Laura Nyro's
Hear My Song: The Collection 1966-1995 is a long overdue, comprehensive box set from England's
Madfish. Produced by
James Batsford, these 19 discs have been painstakingly remastered specifically for this release. Even the mono mixes sound new. The visuals include a lavishly illustrated 12x12 hardcover book packed with photos, a fold-out career/biographical timeline, and reminiscences from son
Gil Bianchini and brother
Jan Nigro,
Bernard Purdie,
Will Lee, and
Clive Davis among them.
Elton John wrote the forward. There's a lengthy reflection from producer
Charlie Calello, and a towering liner essay by author and critic
Vivien Goldman.
The recordings -- particularly the stereo and mono mixes -- offer a multidimensional appreciation of
Nyro's music and creative development. 1966's
More Than a New Discovery is presented in stereo and mono versions on disc one. Discs two and three comprise the mono and stereo versions of her
Columbia debut
Eli & the 13th Confession, produced by
Calello. Both versions are justified; they offer truly different readings of "Stoned Soul Picnic," "Eli's Coming," Woman's Blues," and the gospelized jazz number "Confession." 1969's
New York Tendaberry is known for sparse production (piano, vocals, and chorus), "Save the Country," and "Time for Love." 1970's
Christmas and the Beads of Sweat showcased an all-star studio cast that included
Alice Coltrane,
Duane Allman, and
Joe Farrell, while 1971's classic
Gonna Take a Miracle, recorded in collaboration with
Labelle, remains her most popular recording, stacked with soul and pop covers. 1976's
Smile featured
Calello as producer and a roster of jazz musicians. Under-noticed upon release, it remains one of her most sophisticated albums. So does 1978's
Nested, a pop-oriented offering. Her only album in the '80s,
Mother's Spiritual, offered topical and political songs that proved difficult for male rock critics. Women -- critics and fans -- embraced its soulful wisdom. 1993's
Walk the Dog & Light the Light is her final
Columbia studio album. Slagged by male critics for its feminist topicality, it too was celebrated by women critics. The producers have beautifully restored the controversial
Rounder album
Angel in the Dark in 2024 -- 23 years after its initial release, it sounds revelatory with its cohesive genre meld and lyric invention.
Finally, this set contains a disc of
Go Find the Moon, her audition tape (she was 16), and another disc of studio rarities and live tracks that include the demo of "Stoned Soul Picnic" and alternate versions of "Ooh Baby," Don't Hurt the Child," and "Angel in the Dark" with rare concert tracks. There are six live discs to offer balance with
Nyro's, passion, drama, and pathos in performance; they include 1971's
Live at the Fillmore East and 1977's
Season of Lights. 2003's double
Live! The Loom's Desire is comprised of Christmas Eve shows in 1993 and 1994 at The Bottom Line. Finally, there are two discs representing San Francisco concerts in 1994 at the Fairmont Hotel. Pricey but essential,
Hear My Song: The Collection 1966-1995 offers not only the best material they could get their hands on, but also the best of what they could get their hands on. ~ Thom Jurek
