Seasons of Lights...Laura Nyro in Concert [LIVE]

Laura Nyro

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 12, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Iconoclassic
• ASIN: B001BTZO1E
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,997 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Originally conceived as a double live album, but released as a 10 song single LP in 1976, the Iconoclassic Records reissue of Season of LightsLaura Nyro in Concert restores the set to its full 16 song length. The single LP version as originally released contained a solo piano rendition of 'Timer', whereas a full band performance of that same song was slated for release on the double album version. The Iconoclassic CD includes both the solo and full band versions. One of the factors that makes this live release so compelling is the involvement of jazz players (John Tropea, Richard Davis, and Mike Mainieri) that had performed on Nyro's then-current studio album 'Smile'. As incredible as Laura was when performing live solo with just her piano as accompaniment, this is the place to experience her interaction with a full live band. Iconoclassic Records' deluxe CD reissue of Season of Lights...Laura Nyro in Concert features signature tracks from her early period ('And When I Die', 'Sweet Blindness'', 'Emmie', etc.) mixed with newer songs from 'Smile' and exclusive material like 'The Morning News', which was never recorded in the studio and appears only here. Over 75 minutes of music and including a 16 page booklet with full lyrics and new liner notes by Nyro biographer Michele Kort.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There was nothing Better than Laura Live, August 5, 2001

By	MICHAEL ACUNA (Southern California United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Season of Lights (Audio CD)

"Season of Lights," a live album, was released the year after the monumental "Smile" album. I did not see Laura Live until the 90's at the Mayfair Theater in Santa Monica, CA (Joni Mitchell was in the audience at one show I attended!). She was thrilling as she played for hours just her and a small group of musicians. Part of the show was also her alone with a piano. Laura's studio albums are, needless to say, excellent representations of her many talents: singer, musician, lyricist, arranger. But seeing Laura Nyro live is what really ignites her songs. Many times a musician live cannot duplicate the excitement of his or her studio albums...Nyro's live performances far surpass her studio performances. What we have on "Season of Lights" are 16 achingly heartfelt performances of her output circa 1977. These songs are performed like it was the last time she would be on stage... ever. She always gave her all and she does again herein. You can count on one hand performers that are in Laura Nyro's league and one was in attendance on that summer night at the Mayfair Theater in Santa Monica in 1994.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Revelatory: God Bless the Japanese!, September 8, 2002

By	Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Season of Lights (Audio CD)

"Season of Lights" was not my favorite Nyro LP. However, until I read Michele Kort's book "Soul Picnic: The Music & Passion of Laura Nyro" I wasn't aware that there was another longer version of this concert album. Columbia Records comes off as a chop shop with what they did to the American release of this record. The Japanese CD is nothing short of revelatory. For Laura's tribe, it is REQUIRED! :)

The full concert has 16 tracks instead of 10. It includes the only recording of "Morning News." Laura made many trips to Japan, loved their country and music, and was particularly influenced by them on "Smile." However charmingly, the Japanese booklet often gets the words wrong. In "Morning News" Nyro sings "Freedom sang how you shine to the critical end of the corporate design." The booklet reads, "Freedom sang how you shall end to the critical life of the corporate design." Nyro's lyric is chilling, particularly given her struggle to maintain artistic control over her music.

Perhaps worst of what Columbia did on the American release was cutting the instrumentals on tracks it did release. "Timer" lets the band's percussion section loose and comes off with a hot jam that could rival the best of Santana. On "Captain Saint Lucifer" there is a whole section of horns and hot guitar from John Tropea that makes this version shine. Michael Mainieri does a great solo on the baliphone on "The Cat Song" that brings the magic of the live performance to us.

"Sweet Lovin' Baby" is included on the Japanese release. On "New York Tendaberry" Laura sang the song "I belong to the man," on "Season of Lights" she sings, "I belong to myself." The instrumental interlude on the "Smile" track has been split and given the name "Mars." Both of these were deleted in the American release as was "Midnite Blue," another great Nyro gem.

For those of us who wonder at the music of Laura Nyro, this release brings the magic of Laura's live shows back to life. Don't miss out! God bless the Japanese!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A magnificent live performance., August 24, 1998

By	Charles Kaiser (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Season of Lights (Audio CD)

This is the landmark live performance of Laura Nyro, shockingly out-of-print in America. Nyro was the brilliant singer-songwriter whose compositions celebrated everything that was exciting and original about the 1960's. This album captures all of the excitement of the live performances which entranced her fans for three decades.