Nested
Encyclopedia
Nested is the seventh studio album
by Bronx-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro
, released in 1978 by Columbia Records
.
Following on from her extensive tour to promote 1976's Smile
, which resulted in the 1977 live album Season of Lights
, Nyro retreated to her new home in Danbury
, Connecticut
, where she lived after spending her time in the spotlight in New York City
.
Nyro had a studio built at her home, and recorded the songs that comprised Nested there. The songs deal with themes such as motherhood and womanhood, and it is a notably more relaxed Nyro that sings on the album. The instrumentation is laidback and smooth, similar to that of Smile, but perhaps less jazz
-inspired and more melodic. Nyro was assisted in production by Roscoe Harring, while Dale Ashby and Pop Ashby were chief engineers.
Critics praised the album as a melodic return to form, and Nyro supported the album with a solo tour when she was heavily pregnant with her son Gil, who was born two months after the album was released. Despite acclaim and a melodic, arguably more commercial sound, Nested was not a commercial success and became Nyro's first album since her 1967 debut More Than A New Discovery
to miss the Billboard 200
, then known as the Pop Albums chart.
Such was its commercial failure that for years it remained out of print, and is unquestionably Nyro's least-known and most rare studio album. After the birth of her son in August 1978, Nyro retreated once again from the limelight after a three-year return to raise her son. She would not record for another five years, and her recording pattern became increasingly intermittent. Nested is recognised as one of Laura Nyro's most underrated works.
Nested was briefly released on CD in Japan only and was out of print for many years. On April 8, 2008, it was reissued on CD in the U.S. in remastered form by Iconoclassic Records.
Felix Cavaliere
returns to play piano and organ on some songs, while Nyro produces with Roscoe Harring. The origins of Nyro's political and social explorations in her lyrics of the 1980s and 1990s can be traced back to Nested.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Bronx-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro
Laura Nyro
Laura Nyro was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist. She achieved considerable critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession and New York Tendaberry, and had commercial success with artists such as Barbra Streisand and The 5th...
, released in 1978 by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
Following on from her extensive tour to promote 1976's Smile
Smile (Laura Nyro album)
Smile is the sixth music album by New York singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro.The album was released in early 1976 following a four-year hiatus from the music industry during which time Nyro both married and divorced and lived away from the spotlight...
, which resulted in the 1977 live album Season of Lights
Season of Lights
Season of Lights is the first live album by New York singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro.Columbia Records issued the album in the summer of 1977, taking the songs from various locations on Nyro's 1976 tour in support of her most recent studio album, Smile...
, Nyro retreated to her new home in Danbury
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, where she lived after spending her time in the spotlight in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Nyro had a studio built at her home, and recorded the songs that comprised Nested there. The songs deal with themes such as motherhood and womanhood, and it is a notably more relaxed Nyro that sings on the album. The instrumentation is laidback and smooth, similar to that of Smile, but perhaps less jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
-inspired and more melodic. Nyro was assisted in production by Roscoe Harring, while Dale Ashby and Pop Ashby were chief engineers.
Critics praised the album as a melodic return to form, and Nyro supported the album with a solo tour when she was heavily pregnant with her son Gil, who was born two months after the album was released. Despite acclaim and a melodic, arguably more commercial sound, Nested was not a commercial success and became Nyro's first album since her 1967 debut More Than A New Discovery
More Than a New Discovery
More Than A New Discovery is the debut album by Bronx-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro. It was recorded during 1966 and released at the beginning of the following year on the Folkways imprint of the Verve label...
to miss the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, then known as the Pop Albums chart.
Such was its commercial failure that for years it remained out of print, and is unquestionably Nyro's least-known and most rare studio album. After the birth of her son in August 1978, Nyro retreated once again from the limelight after a three-year return to raise her son. She would not record for another five years, and her recording pattern became increasingly intermittent. Nested is recognised as one of Laura Nyro's most underrated works.
Nested was briefly released on CD in Japan only and was out of print for many years. On April 8, 2008, it was reissued on CD in the U.S. in remastered form by Iconoclassic Records.
Overview
Nested is the first of two "maternal" Laura Nyro albums, and Nyro appears to revel in her new domesticity. Her marriage had broken down, but she had found love again and the sound is notably more relaxed than before.Felix Cavaliere
Felix Cavaliere
Felix Cavaliere is an American songwriter, singer, music producer, and musician.Although he was a member of Joey Dee and His Starlighters best known for their hit "Peppermint Twist", he is best known for his association with The Young Rascals during the 1960s. The other members of The Rascals...
returns to play piano and organ on some songs, while Nyro produces with Roscoe Harring. The origins of Nyro's political and social explorations in her lyrics of the 1980s and 1990s can be traced back to Nested.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Laura Nyro- "Mr. Blue (Song of Communications)" – 5:01
- "Rhythm and Blues" – 2:57
- "My Innocence" – 3:24
- "Crazy Love" – 4:18
- "American Dreamer" – 4:08
- "Springblown" – 4:24
- "The Sweet Sky" – 3:32
- "Light" – 2:53
- "Child in a Universe" – 4:09
- "The Nest" – 2:27
Personnel
- Laura Nyro - vocals, electric and acoustic piano, church organ, guitar, strings
- Will LeeWill Lee (bassist)Will Lee aka William Franklin Lee IV is an American musician and bassist, best known for his work on the CBS television program The Late Show with David Letterman as part of the CBS Orchestra....
- bass - Andy NewmarkAndy NewmarkAndrew "Andy" Newmark is an American musician, best known as a popular session drummer, and for playing with the funk band Sly & the Family Stone from 1972 to 1973....
- drums - Vinnie CusanoVinnie VincentVincent John Cusano, better known as Vinnie Vincent, is an American guitarist from Bridgeport, Connecticut and songwriter known for his brief membership in the band Kiss.-Replacing Ace Frehley in Kiss:...
- guitar - John TropeaJohn TropeaJohn Tropea is a guitarist with extensive experience in the rock, pop, and jazz genres. Tropea has written for and played with major recording artists from around the world...
- guitar - Nydia "Liberty" Mata - percussion
- John SebastianJohn SebastianJohn Benson Sebastian Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and autoharpist. He is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000...
- harmonica - Cyril Cianflone - bass
- Tony LevinTony LevinTony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
- bass - Felix CavaliereFelix CavaliereFelix Cavaliere is an American songwriter, singer, music producer, and musician.Although he was a member of Joey Dee and His Starlighters best known for their hit "Peppermint Twist", he is best known for his association with The Young Rascals during the 1960s. The other members of The Rascals...
- electric piano, organ
External links
- Michele Kort's biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro (ISBN 0-312-20941-X)