More Than a New Discovery
Encyclopedia
More Than A New Discovery is the debut album by Bronx-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro
. It was recorded during 1966 and released at the beginning of the following year on the Folkways imprint of the Verve
label (this imprint was changed to Verve Forecast Records
after Verve was threatened with legal action by Moses Asch
who owned the Folkways
label). The album was reissued, with a revised track order and with the song "Hands Off the Man" retitled to "Flim Flam Man", in 1973 by Columbia Records
as The First Songs. It gave Nyro a chart entry at #97 on the Billboard 200
, then known as the Pop Albums chart.
In 2008 Rev-Ola released a remastered version of the original album in the original running order.
The album included several songs that would become hits for other artists. Blood, Sweat & Tears
scored with "And When I Die
" (US #2), The 5th Dimension with "Wedding Bell Blues
" (US #1) and "Blowin' Away" (US #21), and Barbra Streisand
with "Stoney End" (US #6).
In 1999, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
) after supplying Peter Paul and Mary with her song "And When I Die".
and Milton Okun at the helm. Bernstein arranged the songs, and there was some uncertainty about Nyro's ability to lead the musicians by playing piano, so a pianist, Stan Free
, was hired, and Nyro was encouraged to play the guitar instead which she rejected.
For the single version of "Stoney End," Nyro was forced to rework some of the lyrics that referred to the Bible
because Verve
felt it would cause too much controversy.
More Than a New Discovery (Original Album) running order:
"The First Songs" running order:
Laura Nyro
Laura Nyro was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist. She achieved considerable critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession and New York Tendaberry, and had commercial success with artists such as Barbra Streisand and The 5th...
. It was recorded during 1966 and released at the beginning of the following year on the Folkways imprint of the Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
label (this imprint was changed to Verve Forecast Records
Verve Forecast Records
Verve Forecast Records is a record label specializing in cutting-edge material which was founded in 1967 by Verve Records and since been revived twice....
after Verve was threatened with legal action by Moses Asch
Moses Asch
Moses Asch was the founder of Folkways Records. Asch ran the label from 1948 until his death...
who owned the Folkways
Folkways Records
Folkways Records was a record label founded by Moses Asch that documented folk, world, and children's music. It was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987, and is now part of Smithsonian Folkways.-History:...
label). The album was reissued, with a revised track order and with the song "Hands Off the Man" retitled to "Flim Flam Man", in 1973 by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
as The First Songs. It gave Nyro a chart entry at #97 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, then known as the Pop Albums chart.
In 2008 Rev-Ola released a remastered version of the original album in the original running order.
The album included several songs that would become hits for other artists. Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears is an American music group, originally formed in 1967 in New York City. Since its beginnings in 1967, the band has gone through numerous iterations with varying personnel and has encompassed a multitude of musical styles...
scored with "And When I Die
And When I Die
"And When I Die" is a song written by American singer Laura Nyro. It was first recorded by American folk group Peter, Paul and Mary in 1966. Nyro then recorded it on her 1968 debut album More Than a New Discovery. However, the song is probably best known for its cover version by American rock group...
" (US #2), The 5th Dimension with "Wedding Bell Blues
Wedding Bell Blues
"Wedding Bell Blues" is a song written and recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966 that became a number one hit for The 5th Dimension in 1969 and subsequently a popular phrase in American culture...
" (US #1) and "Blowin' Away" (US #21), and Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
with "Stoney End" (US #6).
In 1999, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Background
Nyro signed to Verve Folkways (later Verve Forecast RecordsVerve Forecast Records
Verve Forecast Records is a record label specializing in cutting-edge material which was founded in 1967 by Verve Records and since been revived twice....
) after supplying Peter Paul and Mary with her song "And When I Die".
Production
The album was recorded 1966 with Herb BernsteinHerb Bernstein
- Professional Life :Bernstein arranged and produced records for many artists in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. These artists include Laura Nyro, John Denver, Joel Grey, The Four Seasons, Bob Dylan, The Monkees, Dusty Springfield, Tina Turner, The Happenings, Julie Budd, Lainie Kazan, Frankie Valli,...
and Milton Okun at the helm. Bernstein arranged the songs, and there was some uncertainty about Nyro's ability to lead the musicians by playing piano, so a pianist, Stan Free
Stan Free
Stanley Free was a New York City-based jazz musician, composer, conductor and arranger.Free was born in Brooklyn in 1922, and received a classical musical education, studying with Alexander Siloti and also at the Juilliard School. While still in his teens, he organized a combo that played the...
, was hired, and Nyro was encouraged to play the guitar instead which she rejected.
Songs
"Wedding Bell Blues" was released as a single in September 1966 and remained on the "Bubbling Under" segment of the Hot 100 (then "Pop Singles") for 12 weeks, peaking at #103.For the single version of "Stoney End," Nyro was forced to rework some of the lyrics that referred to the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
because Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
felt it would cause too much controversy.
Track listing
All songs written by Laura Nyro.More Than a New Discovery (Original Album) running order:
- "Goodbye Joe" – 2:38
- "Billy's Blues" – 3:20
- "And When I Die" – 2:40
- "Stoney End" – 2:46
- "Lazy Susan" – 3:53
- "Hands Off the Man" (Flim Flam Man) – 2:29
- "Wedding Bell BluesWedding Bell Blues"Wedding Bell Blues" is a song written and recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966 that became a number one hit for The 5th Dimension in 1969 and subsequently a popular phrase in American culture...
" – 2:44 - "Buy and Sell" – 3:38
- "He's a Runner" – 3:40
- "Blowin' Away" – 2:23
- "I Never Meant to Hurt You" – 2:52
- "California Shoeshine Boys" – 2:45
"The First Songs" running order:
- "Wedding Bell BluesWedding Bell Blues"Wedding Bell Blues" is a song written and recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966 that became a number one hit for The 5th Dimension in 1969 and subsequently a popular phrase in American culture...
" – 2:44 - "Billy's Blues" – 3:20
- "California Shoeshine Boys" – 2:45
- "Blowin' Away" – 2:23
- "Lazy Susan" – 3:53
- "Goodbye Joe" – 2:38
- "Flim Flam Man" – 2:29
- "Stoney End" – 2:46
- "I Never Meant to Hurt You" – 2:52
- "He's a Runner" – 3:40
- "Buy and Sell" – 3:38
- "And When I DieAnd When I Die"And When I Die" is a song written by American singer Laura Nyro. It was first recorded by American folk group Peter, Paul and Mary in 1966. Nyro then recorded it on her 1968 debut album More Than a New Discovery. However, the song is probably best known for its cover version by American rock group...
" – 2:40
Personnel
- Herb BernsteinHerb Bernstein- Professional Life :Bernstein arranged and produced records for many artists in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. These artists include Laura Nyro, John Denver, Joel Grey, The Four Seasons, Bob Dylan, The Monkees, Dusty Springfield, Tina Turner, The Happenings, Julie Budd, Lainie Kazan, Frankie Valli,...
- arranger, conductorConductingConducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, flugelhornFlugelhornThe flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus... - Milton Okun - producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
- Laura Nyro - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, songwriter - Jay BerlinerJay BerlinerJay Berliner is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Starting with his first television experience at age 7 on NBC’s The Children’s Hour with sister Eve, his career has spanned the globe: from the Metropolitan Opera house , where he was house guitarist and mandolinist; to...
- guitar - Stan FreeStan FreeStanley Free was a New York City-based jazz musician, composer, conductor and arranger.Free was born in Brooklyn in 1922, and received a classical musical education, studying with Alexander Siloti and also at the Juilliard School. While still in his teens, he organized a combo that played the...
- pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Bill Lavorgna - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Buddy Lucas - harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
- Lou Mauro - bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
- James Sedlar - hornHorn (instrument)The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....