How Laura Nyro's Rare Live Album Captures Her Soulful Genius
Laura Nyro Live At The Bottom Line: A Must-Have For Fans Of The Singer-Songwriter
Laura Nyro was one of the most influential and original singer-songwriters of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Her songs were covered by artists such as Barbra Streisand, The 5th Dimension, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Three Dog Night. She also had a loyal fan base that appreciated her soulful voice, poetic lyrics, and eclectic musical style.
Laura Nyro Live At The Bottom Line Rar
In 1989, Nyro released her second live album, Laura: Live at the Bottom Line, recorded at New York's famous intimate venue in the summer of 1988. The album showcases Nyro's talent and charisma as a live performer, as well as her ability to reinvent her classic songs and introduce new ones.
The album features 16 tracks, ranging from her early hits like "And When I Die" and "Wedding Bell Blues" to newer songs like "Broken Rainbow" and "Women of the One World". Nyro also covers some of her favorite songs by other artists, such as "High-Heeled Sneakers", "La La Means I Love You", and "Up on the Roof". She is accompanied by a band of talented musicians, including Jimmy Vivino on guitar and mandolin, who also co-produced the album with Nyro.
Laura: Live at the Bottom Line is a rare and precious document of Nyro's live artistry. It captures her soulful genius, her passion, and her humor. It is a must-have for fans of the singer-songwriter, who died in 1997 at the age of 49.
One of the highlights of the album is "The Japanese Restaurant Song", a previously unreleased song that Nyro wrote in 1971 after visiting a Japanese restaurant in New York with her then-husband David Geffen. The song is a whimsical and humorous account of her experience, with references to sushi, sake, and geishas. Nyro sings the song with a playful tone and a mock-Japanese accent, while Vivino adds some oriental touches on the mandolin.
Another standout track is "Broken Rainbow", a song that Nyro wrote and recorded for an Oscar-nominated documentary of the same name in 1985. The documentary tells the story of the forced relocation of the Navajo people from their ancestral lands in Arizona. Nyro's song is a heartfelt and powerful plea for justice and peace, with lyrics like "Broken rainbow / Broken promise / Broken lives / Broken hearts". Nyro sings the song with passion and emotion, while the band provides a haunting accompaniment.
The album also showcases Nyro's versatility as a singer and songwriter, as she switches from jazz to pop to soul to folk with ease. She delivers stunning renditions of some of her most famous songs, such as "Emmie", "Stoned Soul Picnic", and "Wedding Bell Blues", adding new twists and nuances to them. She also introduces some of her newer songs, such as "Companion", "The Wild World", and "Women of the One World", which reflect her personal and spiritual growth.
The album also reveals Nyro's intimate connection with her audience, as she engages them with stories, jokes, and comments. She dedicates some of her songs to her friends, family, and fans, such as "To a Child", which she sings for her son Gil, and "Women of the One World", which she sings for her female friends. She also thanks the audience for their support and love, and invites them to sing along with her on some of the choruses.
Laura: Live at the Bottom Line is a testament to Nyro's legacy as a singer-songwriter, who influenced generations of artists such as Joni Mitchell, Elton John, Tori Amos, and Alicia Keys. It is also a rare glimpse into her personality, her humor, and her spirit. It is a treasure for anyone who loves music and poetry.
The album was released in 1989 by Cypress Records, a small independent label that gave Nyro more artistic freedom than her previous label Columbia Records. The album received critical acclaim and moderate commercial success, reaching number 166 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 25 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1990.
The album was recorded live at The Bottom Line, a legendary venue in New York City that hosted many famous artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, and Stevie Wonder. The Bottom Line was known for its intimate atmosphere and its loyal audience, who often interacted with the performers. Nyro performed at The Bottom Line several times in her career, and considered it one of her favorite places to play.
The album is also notable for featuring some of Nyro's cover versions of songs by other artists, which she often performed live but rarely recorded. Nyro had a unique ability to reinterpret songs and make them her own, infusing them with her personal style and emotion. Some of the covers on the album include "High-Heeled Sneakers", a blues-rock classic by Tommy Tucker, "La La Means I Love You", a soulful hit by The Delfonics, and "Up on the Roof", a pop gem by The Drifters.
The album also includes some of Nyro's most beloved songs from her earlier albums, such as "The Confession", "Emmie", and "Stoned Soul Picnic". These songs showcase Nyro's musical range and diversity, as she blends elements of jazz, pop, soul, and folk. They also demonstrate her lyrical brilliance and poetic vision, as she explores themes of love, spirituality, and social justice.
The album is a rare and precious document of Nyro's live artistry, as it captures her in a relaxed and playful mood, interacting with her band and her audience. The band consists of Jimmy Vivino on guitar and mandolin, David Wofford on bass, Frank Pagano on drums, and Nydia "Liberty" Mata on percussion. Vivino also co-produced the album with Nyro, and contributed some harmony vocals along with Pagano and Diane Wilson.
The album was recorded in the summer of 1988, during Nyro's first tour in six years. She had been living a reclusive life in Connecticut, raising her son Gil and writing new songs. She decided to go back on the road after signing a deal with Cypress Records, a small independent label that gave her more creative control than Columbia Records. She performed at various venues across the country, including The Bottom Line, a legendary club in New York City that hosted many famous artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, and Stevie Wonder.
The album is available in various formats, including CD, cassette, and vinyl. The vinyl version is a double LP that contains two extra tracks: "Save the Country" and "Blackpatch". These songs were also recorded live at The Bottom Line, but were omitted from the CD and cassette versions due to time constraints. The vinyl version is highly sought after by collectors and fans of Nyro.
The album is also a rare opportunity to hear some of Nyro's unreleased songs, which she never recorded in the studio. These songs include "Roll of the Ocean", "The Wild World", "Park Song", and "Women of the One World". These songs reflect Nyro's personal and artistic evolution, as she explores themes of nature, spirituality, and feminism. They also showcase her musical diversity, as she incorporates elements of jazz, blues, gospel, and world music.
The album is a tribute to Nyro's musical legacy, as well as to The Bottom Line, which closed in 2004 after 30 years of operation. The Bottom Line was a landmark venue that hosted many legendary artists and events, such as Bruce Springsteen's first New York show, Lou Reed's live album Take No Prisoners, and the New York Rock and Soul Revue featuring Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, and Boz Scaggs. The Bottom Line was known for its intimate atmosphere and its loyal audience, who often interacted with the performers.
The album is also a rare opportunity to hear some of Nyro's unreleased songs, which she never recorded in the studio. These songs include "Roll of the Ocean", "The Wild World", "Park Song", and "Women of the One World". These songs reflect Nyro's personal and artistic evolution, as she explores themes of nature, spirituality, and feminism. They also showcase her musical diversity, as she incorporates elements of jazz, blues, gospel, and world music.
The album is a great way to discover or rediscover Nyro's music, as it spans her entire career and showcases her diverse influences and styles. Nyro was one of the first female singer-songwriters to write and produce her own material, and to fuse pop, soul, jazz, and folk into a distinctive sound. She was also one of the most influential and original artists of her generation, inspiring many other musicians such as Joni Mitchell, Elton John, Tori Amos, and Alicia Keys.
The album is also a celebration of Nyro's life and spirit, as it captures her in a joyful and playful mood, sharing her stories, jokes, and comments with her band and her audience. Nyro was a passionate and compassionate woman, who cared deeply about social issues such as civil rights, feminism, and environmentalism. She was also a loving mother, friend, and partner, who found happiness and peace in her later years.
The album is available in various formats, including CD, cassette, vinyl, and digital download. The vinyl version is a double LP that contains two extra tracks: "Save the Country" and "Blackpatch". These songs were also recorded live at The Bottom Line, but were omitted from the CD and cassette versions due to time constraints. The vinyl version is highly sought after by collectors and fans of Nyro.
The album is also a great way to discover or rediscover Nyro's music, as it spans her entire career and showcases her diverse influences and styles. Nyro was one of the first female singer-songwriters to write and produce her own material, and to fuse pop, soul, jazz, and folk into a distinctive sound. She was also one of the most influential and original artists of her generation, inspiring many other musicians such as Joni Mitchell, Elton John, Tori Amos, and Alicia Keys.
Conclusion
Laura: Live at the Bottom Line is a testament to Nyro's legacy as a singer-songwriter, who influenced generations of artists with her musical genius and poetic vision. It is also a rare glimpse into her personality, her humor, and her spirit. It is a treasure for anyone who loves music and poetry. b99f773239
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