Serious Playground: The Songs of Laura Nyro (Snys)

Judy Kuhn | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 2, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ghostlight
• ASIN: B000VBIEUQ
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #229,066 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE I THINK IT'S DUE, December 3, 2007

By 

Tucson Damon (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Serious Playground: The Songs of Laura Nyro (Snys) (Audio CD)

There's no doubt this is a controversial CD/project. It seems that people come at it from two "camps" so to speak: those like myself who have known virtually nothing about Judy Kuhn but are great and long-time Laura Nyro fans, and vice versa, and that is going to color everything for us. In my personal, subjective opinion, it's virtually a given that no one can match Laura singing Laura, or even come close, but just the fact that Judy Kuhn is a very talented singer performer who loves Laura enough to record an entire CD of her music, including some very surprising and unexpected choices of material, such as Blackpatch, To A Child and Mother's Spiritual, rates very high in my book. I know I'll be giving it many more listens, and I think it's respectable. Like some other reviewers, my biggest hope, however, is that it will help give Laura's original music even a bit more exposure that is so lacking. For me it feels like there are literally generations of listeners now who would love to discover one of our era's most amazing talents (in my humble opinion!).

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Much better than I expected, January 22, 2008

By 

DVD buff (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Serious Playground: The Songs of Laura Nyro (Snys) (Audio CD)

I'm one of those rare people who is a big fan of both Laura Nyro and Judy Kuhn. I saw Judy Kuhn in CHESS on Broadway 20 years ago and have been a fan ever since, and I've been a Laura Nyro fanatic for decades.

And, usually, I feel that no one can perform Laura Nyro's songs like Laura Nyro herself. Most artists who interpret the material seem to bleed all the energy out of it.

But this CD is a rare case of a great voice singing great songs with great production. After reading some of the online reviews, I was a bit apprehensive about what I would hear when I bought this CD. There was definitely no need for me to be apprehensive -- this CD is just plain good.

Judy Kuhn has the energy and passion in her voice to carry off this sometimes tricky material. The arrangements help keep that level of energy up, which is where this album really shines.

I hesitate to give this CD five stars, though, because I don't feel it's the greatest vocal performance of Ms. Kuhn's career, nor is it the best collection of Laura Nyro songs ever assembled. But it's awfully darned good and well worth a listen for any fan of Judy Kuhn or Laura Nyro.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars unfortunate, October 21, 2007

By 

Eileen C. Cowin "musiclover" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Serious Playground: The Songs of Laura Nyro (Snys) (Audio CD)

I agree with the previous reviewer about loving Judy Kuhn. She's really wonderful. I don't agree about the material, however. I have loved Laura Nyro for many years. I don't think anyone can do Laura, but the late, wonderful Laura. Her material is not dated, but needs to be listened to through Laura Nyro's own incredible voice. I think Judy Kuhn deserves a lot of credit for trying to keep Laura Nyro's music alive. It is so much better than a lot of music out there. Anybody who wants to hear really great music, written by a very young girl, should check out some of Laura Nyro's early recordings.