Personnel includes: Laura Nyro (vocals, piano); Jimmie Haskell (arranger, conductor).
Recorded in 1968-69. Bonus tracks recorded in 1968 & 1971.
Includes liner notes by David Fricke.
Laura Nyro, who died in 1997, found fame when her compositions were covered by other artists, including Blood, Sweat and Tears, Barbra Streisand, and the Fifth Dimension. Drawing inspiration from Broadway's Tin Pan Alley, R&B, and Brill Building acolytes Carole King and Ellie Greenwich, she wrote material echoing these elements without ever sounding derivative. NEW YORK TENDABERRY shows her skills to full effect, combining brassy, up-tempo pop with plaintive, introspective musings. Nyro's emotional voice swoops and dives at will, emphasizing the intensity of her songwriting. Uncompromising and challenging, this album showcases the art of a painfully underrated performer.
Professional Reviews
Q (10/02, p.131) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Starker and darker than her debut...making even more demands and is no less rewarding..."
Uncut (1/03, p.97) - Included in Uncut's "100 Best Albums of the Year"
