Celebrating One Of Music’s Greatest Singer / Songwriters!
Meet Laura Nyro, one of music’s great talents. For Todd Rundgren fans, Nyro is a big part of his musical life. First, let’s talk about Laura: she was a musical prodigy – by age 17, she had written the classic “And When I Die,” which was a huge hit for the band Blood, Sweat and Tears.
Laura Nyro was a songwriting machine in the late 60’s. Two other big hits were “Wedding Bell Blues” and “Stoned Soul Picnic,” both recorded by The Fifth Dimension. Here is Laura’s original version:
Nyro’s lively vocals give her songs unexpected energy – a freeform love of melody. Nyro wrote lots of memorable songs, and provided hit singles for others, like “Blowin’ Away,” “Save The Country,” and “Sweet Blindness,” all hits for The Fifth Dimension.
Three Dog Night?!?!?!?????
Most surprising to me, Laura wrote “Eli’s Comin’”, which became a smash hit for the group Three Dog Night! It’s funny that she is warning girls about a guy, yet it is a guy who made the song a smash hit!
“Eli’s comin’, hide your heart, girl
Girl, Eli’s a-comin’, you better hide
Girl, Eli’s a-comin’, you better hide
Girl, Eli’s a-comin’, you better hide
Girl, Eli’s comin’, hide your heart, girl (hide it)
You better, better hide your heart
Eli’s comin’, better walk
Walk but you’ll never get away
No, you’ll never get away from the burnin’ a-heartache…”
Here’s Laura’s beautiful, bluesy version:
And, for you completists, here is a live version courtesy of Three Dog Night!
Aside from Three Dog Night, Nyro also wrote “Stoney End” for Barbra Streisand. “She wrote the most unexpected songs,” observer Stereo Review, “a dazzling display of lyrical and musical innovation that gave her music a fresh feeling….”
Here is her original version of “Stoney End”:
Here’s a quote from Laura on her songwriting technique:
“I’m not interested in conventional limitations when it comes to my songwriting. For instance, I may bring a certain feminist perspective to my songwriting, because that’s how I see life. I’m interested in art, poetry, and music. As that kind of artist, I can do anything. I can say anything. It’s about self-expression. It knows no package – there’s no such thing. That’s what being an artist is.”
“Eli And The Thirteenth Confession”!
I first got hooked on Laura when I read Todd’s biography. It pointed out the influence she had on him. So I went online and grabbed this CD. Laura joined Columbia Records in 1968 and released Eli And The Thirteenth Confession, “the work of an original and brilliant young talent,” (as Jon Landau wrote in Rolling Stone).
I bought this on iTunes and it is brilliant! All of her work is available to buy, including “Mother’s Spiritual”, produced by Todd!
“Runt” And The Laura Nyro Tribute!
For fans of Todd, it’s time to put on his classic debut album – which includes a song for Laura!
At the end of Todd’s debut solo album, there is a medley: the first song (Baby Let’s Swing) was written for Laura Nyro, who was a big influence on Todd’s work after Nazz. The full version of this song is available on the “Runt” CD.
“Baby Let’s Swing/The Last Thing You Said/Don’t Tie My Hands” from “Runt”:
Beautiful! As I said, Todd was heavily influenced by Nyro’s songwriting style, something he has spoken about extensively. Ultimately, Todd produced Nyro’s 1984 album “Mother’s Spiritual”, but how that came to be is fascinating!
Here’s a great clip on youtube that I found, with Todd reflecting on hearing “Eli And The Thirteenth Confession” for the first time – and how he ended up producing her album:
You can hear a lot of Nyro’s influence in Todd’s work – not only the early songs, but even later work as well. One of the things I love about Todd’s musical history is how wide-ranging his music is, and how many other artists he has worked with and supported…
Here is an article he recently wrote about the influence Luara had on him…
I love that he speaks so articulately about her inspiration to his music…
I hope this post has made you all eager to hear more from Laura Nyro.
“Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro” is a thirty-year retrospective collection now available, and it comes full circle with a gift – the previously unreleased “live” version of “Save The Country,” recorded on Christmas Eve 1993, at The Bottom Line Club in New York with her newest harmony group.
As the liner notes point out, the harmonies sing in counter-point:
“In my mind I can’t study war…/In my mind I can’t study war…/There’ll be trains of blossoms../Trains of blossoms…/There’ll be trains of music…/There’ll be music.”
Here is Laura Nyro’s official website:
I have enjoyed posting many stories about Laura’s music, and I found this great anecdote about the Singer:
Music Mogul Clive Davis wrote about Nyro’s legendary “in the dark” audition for him…you can read that story here:
Another fascinating story involving Nyro involves one of the greatest music festivals of all time:
Laura performed at the Monterey Pop music festival – and a newly remastered version of the documentary about that event talks about Nyro’s performance…read it here:
Check out more about this amazingly talented Artist, and leave me a comment to let me know what you think! Thanks!
Categories: 70's Music, Art, Awards, Books / Media, Classic Rock, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Memoirs, Music, Obscure Music, Talent/Celebrities, Todd Rundgren
johnrieber 
Great coverage of one of my all time favorite artists.
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I remember her music, I can still hear her voice, her sound was part of the rhythm on the radio air waves of the late sixties early seventies, Stoned Soul Picnic….
They’ll be lots of time and wine
Red yellow honey
Sassafras and moonshine
Red yellow honey
Sassafras and moonshine…..thanks for a great article about her and the Todd Rudgren (sp) link
Stoned Soul
Stoned Soul
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Outstanding historical overview, and your links are amazing. Thank you. What fun!
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Thanks for your comment – I appreciate the feedback!
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BTW, re: the YouTube interview of Todd talking about producing Laura Nyro —
Wow, there are a lot of hater comments posted. My brain heard his story more as a straight-up biographical slice of Laura, whom Todd adored.
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I got Eli & the Thirteenth Confession in 1970, when I was a freshman in high school. A very different kind of girl introduced me to Laura and for that, I’ll never stop being in her debt!
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Thanks for the note…I only discovered this terrific album a few years ago, but so happy that CD’s and digital downloads are keeping her music alive! Thanks for the note!
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I don’t believe Todd produced the Mother’s Spirtual album but rather a couple of songs which he also played keyboards on. Her recording style was much to laborious for the well-known fastest in the studio guy that he is. What surprises me is that I’ve never heard Todd cover a Laura tune and (re)Productions would have been the perfect opportunity to do so.
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Thanks for that…I had him producing with her but you are right, he produced with her but doesn’t have the credit…and you make a great point about (re)Productions!
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She is the Quintessential Musical Female Artist of 20th Century!
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As soon as people hear her, they are in awe…she was so under-appreciated in her life!
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Have all her vinyl….listen to her most days…A musical genius,gone too soon…Has a very loyal following online…
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Thanks for your comment! Yes, her music has grown in stature over time, and her fans are great to share stories with! Thanks again!
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Love this John, thanks so much!
As a matter of fact, I would play Laura’s album, “Stone Soul Picnic”
Over and over all through seventh and eighth grade non-stop, have loved her ever since. I think I still have the album! I think she is nothing short of amazing. I learned of her connection with Todd years later and it all made sense.
Thanks again John!
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It is interesting to listen to Fifth Dimension, Blood Sweat & Tears, Three Dog Night and Barbra Streisand singing her songs – they are more mainstream and polished, and I like Laura’s versions better…
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Great page, Great memories – Laura at the Fillmore 🙂 what a gift to music!
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Thanks for your comment – I knew her songs but not her musical releases until I read about the Todd Rundgren connection – but now my wife and I are hooked! She was so brilliant…
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Thanks for this well done page.
It took me back to my 20’s when there was just such
good music and fun.
Georgiana Kennedy
Philadelphia
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Thanks for the comment, and thanks for reading!
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