Compilation/Tribute: Time and Love:
The Music of Laura Nyro
Astor Place Recordings
Compilation/Tribute
Rating: 68
Their hearts were in the right place. Unfortunately, several of the
artists who participated in this tribute disc had their sense of tempo
in a less suitable spot when they signed up to sing the songs of Laura
Nyro, the influential singer-songwriter who died last month at the age
of forty-nine. With the exception of such contributors as Suzanne Vega
and Jill Sobule, who wisely mimic Nyro's versions of "Buy and Sell," and
"Stoned Soul Picnic," respectively, this all-girl roster has done some
strange things to Nyro's music--mostly sloooowwwing it dooooooown.
Though she did indeed write many languidly bluesy tunes, not all of
Nyro's work is confined to the woman- lie-down-and-cry genre. Her pop
songs (covered famously by such artists as the Fifth Dimension, Blood
Though she did indeed write many languidly bluesy tunes, not all of
Nyro's work is confined to the woman- lie-down-and-cry genre. Her pop
songs (covered famously by such artists as the Fifth Dimension, Blood
Sweat and Tears, and Barbra Streisand) are as lively as those of the
girl groups and street-corner harmonizers who were her roots, and to
whom she paid tribute with Gonna Take a Miracle, her 1971 collaboration
with Labelle. On that album, Nyro showed how to recognize musical
mentors; her versions of "Jimmy Mack," "Dancing in the Street," "Spanish
Harlem," and other sixties standards are similar to, and yet different
from the originals in a fashion that actually improves on them. That is
not the case with significant portions of the Nyro homage. Phoebe Snow
drains the life out of "Time and Love," while Holly Cole puts "Sweet
Blindness" on Quaaludes, and God knows what Lisa Germano was thinking
with her quasi-alternative version of "Eli's Comin'" or Dana Bryant with
her rap take on "Woman's Blues." This is by no means a bad album--
contributions from Rosanne Cash, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Sweet
Honey in the Rock are just fine--but when all is said and sung, it just
makes you want to go listen to Nyro herself. --Susan Mulcahy
1. Time And Love - Phoebe Snow
2. Stoned Soul Picnic - Jill Sobule
3. Buy And Sell - Suzanne Vega
4. Save The Country - Rosanne Cash
5. When I Think Of Laura Nyro - Jane Siberry
6. Stoney End - Beth Nielsen Chapman
7. Eli's Comin' - Lisa Germano
8. Wedding Bell Blues - The Roches
9. And When I Die - Sweet Honey In The Rock
10. Poverty Train - Patty Larkin
11. He's A Runner - Jonatha Brooke
12. Sweet Blindness - Holly Cole
13. Upstairs By A Chinese Lamp - Leni Stern
14. Woman's Blues - Dana Bryant
--
gender is just an excuse, relationship shouldn't just be an excuse,
love is often an excuse, although sometimes these excuses are all
we have to hold onto,
death is the reason and living is the celebration
- Beth Orton
--
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