Laura Nyro - Laura Nyro Live From Mountain Stage

List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $4.81
You Save: $10.17 (68%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.64 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases

Music CD Cover

Free Music Notes for Laura Nyro Live From Mountain Stage

Free Music Review: Laura Nyro--Live at Mountain Stage
Hit: 4 Stars

Which brings me to my minor cavil with this recording: while I am grateful for any "new" Laura, there isn't a whole lot that's new and different on this CD for anyone with a complete collection of Laura Nyro recordings. All of the songs can be found elsewhere--though it's nice to have a live version of "Oh Yeah, Maybe Baby," Nyro's cover of the Crystals' classic single. And it's very fun to hear Laura preface "To a Child" with, "I wrote this next song for my kid." I love that long note at the end of "Japanese Restaurant"--it seems like she's holding it--and the listener-- captive forever. And Nyro's cadre of loyal fans will enjoy the slight lyric changes in songs like "Japanese Restaurant" and "Roll of the Ocean." The "Let it Be Me/Christmas Song" is somewhat rare (though available on Acoustic Christmas, a terrific Columbia compilation of Yule tunes from artists like Shawn Colvin and Rosanne Cash). But there's nothing revelatory or rare here--no "Gardenia Talk" or "Ooh Child" or some other previously unreleased R&B cover that Laura always managed to infuse with her essence of street and soul.

I suspect Blue Plate Music didn't have a lot of Laura Nyro concerts to choose from, though. And for those who quail at the thought of spending $70 for live versions of "Broken Rainbow," "Japanese Restaurant" and "Roll of the Ocean" (which can be found on "Live at the Bottom Line"), this CD is a terrific bargain. Just hearing Nyro's sweet voice sinuously winding around and within the piano notes of "Emmie" makes me close my eyes and conjure poignant memories of seeing Laura at her keyboard onstage, connecting with the music, and by doing so, all of us in the audience. As I listened to this CD for the first few times, one thing that really struck me was her piano playing...it's as soulful as Aretha's, and that's saying something. The simple, single piano accompaniment, as opposed to the full-band versions of "Live at the Bottom Line," brings a different flavor to known songs. It's neither better nor worse, just different, like different flowers in a beautiful bouquet.

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone as an introduction to Ms. Nyro's work, but for any real Laura fan, this is an essential recording. It's like a note from an old friend that makes us smile, even as it powerfully reminds us of all we've lost by Laura's tragically early death. Laura Nyro: Live from Mountain Stage was released October 17th-- which is interestingly very near Nyro's birthday...There'll be one CD born in this world to carry on, to carry on.

Folk Music CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop
• Rock