Laura Nyro was one of the most renowned and influential of the original breed of singer/songwriters from the mid 1960s. Her eclectic mix of folk, pop, rock, R&B, soul, jazz, and show tunes influenced varied artists like Joni Mitchell, Alice Cooper, Todd Rundgren, Kate Bush, Elvis Costello, Diamanda Galás, Suzanne Vega, Jenny Lewis, and St. Vincent, to name a few.
Nyro invented the Gothic look with her long black hair, dresses, makeup, and nail polish, with purple lipstick for a touch of color; she accessorized with Christmas ornaments as earrings.
Nyro was a staunch feminist and an animal rights and environmental activist who passed away in 1997 from ovarian cancer at age 49. Now this new 19-CD box set, a long overdue collection, stands as a testament to Laura’s brilliance. It includes ten remastered studio albums and six live albums, as well as bonus material like demo versions and unreleased tracks in a beautifully packaged lift-off box set. The set also has a 90-page book with liner notes and a foreword from one of Laura’s biggest fans, Elton John.
This new release is a must for Nyro’s followers and is perfect for those just getting acquainted with this enigmatic musical genius.
Image via Madfish Music
