Laura Nyro: Smile (Columbia PC33912)

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.