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Laura Nyro: Smile (Columbia PC33912)

Dave Marsh, Rolling Stone, 6 May 1976

LAURA NYRO'S first album in four years fails to live up to the promise of her lovely early records. While Smile has a certain charm to it, which grows with repeated listenings, there is a striking absence of the classic pop melodics that characterize the songs on Eli & the Thirteenth Confession, The First Songs and New York Tendaberry, many of which (in versions by other artists) became big hits. Instead, Nyro goes for a more exotic, jazz-tinged approach which, while occasionally interesting, ignores the basis of her initial appeal.

Total word count of piece: 397

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