Impressions (Laura Nyro album)
Encyclopedia
Impressions is the first compilation retrospective album by Bronx-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro
.
It was released in the UK in 1980 and features material from her first four albums for Verve
and Columbia Records
, completely omitting material after 1970.
The album was released seemingly without Nyro's approval or knowledge, at the time Nyro was in a period of semi-retirement, living with her young son in Danbury
, but flopped and Impressions remains out of print, having never been issued on CD. She did not release another album until 1984. Nyro curated her own retrospective album, Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro
, shortly before her death in 1997.
(1967), Eli and the Thirteenth Confession
(1968), New York Tendaberry
(1969), and Christmas and the Beads of Sweat
(1970).
Impressions was not a commercial success and remains rare and out-of-print.
, which became a cult favourite. Her debut album More Than A New Discovery
features the majority of her best-known work, and three songs from the album are featured here, with the same number from 1970's more mystical Christmas and the Beads of Sweat
, while two tracks from her sole US Top 40 hit, 1969's stark New York Tendaberry
are included.
Laura Nyro
Laura Nyro was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist. She achieved considerable critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession and New York Tendaberry, and had commercial success with artists such as Barbra Streisand and The 5th...
.
It was released in the UK in 1980 and features material from her first four albums for Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
and Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, completely omitting material after 1970.
The album was released seemingly without Nyro's approval or knowledge, at the time Nyro was in a period of semi-retirement, living with her young son in Danbury
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
, but flopped and Impressions remains out of print, having never been issued on CD. She did not release another album until 1984. Nyro curated her own retrospective album, Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro
Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro
Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro is the second retrospective album by Bronx-born musician Laura Nyro and the most comprehensive overview of her work to date....
, shortly before her death in 1997.
Overview
Impressions brings together both some of Nyro's best-known songs and also hidden gems, making it more adventurous than standard retrospectives and more representative of her work - but despite its 1980 release date, only included material from her first four albums - More Than A New DiscoveryMore Than a New Discovery
More Than A New Discovery is the debut album by Bronx-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro. It was recorded during 1966 and released at the beginning of the following year on the Folkways imprint of the Verve label...
(1967), Eli and the Thirteenth Confession
Eli and the Thirteenth Confession
-References:*Michele Kort's biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro -External links:*[ Allmusic Laura Nyro biography entry.]**...
(1968), New York Tendaberry
New York Tendaberry
New York Tendaberry is an album by New York-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro.It was released in the autumn of 1969 on the Columbia Records label, some 18 months after its predecessor, Eli and the Thirteenth Confession. It is generally considered by rock critics and Laura Nyro...
(1969), and Christmas and the Beads of Sweat
Christmas and the Beads of Sweat
- Personnel :-References:Michele Kort's biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro -External Links:...
(1970).
Impressions was not a commercial success and remains rare and out-of-print.
Analysis
Impressions leans strongly on material from Nyro's second opus, 1968's Eli and the Thirteenth ConfessionEli and the Thirteenth Confession
-References:*Michele Kort's biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro -External links:*[ Allmusic Laura Nyro biography entry.]**...
, which became a cult favourite. Her debut album More Than A New Discovery
More Than a New Discovery
More Than A New Discovery is the debut album by Bronx-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro. It was recorded during 1966 and released at the beginning of the following year on the Folkways imprint of the Verve label...
features the majority of her best-known work, and three songs from the album are featured here, with the same number from 1970's more mystical Christmas and the Beads of Sweat
Christmas and the Beads of Sweat
- Personnel :-References:Michele Kort's biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro -External Links:...
, while two tracks from her sole US Top 40 hit, 1969's stark New York Tendaberry
New York Tendaberry
New York Tendaberry is an album by New York-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro.It was released in the autumn of 1969 on the Columbia Records label, some 18 months after its predecessor, Eli and the Thirteenth Confession. It is generally considered by rock critics and Laura Nyro...
are included.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Laura Nyro| TITLE | ORIGINAL ALBUM |
|---|---|
| "Map to the Treasure" | Christmas and the Beads of Sweat Christmas and the Beads of Sweat - Personnel :-References:Michele Kort's biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro -External Links:... (1970) |
| "Captain Saint Lucifer" | New York Tendaberry New York Tendaberry New York Tendaberry is an album by New York-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro.It was released in the autumn of 1969 on the Columbia Records label, some 18 months after its predecessor, Eli and the Thirteenth Confession. It is generally considered by rock critics and Laura Nyro... (1969) |
| "Christmas In My Soul" | Christmas and the Beads of Sweat Christmas and the Beads of Sweat - Personnel :-References:Michele Kort's biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro -External Links:... (1970) |
| "Wedding Bell Blues Wedding Bell Blues "Wedding Bell Blues" is a song written and recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966 that became a number one hit for The 5th Dimension in 1969 and subsequently a popular phrase in American culture... " | More Than A New Discovery More Than a New Discovery More Than A New Discovery is the debut album by Bronx-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro. It was recorded during 1966 and released at the beginning of the following year on the Folkways imprint of the Verve label... (1967) |
| "Stoned Soul Picnic" | Eli and the Thirteenth Confession Eli and the Thirteenth Confession -References:*Michele Kort's biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro -External links:*[ Allmusic Laura Nyro biography entry.]**... (1968) |
| "Save the Country" | New York Tendaberry New York Tendaberry New York Tendaberry is an album by New York-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro.It was released in the autumn of 1969 on the Columbia Records label, some 18 months after its predecessor, Eli and the Thirteenth Confession. It is generally considered by rock critics and Laura Nyro... (1969) |
| "Sweet Blindness" | Eli and the Thirteenth Confession Eli and the Thirteenth Confession -References:*Michele Kort's biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro -External links:*[ Allmusic Laura Nyro biography entry.]**... (1968) |
| "The Confession" | Eli and the Thirteenth Confession Eli and the Thirteenth Confession -References:*Michele Kort's biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro -External links:*[ Allmusic Laura Nyro biography entry.]**... (1968) |
| "Beads of Sweat" | Christmas and the Beads of Sweat Christmas and the Beads of Sweat - Personnel :-References:Michele Kort's biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro -External Links:... (1970) |
| "And When I Die" | More Than A New Discovery More Than a New Discovery More Than A New Discovery is the debut album by Bronx-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro. It was recorded during 1966 and released at the beginning of the following year on the Folkways imprint of the Verve label... (1967) |
| "Eli's Comin'" | Eli and the Thirteenth Confession Eli and the Thirteenth Confession -References:*Michele Kort's biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro -External links:*[ Allmusic Laura Nyro biography entry.]**... (1968) |
| "Stoney End" | More Than A New Discovery More Than a New Discovery More Than A New Discovery is the debut album by Bronx-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro. It was recorded during 1966 and released at the beginning of the following year on the Folkways imprint of the Verve label... (1967) |
| "Emmie" | Eli and the Thirteenth Confession Eli and the Thirteenth Confession -References:*Michele Kort's biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro -External links:*[ Allmusic Laura Nyro biography entry.]**... (1968) |