What a great response. It makes me happy to hear you express your appreciation the perfection of this track. Yes, the voice --actually voices because she did several overdubs -- but also the arrangement. That percussive piano at the beginning, the chopping on the guitar, those soaring strings -- the whole funky vibe -- so good! No one can do laura better than Laura!
Thank you for this reaction. Laura has been one of my all time favorites for 50 plus years. She was so talented. Some of her very popular songs she wrote when she was only a teenager. Taken way too soon.
Released in 1968 by Laura, it became a huge hit for The Fifth Dimension, who had several hits with Laura's songs. Included on Laura's album, "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession", this is beautiful with Laura's voice so dynamic and full bodied. "Surry" included in the lyrics several times were said to be the shortening of Let's Hurry. Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Bennett. 👏👏 Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
I'm 72 and have been a huge fan since I was 18! She was crazy talented and I love so many of her songs, but this has to be my favorite of all time. What a fabulous arrangement! For me, it epitomizes the best feeling of the 60s.
This song was an anthem for 1968, as done by the Fifth Dimension but Eli and the Thirteenth Confession is a masterpiece. There will never be another Laura Nyro. I am so blessed to have been alive while she was. Seeing her live was transformative.
I was lucky enough to see her live twice, she just opened her mouth and it was amazing what came out of it, it was like listening to heaven. Both shows were at the Paramount Theater in Oakland California in the late 70s. Thank you Joanie for turning me on to Laura Nyro.
She was such a good songwriter. I had heard of her but I'm just finding out how many songs she wrote that I know of. I thought this sounded familiar. Yep, the Fifth Dimension. She's got a beautiful voice also.
Also Christmas and the Beads of Sweat featuring Gregg Allman and was able to see her in Woodstock NY at a little place called Bear Theater. Sitting 4 rows from her. She was my top artist from 1967. Too bad she died from cancer .
@@PennYanTV In my opinion, Christmas and the Beads of Sweat was the third of Laura’s trilogy of the three greatest albums in a row any singer songwriter ever released along with Eli & the Thirteenth Confession and New York Tendaberry. It was Duane Allman that played guitar on Beads of Sweat, another great musical talent we lost way too early.
She wrote the songs that became my favourite Fifth Dimension songs. This one, Sweet Blindness, Save the Country (very apropos especially now), and more.
😢Laura Nyro: brilliant, talented, and gone too soon. I only got to see her perform once, mid-career, at NYC’s famous small supper club, The Bottom Line (where I saw dozens of amazing shows). It was such a terrific intimate evening with such a talented, beautiful soul. I’ve loved her for more than 1/2 a century.
Hi Harri… glad you’re really ‘hearing’ Laura… I love her. 2 quick things I haven’t seen in this song’s thread of comments: Todd Rundgren was a friend of Laura’s, and worked on at least one of her albums… worked on the string arrangements, I believe. Anyway he says he was influenced by her approach to songwriting, and you can def hear it in many of his great songs. The other thing - when Elton John appeared on Elvis Costello’s TV interview show - Elvis spent the entire hour with Elton… who said the one of his biggest influences was Laura Nyro. And it’s so apparent once you make that connection. He even plays things on the piano during that show to illustrate those influences. I’ll hunt for the link, and drop it here for you, cuz it’s such an interesting interview!
Great choice. My all time favourite singer and song writer. Taken from us way too early. Thank you for recognizing this amazing talent. She is timeless.
Thanks, Harri! Another singer-songwriter that never acclaimed commercial success, but contributed so much. You're one of the few i see that reacts to her! Well done!
Knew only the Fifth Dimension cover version, but also knew it what composed by the amazing Laura Nyro. She was a great sing-a-song writer, just died too young.
So that's the thing about Laura Nyro... Fantastic voice, intriguing lyricist, and one of the best songwriters. All in one petite sweet pretty Italian/Jewish woman from the Bronx NY (where I am from). The word "surry".. which appears alot in this song... is a neologism. Laura made it up. To me it equates mostly with "Let's hurry..."
Thanks for doing more Laura, Harri. You're one of the only ones to do so. More people need to know of her and her genius! I see some of your listeners still didn't know her, only the covers. Please do "And When I Die" next. That would be tremendous!
I'm always impressed when I see someone discovering Laura Nyro. I have been a fan of her's since the 1960's. However I didn't know it because other music artists had hit songs with the songs she wrote: "And When I Die" Blood Sweat & Tears "Stoney End" Barbra Streisand "Sweet Blindness" The 5th Dimension And a few more that I didn't mention. Laura Nyro is amazing.
The Fifth Dimension also did 'Sweet Blindness', 'Wedding Bell Blues' . Blood Sweat and Tears covered 'And When I Die' and Three Dog Night 'Eli's Coming"
Confession: in 1968 I was 18 and I listened to all kinds music . . . and I never heard of her. The only version of Stone Soul Picnic I’ve ever known is by the 5th Dimension. She has such an amazing voice, how did I miss her??
Too many missed her.... A few reasons:She didn't care that much about commerical success (despite making zillions from her songwriting) and didn't self-promote much, she left the industry early, and she was not promoted heavily by her label.
I feel you. I was lucky -my older sister bought the first Laura Nyro LP, so I was in from the start. In my top 10 all-time, so much soul, my life would be poorer without Laura Nyro in it. Never too late to fall in love with her music!
I listened to the album this is on all the time as a teenager, and haven't heard it in such a long time. Love hearing it again😊 Thanks for this reaction!💜
I loved this when it was played on FM radio in NYC, but, I never saw her on any TV show. And I remember looking for her. She had a couple of other songs that were played. She sounded quirky compared to 5th Dimension, and that’s a good thing.
What is the most underrated performers of all time thank God they put her in the music Hall of Fame she deserved it from a writing standpoint and she wrote for a whole lot of people, and then doing her own music
"She did well for them," is a big, big understatement. I bought their Greatest Hits album. Have had it since around 1970 or 1971. Looking at the credits of the album, there are 12 songs on it, and she's the writer on 4 of them. Save the Country, another brilliant song she wrote, isn't on the GH album.
Harri: do yourself a favor: buy Laura's GH double CD. And if you want to make your dreds STAND ON END, bruh, listen to Eli's Coming from the very first second all the way to when you get to the end of the first verse, which is not until around :45 into the track.
Hari: couple of more thoughts to ponder: Can you believe that this is coming on being 60 years old? Let me briefly cover her ancestry:. Nyro is a stage name. Her father's last name was Nigro. He was Italian. He was Black. And her mother was Jewish. How's that relevant? Well, back in 1942-1947 there were a whole army of Jewish women who were born during that half-decade, in NYC, and then around 25 years later began to dominant our music scene: Carole King, Bette Middler, Barbra Streisand, Jane Olivor (nee' Cohen). You can toss in Barry Manilow (ne Pincus) and Billy Joel two more NYC Jewish musical artists.
@@sukie584 I think you've got the facts off, but just a bit. Laura's mother was Gilda Mirsky. (That'd be the Jewish aspect of her lineage.) The father was the Italian and his last name was Nigro. I've gotta believe that he was the black/African aspect of her ethnicity/racial component. But I'm sure we can agree that Stone Soul Picnic is just one of many, many brilliant songs. Also, that you're even replying to me suggests that you're far more prepared than Harri. My opinion is that he is just one of many others who are craving hits/likes/followers loosely analyzing songs w/o doing research and prep.
@, her father was just as I wrote. He was half Italian. His father was Italian & his mother was Jewish. She has no known Black ancestry. And absolutely Stoned Soul Picnic is amazing.
What a great response. It makes me happy to hear you express your appreciation the perfection of this track. Yes, the voice --actually voices because she did several overdubs -- but also the arrangement. That percussive piano at the beginning, the chopping on the guitar, those soaring strings -- the whole funky vibe -- so good! No one can do laura better than Laura!
Thank you for this reaction. Laura has been one of my all time favorites for 50 plus years. She was so talented. Some of her very popular songs she wrote when she was only a teenager. Taken way too soon.
Loved the 5th Dimension version But I Love Laura more
Released in 1968 by Laura, it became a huge hit for The Fifth Dimension, who had several hits with Laura's songs. Included on Laura's album, "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession", this is beautiful with Laura's voice so dynamic and full bodied. "Surry" included in the lyrics several times were said to be the shortening of Let's Hurry. Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Bennett. 👏👏
Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
🥰🤩😇 DK💖CA
@agnetesorensenelbom5085 Good Morning Agnete. Hope your day has been wonderful. 🎶🎶🌹🌹🇨🇦🤗🇩🇰🎶🎶
I'm 72 and have been a huge fan since I was 18! She was crazy talented and I love so many of her songs, but this has to be my favorite of all time. What a fabulous arrangement! For me, it epitomizes the best feeling of the 60s.
This song was an anthem for 1968, as done by the Fifth Dimension but Eli and the Thirteenth Confession is a masterpiece. There will never be another Laura Nyro. I am so blessed to have been alive while she was. Seeing her live was transformative.
I was lucky enough to see her live twice, she just opened her mouth and it was amazing what came out of it, it was like listening to heaven. Both shows were at the Paramount Theater in Oakland California in the late 70s. Thank you Joanie for turning me on to Laura Nyro.
I first heard her maybe 55 years ago, and now that I'm 69, she seems just as talented as ever. No one sings like her.
She was such a good songwriter. I had heard of her but I'm just finding out how many songs she wrote that I know of. I thought this sounded familiar. Yep, the Fifth Dimension. She's got a beautiful voice also.
She was hugely underrated, the album New York Tenderberry is a masterpiece
Also Christmas and the Beads of Sweat featuring Gregg Allman and was able to see her in Woodstock NY at a little place called Bear Theater. Sitting 4 rows from her. She was my top artist from 1967. Too bad she died from cancer .
@@PennYanTV In my opinion, Christmas and the Beads of Sweat was the third of Laura’s trilogy of the three greatest albums in a row any singer songwriter ever released along with Eli & the Thirteenth Confession and New York Tendaberry. It was Duane Allman that played guitar on Beads of Sweat, another great musical talent we lost way too early.
Thank you for this! I am 68 and suddenly I felt 18 again listening to this!
She wrote the songs that became my favourite Fifth Dimension songs. This one, Sweet Blindness, Save the Country (very apropos especially now), and more.
My favorite song of hers is brown earth love it so much
makes me so happy to see you enjoy this .....I've loved her for fifty years! Diamonds in your ears. Love that!
She was wonderful and is missed. 💔
You could make a greatest hits album of her songs covered by other artists
Laura was one of the few singers who was her own best backing singer!!
Red, yellow, honey, sassafras, and moonshine. ❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍
Her lyrics were unique and were genius.
Laura Nyro was so talented - one of my favorites.
😢Laura Nyro: brilliant, talented, and gone too soon. I only got to see her perform once, mid-career, at NYC’s famous small supper club, The Bottom Line (where I saw dozens of amazing shows). It was such a terrific intimate evening with such a talented, beautiful soul. I’ve loved her for more than 1/2 a century.
Hi Harri… glad you’re really ‘hearing’ Laura… I love her.
2 quick things I haven’t seen in this song’s thread of comments:
Todd Rundgren was a friend of Laura’s, and worked on at least one of her albums… worked on the string arrangements, I believe. Anyway he says he was influenced by her approach to songwriting, and you can def hear it in many of his great songs.
The other thing - when Elton John appeared on Elvis Costello’s TV interview show - Elvis spent the entire hour with Elton… who said the one of his biggest influences was Laura Nyro. And it’s so apparent once you make that connection. He even plays things on the piano during that show to illustrate those influences. I’ll hunt for the link, and drop it here for you, cuz it’s such an interesting interview!
I absolutley love this woman .
Great choice. My all time favourite singer and song writer. Taken from us way too early. Thank you for recognizing this amazing talent. She is timeless.
I hope you’ve read the 2003 book Soul Picnic by Michelle Kort.
Listen to the complete album , Its Gonna Take a Miracle, along side with LaBelle.
Bennett - Superb submission from the very talented Laura Nyro. Nice review, Harri.
she was the bomb!
More Lura Nyro. Try Eli's Coming.
Thanks, Harri! Another singer-songwriter that never acclaimed commercial success, but contributed so much. You're one of the few i see that reacts to her! Well done!
Knew only the Fifth Dimension cover version, but also knew it what composed by the amazing Laura Nyro. She was a great sing-a-song writer, just died too young.
So that's the thing about Laura Nyro... Fantastic voice, intriguing lyricist, and one of the best songwriters. All in one petite sweet pretty Italian/Jewish woman from the Bronx NY (where I am from).
The word "surry".. which appears alot in this song... is a neologism. Laura made it up. To me it equates mostly with "Let's hurry..."
Another musical genius.
I don’t know what she is singing about, and I don’t care. I just love her.
Thanks for doing more Laura, Harri. You're one of the only ones to do so. More people need to know of her and her genius! I see some of your listeners still didn't know her, only the covers. Please do "And When I Die" next. That would be tremendous!
One of song writers of 60s and 70s on par with Carol King.
Love this version best!❤
Me too!
I'm always impressed when I see someone discovering Laura Nyro.
I have been a fan of her's since the 1960's. However I didn't know it because other music artists had hit songs with the songs she wrote:
"And When I Die" Blood Sweat & Tears
"Stoney End" Barbra Streisand
"Sweet Blindness" The 5th Dimension
And a few more that I didn't mention.
Laura Nyro is amazing.
The Fifth Dimension also did 'Sweet Blindness', 'Wedding Bell Blues' . Blood Sweat and Tears covered 'And When I Die' and Three Dog Night 'Eli's Coming"
Love Laura. RIP
Great reaction. She was incredible. As a composer, a singer and a lyricist too. This album is a masterpiece.
Confession: in 1968 I was 18 and I listened to all kinds music . . . and I never heard of her. The only version of Stone Soul Picnic I’ve ever known is by the 5th Dimension. She has such an amazing voice, how did I miss her??
Too many missed her.... A few reasons:She didn't care that much about commerical success (despite making zillions from her songwriting) and didn't self-promote much, she left the industry early, and she was not promoted heavily by her label.
I missed her as well. In 1968 I was 22 years old and finishing up a 4 year stint in the Navy.
@@bennettjoseph1481 She didn't tour much and didn't like to do TV performances either. She also refused to edit songs to under 3:00 for radio play.
I feel you. I was lucky -my older sister bought the first Laura Nyro LP, so I was in from the start. In my top 10 all-time, so much soul, my life would be poorer without Laura Nyro in it. Never too late to fall in love with her music!
she is a special talent
I listened to the album this is on all the time as a teenager, and haven't heard it in such a long time. Love hearing it again😊
Thanks for this reaction!💜
Marilyn McCoo and the harmonies of the Fifth Dimension are a different kind of vocal than the this more folksy version.
I loved this when it was played on FM radio in NYC, but, I never saw her on any TV show. And I remember looking for her. She had a couple of other songs that were played. She sounded quirky compared to 5th Dimension, and that’s a good thing.
WOW, one of my favorites. psychedelic. groovy.
What is the most underrated performers of all time thank God they put her in the music Hall of Fame she deserved it from a writing standpoint and she wrote for a whole lot of people, and then doing her own music
Listen to Poverty Train, such an emotional song.
This song is one of her most "soulful."
Me again. Blood, Sweat and Tears asked her to join tjem as a singer in the band.
Idea just thought ' Blackpatch ' by Laura Nyro. Take care.
She was dating one of band members and brought them food during practice every night
So much more passion, richness, and depth than 5th Dimension's version.
"She did well for them," is a big, big understatement. I bought their Greatest Hits album. Have had it since around 1970 or 1971. Looking at the credits of the album, there are 12 songs on it, and she's the writer on 4 of them. Save the Country, another brilliant song she wrote, isn't on the GH album.
The demo version on the 2002 re-issue is even better.
You MUST hear The Fifth Dimension's version, Harri. It is my favorite by them
Beautiful song
Harri: do yourself a favor: buy Laura's GH double CD. And if you want to make your dreds STAND ON END, bruh, listen to Eli's Coming from the very first second all the way to when you get to the end of the first verse, which is not until around :45 into the track.
Hari: couple of more thoughts to ponder: Can you believe that this is coming on being 60 years old? Let me briefly cover her ancestry:. Nyro is a stage name. Her father's last name was Nigro. He was Italian. He was Black. And her mother was Jewish. How's that relevant? Well, back in 1942-1947 there were a whole army of Jewish women who were born during that half-decade, in NYC, and then around 25 years later began to dominant our music scene: Carole King, Bette Middler, Barbra Streisand, Jane Olivor (nee' Cohen). You can toss in Barry Manilow (ne Pincus) and Billy Joel two more NYC Jewish musical artists.
Her father was half Italian & Jewish.
@@sukie584 I think you've got the facts off, but just a bit. Laura's mother was Gilda Mirsky. (That'd be the Jewish aspect of her lineage.) The father was the Italian and his last name was Nigro. I've gotta believe that he was the black/African aspect of her ethnicity/racial component. But I'm sure we can agree that Stone Soul Picnic is just one of many, many brilliant songs. Also, that you're even replying to me suggests that you're far more prepared than Harri. My opinion is that he is just one of many others who are craving hits/likes/followers loosely analyzing songs w/o doing research and prep.
@, her father was just as I wrote. He was half Italian. His father was Italian & his mother was Jewish. She has no known Black ancestry. And absolutely Stoned Soul Picnic is amazing.
Great song.....The Fifth Dimension had the best version.
Laura Nero sounded like a combination of Carol King and Joni Mitchell.
She sounds nothing like either one! 🤣 i love them all but they sound Very different!
What was unfair is that this great artist died at age 49.
Ii BELEIVE SHE WAS DATING THE DRUMMER AND GAVE DANNY A SONG ELI'S COMIN FOR THREE DOG NIGHT
Not accurate. She dated someone in Blood Sweat & Tears not TDN.
Great song, bad version. Sorry.