Laura Nyro - Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968) Columbia, Terre Haute pressing

 

As with Roberta Flack, I am a late comer to Laura Nyro the performer, though like most people I had heard many of her compositions that became hits for the likes of Barbra Streisand, The Fifth Dimension, Three Dog Night, Blood, Sweat & Tears, etc. But I kept reading about her unique blend of soul, Brill Building-esque New York pop, and confessional singer-songwriting style, so I took my first plunge a few months back in purchasing the Real Gone Music vinyl reissue of her first LP, More Than a New Discovery, and was sufficiently impressed to seek out her second LP, Eli and the Thirteenth Confession, a title that on the surface seems to meld her Three Dog Night hit "Eli's Comin'," the album's closing track "The Confession," and the fact that the record has 13 tracks. Besides "Eli's Comin'," which is delivered in a rousing, passionate arrangement to close out Side 1, the other big hit on this LP is "Stoned Soul Picnic," which charted for The Fifth Dimension, though many other artists also recorded it, even Julie London on her last LP. Those two tracks are the definite standouts here, while on the others Nyro tends to get a little more experimental and adventurous beyond the 3-minute pop song format. She has a particular fondness for dramatic tempo shifts mid-song, either from very slow to very fast, or vice versa, a device that would be fine if used once or twice but is a bit overused over the course of this album. Nyro's vocal technique is often brash and bold, though she can get pensive and quietly sentimental as well, a range that invites comparison to Joni Mitchell meets Bette Midler. Though some critics, like those at Allmusic.com, consider this her best album with a 5-star review, I think I enjoyed More Than a New Discovery better, given my somewhat conventional pop tastes and its more consistent delivery of that style of songcraft. I haven't yet decided whether to continue to her third album, New York Tendaberry, yet--I probably should listen to some samples and do more research first. That said, Eli is still a record worth seeking out, and Nyro is an artist worthy of more than the cult following she has amassed particularly after her death at age 49 in 1997.

This is a first pressing from 1968 with Columbia's 360 Stereo Sound labels and a fold-over lyric sheet included. I have been impressed with other 360 Stereo Sound pressings I own for delivering life-like detail and sound stage comparable with the finest contemporary audiophile pressings. This record also provides an exceptional listening experience, particularly with the occasional acoustic guitars on a few of the tracks. Nyro's vocals are front and center as they should be, but at times I felt the mix was missing enough bottom and the overall sound seemed a little tinny with too much treble. Those with tons of cash could seek out the Audio Fidelity SACD or Analog Spark vinyl remaster, both from 2016, to see if they offer any improvements, but I think my $25 near-mint original pressing is probably the best bang for the buck.

Do I Really Need This record?  Since it is considered Nyro's best and a prime example of her songwriting excellence, the answer is clearly yes. File this one under my recent late 60s-early 70s female singer-songwriter kick that also includes Flack and Joni Mitchell, yet another revered artist it took me a while to appreciate.