American Dreamer cover

American Dreamer

Laura Nyro · 2021

282 min · 88 tracks · jazz

A vibrant tapestry of jazz-infused pop and soul that weaves together personal narratives with lush melodies.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Stoney End — This track encapsulates Nyro's signature blend of emotional depth and melodic sophistication, showcasing her prowess as both a songwriter and vocalist.
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    Wedding Bell Blues — The song's poignant lyrics about love and longing resonate deeply, illustrating Nyro's ability to weave personal storytelling into universal themes.
  • →
    Save the Country — An anthem for social change, this track highlights Nyro's engagement with political themes while maintaining her distinctive lyrical style.
  • →
    Eli’s Comin’ — This track showcases Nyro's unique vocal delivery and intricate arrangement, making it a standout example of her artistic innovation during this period.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • vibrant storytelling through melodies
  • exploratory sessions with diverse tracks
  • for reflective afternoons
  • intimate moments of personal connection
  • upbeat tunes for uplifting moods

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer shorter albums with hits
  • seek immediate gratification in music

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 2021, American Dreamer arrives as Laura Nyro's posthumous album, showcasing previously unreleased material from her storied career. It compiles songs recorded throughout the late 1960s to the early 1970s, providing a retrospective glimpse into her creative evolution just after her passing in 1997.
Stylistic neighbors
Carole King· Joni Mitchell· Billie Holiday

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

  • Save the Country

    A call to action that shifts from personal reflection to a broader plea for collective awakening and change.

    By transitioning from intimate storytelling to a rallying cry, this moment underscores Nyro's ability to connect individual emotions with larger societal issues.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Goodbye Joe 2:38
  • 2 Billy’s Blues 3:20
  • 3 And When I Die 2:40
  • 4 Stoney End 2:46
  • 5 Lazy Susan 3:53
  • 6 Hands Off the Man 2:29
  • 7 Wedding Bell Blues 2:44
  • 8 Buy and Sell 3:38
  • 9 He’s a Runner 3:40
  • 10 Blowin’ Away 2:23
  • 11 I Never Meant to Hurt You 2:52
  • 12 California Shoe‐Shine Boys 2:45

Disc 2

  • 1 Luckie 3:03
  • 2 Lu 2:47
  • 3 Sweet Blindness 2:42
  • 4 Poverty Train 4:21
  • 5 Lonely Women 3:36
  • 6 Eli’s Comin’ 4:00
  • 7 Timer 3:26
  • 8 Stoned Soul Picnic 3:50
  • 9 Emmie 4:24
  • 10 Woman’s Blues 3:48
  • 11 Once It Was Alright Now (Farmer Joe) 3:01
  • 12 December’s Boudoir 5:10
  • 13 The Confession 2:49

Disc 3

  • 1 You Don’t Love Me When I Cry 4:19
  • 2 Captain for Dark Mornings 4:33
  • 3 Tom Cat Goodbye 5:27
  • 4 Mercy on Broadway 2:13
  • 5 Save the Country 4:33
  • 6 Gibsom Street 4:42
  • 7 Time and Love 4:19
  • 8 The Man Who Sends Me Home 2:47
  • 9 Sweet Lovin’ Baby 3:51
  • 10 Captain Saint Lucifer 3:13
  • 11 New York Tendaberry 5:33

Disc 4

  • 1 Brown Earth 4:11
  • 2 When I Was a Freeport and You Were the Main Drag 2:44
  • 3 Blackpatch 3:36
  • 4 Been on a Train 5:51
  • 5 Up on the Roof 3:15
  • 6 Upstairs by a Chinese Lamp 5:34
  • 7 Map to the Treasure 8:10
  • 8 Beads of Sweat 4:49
  • 9 Christmas in My Soul 6:59

Disc 5

  • 1 I Met Him on a Sunday 1:50
  • 2 The Bells 2:59
  • 3 Monkey Time / Dancing in the Street 4:57
  • 4 Desiree 1:52
  • 5 You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me 4:07
  • 6 Spanish Harlem 2:52
  • 7 Jimmy Mack 2:56
  • 8 Wind 2:58
  • 9 Nowhere to Run 5:08
  • 10 It’s Gonna Take a Miracle 3:24

Disc 6

  • 1 Sexy Mama 2:42
  • 2 Children of the Junks 2:50
  • 3 Money 4:59
  • 4 I Am the Blues 5:45
  • 5 Stormy Love 4:32
  • 6 The Cat‐Song 2:35
  • 7 Midnite Blue 3:07
  • 8 Smile 5:36

Disc 7

  • 1 Mr. Blue (The Song of Communications) 5:03
  • 2 Rhythm and Blues 2:59
  • 3 My Innocence 3:25
  • 4 Crazy Love 4:20
  • 5 American Dreamer 4:09
  • 6 Springblown 4:26
  • 7 The Sweet Sky 3:33
  • 8 Light (Pop’s Principle) 2:54
  • 9 Child in a Universe 4:13
  • 10 The Nest 2:28

Disc 8

  • 1 Stoney End (single version) (mono version)
  • 2 Lu (demo)
  • 3 Stoned Soul Picnic (demo)
  • 4 Emmie (demo)
  • 5 Eli’s Comin’ (single version) (mono version)
  • 6 Save the Country (single version)
  • 7 In the Country Way (album version)
  • 8 Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing (recorded live 30 May 1971, Fillmore East, USA)
  • 9 (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (recorded live 30 May 1971, Fillmore East, USA)
  • 10 O‐o‐h Child (recorded live 30 May 1971, Fillmore East, USA)
  • 11 Up on the Roof (recorded live 30 May 1971, Fillmore East, USA)
  • 12 Someone Loves You (demo)
  • 13 Get Off My Cap (demo)
  • 14 Coffee Morning (demo)
  • 15 Medley: Emily / Nested (live) 6:39

What to play next

Live: The Loom's Desire
Go back to

Live: The Loom's Desire

2002
Full Laura Nyro discography Artists like Laura Nyro
jazz soul

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata