Omnivore Recordings will release two sets of unheard Laura Nyro music over the next few months: Trees Of The Ages: Laura Nyro Live In Japan and the never-before-released Go Find The Moon: The Audition Tape.
A member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Laura Nyro not only wrote songs that became hits for acts including The 5th Dimension, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Three Dog Night, Barbra Streisand, and many more, but has been cited as a major influence by Kate Bush, Elton John, Elvis Costello, Cyndi Lauper, Todd Rundgren, Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Wicked), and countless others.
She recorded ten of her own studio albums (one released posthumously), but a live performance from Nyro was always an event.
Originally issued only in Japan as Live In Japan in 2003, the 16 tracks recorded at Kintetsu Hall, plus five recorded at On Air West return as Trees Of The Ages: Laura Nyro Live In Japan, to be released July 16th.
Trees Of The Ages: Laura Nyro Live In Japan runs the gamut of her career, from Nyro-penned hits including “And When I Die,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” and “Save The Country,” to covers of Bacharach/David, Smokey Robinson, and Phil Spector classics. It is an essential document of Laura’s February 1994 historic visit to Japan. With Laura on piano and vocals, augmented by the harmonies by Diane Wilson, Dian Sorrell, Diane Garisto, the performances are sublime.
Newly remastered by Grammy®-winner Michael Graves, and produced for release by Grammy®-winner Cheryl Pawelski and George Gilbert with the approval of The Laura Nyro Trust, the packaging contains updated artwork and new liner notes from author and musician John Kruth.
Looking and sounding incredible, this essential addition to Nyro’s discography is available worldwide for the first time. Trees Of The Ages: Laura Nyro Live In Japan cements the legacy of the incomparable Laura Nyro.
Today Glide is excited to offer an exclusive premiere of the Nyro’s enchanting and hauntingly beautiful performance of “And When I Die.” Compared to the gospel-soul of the original, this version finds Nyro in a more intimate setting accompanied by only a piano. While the original version is lively and stirring, the live cut captures a more vulnerable side of Nyro and also spotlights her impressive vocals. What makes the performance especially poignant is that it was record just a few years before Nyro’s untimely passing. For longtime fans or those just discovering Nyro’s timeless music, this track makes it clear that the upcoming release is essential listening.
LISTEN:
