@YearOfCam That's one of the many great "What ifs" of Laura's Legend, it sure would have been an interesting collaboration. If you listen to "Woman's Blues" from "Eli & the 13th Confession", I think it gives a good idea of what BS&T fronted by Laura might have sounded like. As for Geffen, apparently, he cared about Laura, and he did do some very good things for her career early on, but his ambition for money and power eventually got the better of him, and they went their separate ways .
@YearOfCam Imagine if Laura had become the Lead Singer for Blood, Sweat, & Tears, that would have been a great V8 for her! Alas, David Geffen talked her out of it, telling her they were going nowhere - then their next album went multi platinum, on the strength of a hit they had with a song written by Laura! I suspect he sensed that all along, but probably didn't like the idea of her career not being under his control, not to mention her making tons of money that he wouldn't be getting 50% of.
@Lovemylovething What a weasel. I can see that, and wow, I never knew she had been offered that position. How revolutionary would that have been? "Laura Nyro and Blood, Sweat and Tears". The 70's would have sounded so much better that way. No wonder Dreamworks SKG bugs me so much as a company.
YearOfCam, I too wish this, and lots of her songs had been hits,(by her) but I love this one just as it is.
I get the impression that on this album, Laura was kind of rebelling against the "You could be the next Streisand, if you'd only do things OUR way" attitude the suits had taken with her since the beginning. She tried it their way with the poppy single version of "Save the country", and it still didn't chart.
the "Save the Country" single might be the best thing Laura ever recorded, at least from that period. The great thing about Laura's music is - it can be so sensitive, but let a solid, stand-up group get behind her - even in the studio - and she can rock the house down. I prefer when she's commandeering a roadster with a good V-8 and flooring it.
@JigsawCaptain You know... it might. While this is my favorite NYT track, it still comes off all demo-ey, and (IMHO) could immensely benefit from the able production guidance of... well, anybody... but in particular, somebody like Felix Cavaliere or Arif Mardin who made her next album a joy to behold. Can't fault the songwriting, though...but really, this should have been a hit.
@YearOfCam Lots of smart comments here. I disagree though with the "demo" comment though. The sound is dry, but all those voices, handclaps, time-changes, harmonica, not demo-y to me. Yes, 'Christmas' may be even better, but man I love this album too. Who else references 5 kinds of music in a song and still makes it work. I interviewed Felix last year, he LOVED working with Laura. Called her the "truest artist I ever worked with."
@peterzang Well, there you go. I don't see Laura as a "female" anything, I see her as just plain great. In other words: Her tunes don't have to be pigeonholed as "soft and sensitive" to be timeless. This is obviously her at her most experimental and multi-textured. If she'd only concentrated on the last 20 seconds of this track, and given it all that flavour, well -
@YearOfCam That's one of the many great "What ifs" of Laura's Legend, it sure would have been an interesting collaboration. If you listen to "Woman's Blues" from "Eli & the 13th Confession", I think it gives a good idea of what BS&T fronted by Laura might have sounded like. As for Geffen, apparently, he cared about Laura, and he did do some very good things for her career early on, but his ambition for money and power eventually got the better of him, and they went their separate ways .
Lovemylovething 1 week ago
@YearOfCam Imagine if Laura had become the Lead Singer for Blood, Sweat, & Tears, that would have been a great V8 for her! Alas, David Geffen talked her out of it, telling her they were going nowhere - then their next album went multi platinum, on the strength of a hit they had with a song written by Laura! I suspect he sensed that all along, but probably didn't like the idea of her career not being under his control, not to mention her making tons of money that he wouldn't be getting 50% of.
Lovemylovething 2 weeks ago
@Lovemylovething What a weasel. I can see that, and wow, I never knew she had been offered that position. How revolutionary would that have been? "Laura Nyro and Blood, Sweat and Tears". The 70's would have sounded so much better that way. No wonder Dreamworks SKG bugs me so much as a company.
YearOfCam 1 week ago
Yup, the "HAH" is awesome!
YearOfCam, I too wish this, and lots of her songs had been hits,(by her) but I love this one just as it is.
I get the impression that on this album, Laura was kind of rebelling against the "You could be the next Streisand, if you'd only do things OUR way" attitude the suits had taken with her since the beginning. She tried it their way with the poppy single version of "Save the country", and it still didn't chart.
I think Laura was right all along. ;)
Lovemylovething 5 months ago
@Lovemylovething Now that you mention it...
the "Save the Country" single might be the best thing Laura ever recorded, at least from that period. The great thing about Laura's music is - it can be so sensitive, but let a solid, stand-up group get behind her - even in the studio - and she can rock the house down. I prefer when she's commandeering a roadster with a good V-8 and flooring it.
YearOfCam 2 weeks ago
@YearOfCam I love it till the end...the trumpets are annoying. "Emmie," now THAT'S a beautiful arrangement.
peterzang 2 weeks ago
I always loved the gunshot sound in the middle of the song.
sake008 5 months ago
Madison smiles.......
I love this song as do I love everything that Laura ever wrote.
I love it mostly because Madison was my aunt.
Peace and love to my love Laura.
SmartyLion 8 months ago
does'nt get any better!
JigsawCaptain 9 months ago
@JigsawCaptain You know... it might. While this is my favorite NYT track, it still comes off all demo-ey, and (IMHO) could immensely benefit from the able production guidance of... well, anybody... but in particular, somebody like Felix Cavaliere or Arif Mardin who made her next album a joy to behold. Can't fault the songwriting, though...but really, this should have been a hit.
YearOfCam 5 months ago
@YearOfCam Lots of smart comments here. I disagree though with the "demo" comment though. The sound is dry, but all those voices, handclaps, time-changes, harmonica, not demo-y to me. Yes, 'Christmas' may be even better, but man I love this album too. Who else references 5 kinds of music in a song and still makes it work. I interviewed Felix last year, he LOVED working with Laura. Called her the "truest artist I ever worked with."
peterzang 2 weeks ago
Comment removed
YearOfCam 2 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@peterzang Well, there you go. I don't see Laura as a "female" anything, I see her as just plain great. In other words: Her tunes don't have to be pigeonholed as "soft and sensitive" to be timeless. This is obviously her at her most experimental and multi-textured. If she'd only concentrated on the last 20 seconds of this track, and given it all that flavour, well -
YearOfCam 2 weeks ago
thanks for posting ... favorited!
millvalleyrn 2 years ago