Laura Nyro - Stoney End (Censored Single Version)

[mattjackleroy]

The consummate artist who was always true to herself. A great spirited voice in this version of the song. Simply superb. Has anyone like her really come along in the past 40 years ?

[hbailen]

The lyrics were better than we deserved four decades ago. Laura was always way out in front...

[mattjackleroy]

The consummate artist. Was always true to herself and her music. Lived a quiet life up in Danbury, Ct. and could care less about the superficial and ephemeral fame that so many ( probably too many ) artists crave these days. She was like a comet that shined so bright and then disappeared forever - - yet like comets, she will never be forgotten. Neither will her music.

[ClassicTV4U]

DaysOfBrokenArrows...it probably wasn't the "raised on the good book Jesus" part that the record company didn't like--more likely the lyric: " 'til I read betweeen the lines..." implying the hypocrasy associated with religion. Sombody please post Laura Nyro's "Capt. St. Lucifer"!!!

[alexanuchid]

she's a genius!!!

[hornby9]

I never heard the original version before but its really lovely!!

[GrannyTenderstone]

I suppose I should google it, but whatever happened to Laura? WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT? The single I had was the one with "good book Jesus" lyrics and I loaned it to a friend around 1971,never saw it again. This is the first time I've heard Laura's version since that long ago. I gather she was a songwriter for many artists, because you usually hear other renditions of her tunes and seldom hers. I loved her renditions, the few of them I have ever heard. Nice 2see much of her work finally on YT

[CocteauDalighari]

"Mama, let me start all over/Cradle me, mama cradle me again."

There's an old anecdote about an escaped mental patient that barged into the office of a therapist named Liz Fehr in NYC. He started thrashing around on the floor. Fehr "cradled" him while he was "reborn." He smiled, thanked her, & left. She never saw or heard from him again.

[IDLERACER]

The people who were running this label at the time were doofuses. They were also having all sorts of knipshits over lyrics by Janis Ian and Frank Zappa as well.

[GrannyTenderstone]

@IDLERACER Isn't that odd when Uconsider how graphic much of the lyrics Rthese days,in spite of Tipper Gore's effort? LOL-Frankly I didn't like the censorship back then but I'd almost welcome it today in some cases. I do understand where that tendency 2Bso graphic comes from,&it says a lot about our society &evolution that I find very revealing. So all in all &being a fan of virtually all music, I can accept bold lyrics of today,not so much the mindset of humans who are so bent on using them.

[Lovemylovething]

@DaysOfBrokenArrows,maybe you should have gotten him "Tendaberry" instead, that's probably her most piano-centric album. On "New discovery/first songs" she was not given creative control, and as I understand it , was not even allowed to play piano at all, only sing. So, great a record as it is, it probably isn't the best choice to demonstrate her keybaord prowess.

Still no luck with fake book(pun intended!) I'll keep trying tho. Thanks for your advice and help, I really do appreciate it. =)

[Lovemylovething]

@DaysOfBrokenArrows, i think they will. I chose the "Eli" album as an introduction because i.m.h.o. It's her most upbeat and fun record, and it has some famous songs everyone will recognize, and I'm sure they'll find them superior to the "Hit" radio covers.

I signed up for Facebook, but it's a joke, I can't get in - they keep asking for a stupid security code that they were supposed to send me by phone, but never did. There must be a better way than that to talk to fellow fans. Grrrr! 

[DaysOfBrokenArrows]

@Lovemylovething I bought "The First Songs" for my piano-playing nephew and he wasn't into it too much. maybe you know cooler people. Don't know what to say about Facebook, except the crowd I mention also has Nyro's relatives and biographer. By the way, I also posted a video of Peggy Lipton doing "Lu," a rare single which I really like but few others seem to, as well as a college a cappella group, the Princeton Tigerlillies, doing "Flim Flam Man."

[Lovemylovething]

Thanks very much for the quick reply and info DaysOfBrokenArrows! As a newer Laura fan, I'm definitely interested in conversing with others who are into her. I'm going to try to turn my friends and family on to her(I'll be giving them the "Eli & the thirteenth confession" CD for Christmas - Amazon is gonna LOVE me!;))

Thanks again, and I'll see you at the Facebook group! =))

[DaysOfBrokenArrows]

@Lovemylovething I hope your friends and family like Nyro better than mine did. Part of her charm, I'd say, is the way her music divides people. Some find it off-putting, which makes me like it more. Anyway, when you find the FB group you may want to friend the guy who does most of the posting (you'll know who he is) because a lot of the cool stuff comes from his page, not the group. You wouldn't believe his Nyro collection...

[Lovemylovething]

DaysOfBrokenArrows, cool! I don't know if the M.T.A.N.D. reissue cd is the original mix or not, but it sounds great to me(well, it's Laura Nyro, so that's a given!;))

I have "Christmas and the beads of sweat" on vinyl, but I don't have a turntable(I mainly bought it as a piece of Art). I would LOVE to hear Her on vinyl tho, do you have any suggestions for a decent, affordable turntable?

[DaysOfBrokenArrows]

@Lovemylovething There are a bunch of Sonys, Jensens and Technics models for sale on Amazon for around $70-$80. You can also find some on eBay as cheap. My own favorites are the Technics SL series, but the company went out of business, so those may be going for a lot used. There is a group on Facebook for Laura fans you may want to join. A bunch of us are on there including the guy who gave me this Mp3 who is a serious Nyro collector (tons of vinyl). It's the Nyro group with 9,089 people.

[Lovemylovething]

She probably wrote "I hate my winsome lover" as a jab to the Verve suits. I read an interview where she talked about the bad experience, they apparently tried to treat her like a hired session player, on her OWN album. Still, even handcuffed, Laura shook the pillars of Heaven on that record, it's awesome!

superfluityme, You should have bought the "More than a new discovery" reissue, instead of "First songs" The fidelity is great, and the song order, and cover pic have been restored.

[DaysOfBrokenArrows]

@Lovemylovething Yeah, I agree. The song order on "More Than a New Discovery" makes the tracks flow much, much better. I actually have a mono vinyl first edition (on Verve Folkways) and the sound is incredible -- it's the mix before the drenched it in echo.

[neil2647]

I remember listening to her in the 70's. Great voice, Great songs. I sure miss those days.

[Branner]

Thanks for posting that. Fascinating. And I love the new first verse.

[superfluityme]

I just purchased The First Songs on c.d and on two of the songs Billy's Blues and Stoney End her voice crackles due to poor recording. Can anyone tell me if they have had the same experience or have I purchased a dodgy copy.

[clubmidnightsun]

who on earth could put this song down?

It is a fantastic melody with a beautiful arrangement. I have loved it since hearing MS Streisand sing it and now knowing and hearing Laura Nyro is the composer makes me love it even more.

[YeahRightInc]

What a great track!! Oh if she'd only lived longer blessing us with her talent.

[ponkaton1]

omg i thought i had everything by this great woman what a cool version i have LP's 45's 8-tracks cd's and cassettes but this is deffenatley 1 for the collectors thanks for posting it RIP Laura Nyro

[terrylh11]

This woman's music has moved me for over thirty years and just gets better. I wish she was still with us.

[mozvideos1957]

This is great!

[mikebtko]

"Come on let me start all over....", I love this original! Laura Nyro really takes her time to carefully sing all the words clearly and eloquently, Streisand can sing the hell out of this song, but love how Nyro make use of language, phrasing. I love you Laura Nyro! You're still an incredibly under-rated artist. Even though other artists are aware of Laura Nyro's collection of songs, there's still a large portion of the population who know nothing of this incredible, prolific songstress....

[harvey1954]

Does anyone have the first album with the cover of Laura wrapped up in a winter coat, hugging herself. It was used in the Verve new releases ad, but I;ve never seen a slick or album with it?

[denknee]

@harvey1954 Longtime Nyro collector here, Harvey, and I must say that I've never seen an alternate front cover of Laura's first album on Verve. The back cover was changed from a slick with a bio and a couple of photos of Laura to a slick with the lyrics to the songs, but the front cover photo has always been the same. The photo you describe sounds like the cover of her third album, 'New York Tendaberry' on Columbia.

[harvey1954]

@denknee Nope, I'm talking about the first album. You can see it in old issues of Sing Out that had advertising for Verve at the time her first album came out. That is the only place I've seen the cover. So there must be slicks out somewhere. I have three various of the first album cover, basically the same shot, but different lettering and titles. You're right about the back having liner notes in one case and lyrics on another. Then there is the red First Songs that Columbia released as well.

[KDL89983]

I love this version. Love Laura Nyro's songs and singing. What a girl....

[The1fuzzylogic]

I love Laura Nyro. She was ahead of her time, and deserves more credit than she has gotten.

[JOEP123ful]

HAL BLAINE WAS THE DRUMMER ON BARBARA'S VERSION

[JigsawCaptain]

I miss her more every year, If that's possible... I love this vocal too DenKnee, that "Cradle me", at the end is so "winsome" I could weep for the beauty of it. I heard that and knew it was a completely different vocal from the LP version, not just a patched in first verse.

[RamonaFromPomona]

R.I.P. Laura. I miss seeing her in concert...♥

[Maxxzilla]

Thanks SO much for posting this track!

[Maxxzilla]

Oh G-D, why did you take her so soon from us?

[rscmrcmd]

I think, "but the love of a winsome Johnny..." is more poetic than the clumsy, "raised on the good book, Jesus." I'm glad they asked her to rewrite it.

[SuperDrJeckyl]

@rscmrcmd I agree. It fits the story better.

[OlegKostoglatov]

Take that Joni Mitchell!!

[MerryLore]

Wow - never heard this lady sing before, and I enjoy her vocals on this song more than either Streissand or Ronstadt. Hate that they censored it!

[pretorious700]

I always loved her writing-so unique. You can recognize her songs with just a few lines.

[ttheredbaron]

I have a question for some of the serious experts out there, if you may. Do you think serious talents like Laura Nyro are these great waterfalls of joy in their own lives that just flow out to everyone who experiences them and uplifts us to their level? Or was Laura a tortured soul in the profile of a Vincent Van Gough, and we who love her music just manage to find our joy thru her agony?

[SuperDrJeckyl]

@ttheredbaron I don't know if I'd say she's a "tortured soul" even though she had ups and down.

She seems like she was an outsider type. She isn't like the usual "pretty people" star package. I'd say that's why she was a great artist. Dummies like Britney Spears and other manufactured stars have it easy. I thought Laura was very pretty, but she's not the typical singer babe. Thus, she had to work at it.

I find her 1,000 times more interesting to go along with her genius.

[lokijordan]

@ttheredbaron I suspect there is no such thing as a "serious expert" on the subject of what constitutes or creates a great artist or true genius. There is a line from some great British movie (name escapes) where the head mistress of a B&B remarks that a great server knows what the client wants before they know they want it themselves. I'd say the mark of the great artist is the same. Whether the artist arrives via pain or party is irrelevant. Magically, they appear and give what's needed.

[windstorm1000]

@ttheredbaron I think your first interpretation is the right one (but I'm not an expert on Laura). I haven't read her bio yet, but I think she had a pretty good head on her shoulders--lots of musicians get knocked around and she did all right--performed right till the end.

[windstorm1000]

She's a genius.

I agree with sensey07 below that who better to interpret their own lyrics than the songwriters themselves? They dig into what THEY wrote. Sure, they may not have the vocal brilliance all the time, but that is secondary to the writer's heart.. As listeners we've simply gotten 'earwashed' by the slick Steely Dan (etc) studio factory 'product'. I love Babs, but she can't get that deep as Laura here.

Wished I saw Laura in concert. Anybody go? Share with us?

[sensey07]

Many have pointed out that the best songwriters of the late 60's - Carole King, Kris Kristofferson, Laura Nyro - could not adequately perform their own work due to less-than-stellar vocal ability. My contention is that who else can really present his/her own work better? Laura's voice is more than serviceable - it is truly an instrument in its own right, one which grew stronger and more confident in later years. But I will always love the innocence of that first album.

[Fender1980]

@weightfeather1 It's a completely new lead vocal track...not just the censored lines. The backing track is the same. As shufflersms pointed out, the 45 mono single mix is compressed and may actually be sped up a tad.

[MANHATTANBEEFMAN]

Great, great writer - not so great singer - lol.

It just goes to show what the right singer can do with a song - ergo the Babs version.

[mjs3888]

@MANHATTANBEEFMAN Different strokes for different folks I guess. I like her voice.

[MANHATTANBEEFMAN]

@mjs3888

I think Laura Nyro is a great songwriter and a typically great NYC talent - raw & talented.

[vsibirsky]

This is a beautiful take on this song.

Laura sounds pure, young and beautifully brings out what this song was intending to say... even with censoring out Jesus.

[xxpiggystardustxx]

awesome 

[MusicManKevin]

This is the first time I've heard this version and yes, the mono single mix is FAR superior than the stereo LP.

[RamonaFromPomona]

Did you ever notice that the label says Wedding Bell Blues, but the audio is Stoney End?

[kinkybeatle]

Song written and performed by a genius. The 60's music: what more do you need ?

[RamonaFromPomona]

Now this is a classic. Happy Birthday, Laura.

[mfbinc]

i like this version over the lp version...

[zillowboy]

How sick is this? Censor Laura Nyro? What a terrible thing to do to a piece of art. I'd never heard this version before now.

[SeanElGatoTelevision]

@zillowboy: Look who was running MGM/Verve back then...Mike Curb. He and the MGM brass had a thing for censoring and sitting on stuff remotely objectionable. 

[SuperDrJeckyl]

@SeanElGatoTelevision That's kind of funny about Curb. I live outside Nashville and he's a hero to the gay community right now because he stood up for a lesbo coach fired by Belmont University and got the mayor to sing an anti-gay bias bill.

I go by Musc Drive to church and he owns a lot of companies there.

[The1fuzzylogic]

@SuperDrJeckyl So do I. Still talking about that crap on the news. Go figure.

[zillowboy]

How sick is this? Censor Laura Nyro? I never heard this version of her beautiful song and lyric. What a terrible thing to do to a piece of art.

[Lakerbballfan]

When I saw "uncensored" I knew it was the 'Jesus' line. I've tried finding out what she meant when she wrote that line, but haven't been able to. The potential offensiveness reminds me of the line from Elton John's "Captain Fantastic" where he sings "and all this talk about Jesus, comin' back to see us....mmmm mmmm, couldn't fool us." Great song by Nyro though.

[panyow]

This is genius- how music is meant to make you feel, pure joy.

[PANDOSING]

I ALWAYS WANTED TO HEAR HER RECORDS BUT NEVER GOT THE OPPORTUNITY. I REMEMBER SEEING HER ALBUM COVER ON THE PAPER POCKET HOLDER FOR THE VINYL RECORDS. THE RECORD COMPANY WOULD PROMOTE OTHER ARTIST RECORDS ON THE PAPER POCKET. HERE IT IS DECADES LATER AND I WAS ON YOU TUBE LISTENING TO JACKIE DESHANNON AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS ARTIST. WONDERFUL VOICE. I MISSED SOMETHING GREAT. THANKS " YOU TUBE". DOES SHE HAVE A BROTHER THAT WAS A RECORDING ARTIST ALSO?

[PANDOSING]

Does Laura Nero have a brother that was a singer also?

[denknee]

@PANDOSING Laura's brother, Jan Nigro. Google his name wth Vitamin L.

[Lewis1key]

I just can't believe how an original 45 still sounds! Nothing sounded better than an original 45 and this recording does Laura's great voice true justice!

[RoyFive]

I always preferred Laura's version to Streisand's. In fact in most cases I like Laura's originals to the covers. There are a few exceptions, like And When I Die (Blood, Sweat And Tears).

[BrutishYetDelightful]

@RoyFive I think Laura's And When I Die smokes Blood, Sweat and Tears. Her Eli's Coming makes 3 Dog Night's version sound like a TV jingle.

[sensey07]

@BrutishYetDelightful : yes, her version of "Eli" is fabulous - I will always remember when I first heard it: "this was how it was meant to sound."

[chiangui24]

Wow. Interesting

[Stevemc90]

haven't heard this take, weird

[SkeeterNYC]

Wow. Who knew? Thanks.

[wygakyl]

I don't hear that bari sax n this mix, that gave the final mix that "Girl Group" sound of the early '60's. The vocal is smoother...listen to the final, more breathy version.

[Shufflerisms]

I love the original first verse, which Streisand changed. The song is actually about a specific event - losing her innocence to "a win some johnny" - which Streisand replaced with a blurry reference to mines and Jesus. It's akin to altering a Rembrandt in my opinion - Nyro's original lyric was that brilliant.

[Shufflerisms]

Same "mix" I think - this was pre-eight track mastering and the drum volume was permanently dedicated on the two-track production master. The difference is increased dynamic COMPRESSION which was commonly applied to 45's so they'd sound loud and aggressive on a jukebox.

[Shufflerisms]

....you can hear her vocal "pump" the background down as the compressor rides the volume - a tell tale sign of heavy compression. The album version was intended for the home "hi-fi" market, where consumers supposedly preferred a more natural sound where the louds were loud and the softs were soft....

[DaysOfBrokenArrows]

@Shufflerisms" Streisand actually sung Laura's original first verse. That's the verse that appears on Nyro's debut LP. The one posted here is a revised "censored" verse, where the record company made her change the original lyric for the single because they feared the original words about being "raised on the good book Jesus till I read between the lines" would offend the public. Michele Kort's bio of Laura, "Soul Picnic," goes into more detail.

[Shufflerisms]

@DaysOfBrokenArrows Wow....I had it wrong all these years. Thanks for the reference - I'll have to check it out.  Interesting because this verse seems so much more poignant, as if it was her first intent. I guess she took the opportunity to "improve" it - in my opinon at least. It makes it a totally different song...

[Kirke182]

@DaysOfBrokenArrows But Streisand sang that line in her version.

[written12]

@DaysOfBrokenArrows

Thanks for the information. "Loud and aggressive". Yeah, I remember that sound more from hearing 45's on the radio- could you hear the Compression effect on the radio. Anyway, maybe it was just the whole mystique of Top 40.

Anyway, beyond sonic concerns, Laura's voice- and, of course, her music and lyrics- are so affecting. I didn't know there was a biography out there. Thanks for the heads-up.

[aleut77]

Amazing! I like the gritty, raw edge this song is in it's true form with the songstress who sang it first! Kudos for this upload! Today's sound is antiseptic and sterile...it has no life. We will probably never see or hear music like this as it was once played on the radio. I give this 5 for 5 stars and two thumbs up!!!!

[austinladyb]

No one does this song better than my Bronx girl Laura Nyro. She recorded this in the 60's when studios did not use high tech computers to enhance vocals. If you have any doubts about how what I'm saying, just listen to Streisand's attempt to do this song LIVE in concert and you can hear how she has trouble without the studio enhancement. Laura's pure vocals stand on their own and this raw recording is proof of that.

[shout102]

I can understand why Barbra recorded this song! Laura actually sounds like Barbra!

[50marioD]

Laura Nyro was right up there alongside Jimmy Webb in writing hits during the 60's and 70's. You just don't have songs like that today.

[walt7500]

I'm just begining to explore her music! What quality! what a voice what a songs!

The only song I knew was from Fill your head from 1969! But somehow I lost that record. At random I discovered het on youtube. I'm so greatful!

[adric137]

great music!

[denknee]

I have at least seven different pressings of this record (I'm a Nyro collector - if the font on the label is different, I gotta have it, lol). I prefer this version over the album version (I've got a dozen editions of the Verve album) mainly cuz this version actually rocks! Listen to those drum rolls? They are buried in the mix on all the lp and cd editions of this song. Laura's voice is a little raw on this take, but it kind of adds a little something to the song. Bravo on the upload!

[DaysOfBrokenArrows]

@denknee Yeah, this is a great mix and I wish it had been given out as a bonus track on the first album CD. By the way, if your name is Dennis, you were the one who gave me this track to begin with! We connected on Facebook, I think. Message me if this is you!

[written12]

@denknee  Yes, bravo, on uploading this. I agree with you that this version rocks. And Laura's voice really carries the lyric(God, what a talent she was!). One thing that's amazing about her songs is how much drama and passion is crowded into a few minutes. At the same time, all the emotion is placed in these perfect tunes and arrangements.

By the way, that's her singing the background vocals, too, right?

[MrDeNyro]

@written12 Actually, it's The Hi Fashions doing the backup vocals on this track and all of 'More Than A New Discovery' aka 'The First Songs', except for "Blowin Away", which Laura did all of the vocals on. The Hi Fashions did a one-off single for Dyno-Voice Records in the late 60s. Herb Berstein co-wrote, arranged and conducted it. He also did the arrangements on Laura's first LP. I can't find any info on the members of The Hi Fashions. Anyone know?

[BrutishYetDelightful]

@denknee I agree completely-this is my favorite cut of this song by far. The drums, the harmonica, the slightly rawer vocals-sheer awesomeness.

[Waszma]

@denknee This girl was super talented, great writer, and not nearly as well known by the general public as she should have been. Good lookin too ; ).

[windstorm1000]

@denknee Fun!! I'd like join you as a collector of this very meaningful artist--she touches my heart. start haunting those old record shops!! This has a different quality than Streisand's cover--it's more soulful--runs deeper and something I can't seem to define--

[jrbflyme]

Laura Nyro God Rest Your beautiful soul.........

[wvnota]

@jrbflyme

[wvnota]

@jrbflyme Well, sometimes I think the same thing!

[binkle1]

Nyro is a fantastic singer/songwriter! I really like this version better than Streisand's, as it's not as overemotional, but sung in Nyro's sweet, sincere voice. I love Nyro's song by the Fifth Dimension, "Save the People." I think that's the title. Just brilliant stuff.

[3charter]

Thank you....Barbara can't hold a candle to this. Laura was an awesome talent who never got here due. She left us way too soon.

[nyrogrl]

She was amazing. this was around 66.

[angelangel3000]

It makes one realize that the uncencored version was controversial for it's time. Truly a brilliant artist who hit the ground running at 17.

[ChuskyBear]

Thanks, this is a nice find. I don't think I would have noticed that it was a new version, even if I'd come across it.

[atisaseret]

SO INCREDIBLY BRILLIANT - this song is a Precious Gem - when I heard this song - I KNEW I'd be a rabid Fan of LAURA NYRO'S for Life!!!

[tennispro561]

@atisaseret ---I feel the same way exactly...you said it perfectly...there is something so pure and beautiful in her voice.......

[atisaseret]

@tennispro561 You are SO right! It's ALWAYS a thrill for me to find like-minded individuals like you - who can hear, see and feel the Amazing Genius of Laura Nyro. It is beyond comprehension to me, why The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame continues to Snub her - they recently inducted - this year - Iggy Pop - Need I say more?!

[tennispro561]

@atisaseret ---How can they keep ignoring her every year???---I wish I could give them a piece of my mind about Laura's place in the Hall---but must be happy for now sharing it with you and on FB.........

[atisaseret]

@tennispro561 RNRHOF - they just do - Laura Nyro played with the 'Big Boys' Music Execs and WON! She refused to change her Music in any way and be 'Commercial'. You have to remember, she didn't write like most Women or Men, for that matter - even in the 21st - she's 'OUT THERE' writing Music - her Lyrics were sometimes quite dark, her Musical structure - Far too Complex for most people to keep up/understand - which is why I think that people who really like her Music are Very Special & Unique!

[tennispro561]

@atisaseret ----once again your analysis is outstanding---I love her for being such a unique rebel....her dark lyrics and complex structures are what made her great and unlike anyone else---I know that you love this too.... and I have really enjoyed sharing our mutual appreciations with you.....

[atisaseret]

@tennispro561 You're an ACE! I have enjoyed our mutual appreciation of Laura Nyro as well! Thank you!

[BeautifulGirlByDana]

Laura Nyro - Stoney End 5/5 ★s