Description

Smile is the sixth album by the late New York singer, songwriter and pianist Laura Nyro. It was released in early 1976, following a four-year hiatus from the music industry. Musically, Smile begins the “mellow period” that Nyro stayed with on her studio albums for the rest of her career, although it continues her fascination with mysticism with various exotic instruments and arrangements. The title track, particularly, explores a deep flirtation with Chinese music. Several of the tracks, including “Children of the Junks” and “I Am The Blues” had been written and sung by Nyro in concert as early as 1971 and 1972 (as evidenced by bootleg recordings) and were later recorded for this album. Nyro‘s albums are few, but this one is an essential.