After a five-year hiatus, singer/songwriter
Laura Nyro returned in 1976 with
Smile. On this disc,
Nyro's somewhat idiosyncratic writing and performance style is decidedly subdued. In its stead is a light pop and jazz feel similar to that of
Maria Muldaur's mid-'70s recordings. Supporting
Nyro instrumentally is virtually a who's-who of New York and Los Angeles studio stalwarts. While the prowess of folks like
Will Lee (bass), brothers
Randy Brecker (trumpet) and
Michael Brecker (flute/sax),
Hugh McCracken (guitar), and
Rick Marotta (drums) certainly strengthens
Nyro's already laid-back material, it likewise reduces her to sounding like a
Joni Mitchell ripoff. The undeniable highlight of
Smile is the maturity in the songwriting. It becomes obvious that the half-decade away has done some significant good in revealing a decidedly positive evolution in
Nyro's approach to her own life. What's more is that the material on this album seems to come from a place of contentment. The influence of her work with the female soul vocal trio
LaBelle on
Gonna Take a Miracle -- prior to her mini-retirement -- also seems to be a source of inspiration throughout this disc. The high and tight vocal harmonies (all of which are credited to
Nyro) are wholly rewarding and hark back to her R&B-induced "Wedding Bell Blues" and "Stoned Soul Picnic." This is most evident on the opening track, "Sexy Mama" (penned by
Harry Ray, Joe Robinson, and Al Goodman), which was also a hit for the R&B vocal group
the Moments. The intimate nature of "I Am the Blues" and "Midnite Blue" are reminiscent of older
Nyro favorites such as "Emmie" and "Captain St. Lucifer." In all,
Smile is much like a musical letter from an old acquaintance and casts a direct light onto the next phase in
Laura Nyro's recording career. ~ Lindsay Planer