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... more » 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.« less
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.
CD Reviews
Revelatory: God Bless the Japanese!
Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 09/08/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
""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!"
There was nothing Better than Laura Live
MICHAEL ACUNA | Southern California United States | 08/05/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
""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."
A must for all Laura Nyro fans.
Elena M. Rodriguez | Oakland USA | 06/14/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What an amazing find, a newly released version of a classic Laura Nyro album, and the best treat of all, never before heard songs that will make you weep. I feel truly blessed to have been in attendance at one of the venues this recording was made. It brought back bitter sweet memories of a singer I so very much miss."
A magnificent live performance.
Charles Kaiser | New York, New York USA | 08/24/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
On the cusp
running_man | Chesterfield Twp., MI | 11/22/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I consider 'Season of Lights', labeled here as the "complete version" (I doubt that 70 minutes of songs gleaned from at least four seperate performances constitute the complete setlist Laura Nyro typically performed on this 1976 tour, but at least it's expanded beyond the original ten tracks first offered on vinyl in 1977), to represent the artist just before her virtuosity peaked in 1978 with the release of 'Nested'. 'Season of Lights' embodies Laura's smashing, early career compositions, as well as tracks from her first comeback album, 'Smile', but is too early to capture her tour of duty through motherhood explored in 'Nested' and 'Mother's Spiritual', as well as the evolution of her philosophical and political views. Sadly, live performances from those mid-career masterpieces are sorely lacking from Laura's current catalog.
There are an abundance of albums featuring Laura Nyro live in a solo context, but only 'Season of Lights' provides full instrumental backing for her compositions. Nevertheless, three solo piano tracks are scattered among the sixteen offerings here, 'When I Was a Freeport and You Were the Main Drag' (proclaiming "I'm a woman, and this is my due time" long before Helen Reddy got around to being "woman"), the captivating 'Emmie' (a tribute to Laura's lyrical prowess, comparing her subject to "a natural snow... a cameo... and an unstudied sea"), and 'Midnite Blue', understated in its role as the encore. The more intriguing offerings, however, find Laura and her band cranked up in high gear, such as on the vibrant opener, 'Money', riding high on John Tropea's lead guitar runs, yet still bursting with lyrical jewels such as "my struggle hurt but it turned me on, when my revolution came, the chain was gone" ...oh, Yeah! The engaging melody of 'Captain St. Lucifer' combines with perplexing lyics, such as "a tiger from a conga-line chase" (hmmmm....), while a superb guitar and percussion coda graces 'Timer', and alludes to Laura's struggle with a higher diety ("The Master of Time"), at one point abruptly announcing, "God is a jigsaw". Other philosophical and political musings adorn the classic 'And When I Die', 'The Morning News' (subtly stating, "His wife helped him for free"), and even 'The Cat-Song', where Laura comes as close as she ever will to a novelty song, yet still taking swings and shots at war and "whitewashing your day away".
Other tracks find Nyro creating ethereal mood pieces ('Upstairs By a Chinese Lamp', featuring Jeanie Fineberg's fine flute, and 'Sweet Lovin' Baby', with its shades of 'Sweet Blindness', featuring Ellen Seeling's tuneful trumpet), sultry and suggestive numbers like 'The Confession' (asking her baby to take "a super ride on my love thing"), faithful renditions of classics such as 'Sweet Blindness', and an excursion into the curious and mysterious with the mid-set instrumental 'Mars'. More diversity is delivered with 'I Am the Blues', a bluesy ballad that gives way to a jazzy milieu, taking flight with high soaring vocals on lyrics such as "fly through the sky like superfly". Rounding out the set is the light and lilting 'Smile', also embedded with Laura's philosphizing ("I'm a non-believer, but I believe in your smile").
Laura Nyro is one of those few performers graced with mesmerizing vocal talent, and a gift for combining matchless melodies with thoughtful lyrics. While I don't share all of Laura's liberal notions, it's difficult not to appreciate her perspectives when they are cloaked in confines that are at times complex, at times simplistic, at all times wonderous and beautiful. Her lack of commercial success (aside from her abundant songwriting credits), ironically, seems to add to her aura as a true, unsullied artist. While Laura's solo piano endeavors on albums such as 'The Loom's Desire' and 'Live In Japan' certainly claim a valued place in her catalog of recordings, only 'Season of Lights' allows us to hear Laura live, in a full-throttle, fully bloomed state. I believe it is an essential component of any well-rounded musical collection."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1