

Though she was one of the most unique talents of the first singer/songwriter generation, Laura Nyro was better known by other peoples' versions of her songs. But if you've only heard Barbra Streisand sing "Stoned Soul Picnic," The Fifth Dimension doing "Wedding Bell Blues," or Blood, Sweat & Tears' version of "And When I Die," hearing them delivered by their author will be a revelation. The Bronx-born songsmith seamlessly blended R&B, jazz, folk, and '60s girl-group influences to create a dazzlingly idiosyncratic new musical paradigm. This comprehensive anthology covers her entire career, revealing the consistency of Nyro's one-of-a-kind gift.