don't instantly recognize her name is Laura's own doing. Probably to save her sanity from the money-over-artist-oriented music industry, Laura "got out" just as her star was shining. And after her hiatus from the public eye in the early 70s, Laura resumed recording songs about everything from love to her pets to environmental issues. Doesn't sound very soulful, does it? Think again. (And listen to the audio clips below.)

My love of Nyro's music is very new. I recently bought the album Gonna Take a Miracle, Laura's collaboration with Labelle, only because it contained a nifty pre-Lady Marmalade era picture of the group on the back. But when I listened to the record, I couldn't believe how soulful this folkie was -- and I'm not talking soft soul (though she can sure handle herself there too). I mean gritty, spirited soul and passion in both her playing and singing, with enough funky vibes to keep rare groove fans like me begging for more.

Here's the obvious about Laura Nyro. She pounds her piano with such intensity, you can her her fingertips bang against the ivory. Her singing is so possessed with spirit, she does not attempt to hide or overdub the labored breaths between each note.

But it is the unobvious (and what warrants her inclusion onto this website) that I'd like to discuss. Laura Nyro is a Bold Soul Sister. She is Valerie Simpson in Joni Mitchell's body. She is naturally at funk ease and groove abandon whether she is being backed by Labelle and the Gamble & Huff orchestra (Gonna Take a Miracle, 1971) or singing about her cat Eddie. She is a product of New York street corner doo wop and gospel call-and-response. In her music there are shades of Teena Marie, the Meters, Betty Davis and Betty's ex-hubby Miles. And her funkier arrangements are so subtly wicked, they'd made George Clinton hock his Mothership.

I don't know how else to explain what a groove revelation this woman's music is except to mention that a local DJ friend of mine now wants to borrow my copy of Eli & the Thirteenth Confession so he can scratch and sample with it in true hip hop style. But, ah, he shall keep his dusty little fingers off my precious Nyro records. ;-)

Nile Rodgers of Chic and fellow Bold Soul Sister Patti Labelle have both sung Nyro's praises. (As Patti wrote in her autobiography Don't Block the Blessings, "I used to tell Laura all the time, she is a black woman in a white girl's body. Her music is so soulful.") Her music has been covered by artists from Aretha Franklin to Roy Ayers. Laura is no longer with us (She died of cancer in 1997.), but her grooves and soulful music, though still obscure, remain with us. It will only be a matter of time before the Puff Daddies of the world catch on to her stuff. And if they don't -- well I'll be happy to have her remain my rare groove secret which is now your new discovery too.

Unless otherwise noted, all written material copyright 2000, Melissa A. Weber.
No part of these pages may be reproduced on another site without my prior written consent.

Links:

Lauranyro.net

Official Laura Nyro Website

Old Grey Cat's Unofficial Laura Nyro Page

Real Audio:

Woman's Blues, 1968

Beads of Sweat, 1970

The Bells with Labelle, 1971

Captain St. Lucifer (live), 1977

Timer (live), 1977

Selected Discography:

More than a New Discovery by Laura Nyro, Verve, 1966