Gonna Take a Miracle
Laura Nyro · 1971
33 min · 10 tracks · jazz
Soulful melodies blend with jazz-inflected arrangements, showcasing a vibrant reimagining of classic pop standards.
Top tracks — play these first
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Spanish Harlem — Nyro's rendition transforms this classic into a lush, heartfelt ballad that highlights her vocal prowess and emotional depth.
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It's Gonna Take a Miracle — This title track showcases Nyro's ability to infuse deep emotion into a familiar narrative, making it resonate with listeners.
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You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me — Her interpretation adds a jazzy flair to this Motown hit, blending soulful vocals with intricate piano arrangements that elevate the original song.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Nyro's soulful interpretations blend jazz and pop, showcasing her unique style but lacking a strong cohesive arc.
What we noticed
- Each track is a reinterpretation of a classic pop or soul song, maintaining the original's essence while infusing it with Nyro's unique style.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- vibrant sing-along moments
- short bursts of joy
- soulful melodies for gatherings
- playful energy throughout tracks
- nostalgic reimagining of classics
Maybe skip if you
- prefer longer, cohesive albums
- seek heavy, introspective themes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Gonna Take a Miracle was Laura Nyro's fifth studio album, released during her creative peak after the success of Eli and the Thirteenth Confession. By this time, she had established herself as a unique voice in music, known for her emotive songwriting and innovative fusion of genres.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Carole King· Joni Mitchell· Billie Holiday
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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It's Gonna Take a Miracle
The bridge shifts to an introspective reflection on love lost, contrasting with the upbeat tone of the verses.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 I Met Him on a Sunday 1:55
- 2 The Bells 2:56
- 3 Monkey Time / Dancing in the Street 4:59
- 4 Desiree 1:52
- 5 You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me 4:09
- 6 Spanish Harlem 2:52
- 7 Jimmy Mack 2:57
- 8 The Wind 2:59
- 9 Nowhere to Run 5:09
- 10 It’s Gonna Take a Miracle 3:24
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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