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Rating: It's '68, a particularly happy year from a musical point of view: the Doors and Jefferson Airplane are riding the wave, Jimi Hendrix is revolutionizing the use of the electric guitar completely, and Pink Floyd is embarking on distant lysergic journeys from which Syd will never return. But alongside the psychedelic wave, sacred monsters like Bob Dylan and Tim Buckley keep the singer-songwriter scene alive: in this flourishing climate, women also begin to emerge: singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell or Laura Nyro, for example, all had something to say to some extent. This "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" is indeed proof that, at least from an artistic point of view, women are certainly not inferior to men...
Laura Nyro's music starts from the soul of the Bronx, New York, where she was born in 1947, to then refine itself, mixing with blues and jazz and evolving through complicated yet extremely compelling harmonies. Laura’s voice, powerful and emotional but at the same time remarkable from a technical point of view, is the sublime medium that unites these elements and guides the listener along the protagonist’s spiritual journey. The album is a sort of concept illustrating the parabola of a girl coming of age: Eli's growth also corresponds with an emotional growth in the songs; the first three tracks, in fact, echo classic soul and constitute the "easy" part of the album: "Luckie" is a song with an irresistible cadence and a vocal motif as simple as it is effective; "Lu" sounds like a fantastic and light soul slipping over you like April rain; "Sweet Blindness", the most catchy of the lot, captivates with its immediacy but induces repeated listening for weeks, akin to a drug.
With "Poverty Train", instead, the ears begin to serve as a conduit to bring the music to the heart: the beginning is pained, with the electric guitar alternating with the acoustic one to intone a very sad blues. Then a bass and a vibraphone, and a distant voice reciting: "Last call for the poverty train". From here the song picks up pace and becomes a marvelous piano-pop, with sumptuous arrangements and a heart-wrenching vocal melody, until it reverts back into a blues requiem submerged by undefined sounds: a gem. "Lonely Woman" is instead a splendid blues supported by the piano and sax, with Laura’s voice in the foreground.
Perhaps the most significant track of the album, and surely one of the most beautiful, is "Eli's Coming", which represents the emotional pinnacle of the LP. After a subdued start, a blend of voices over a frenzied piano evokes Eli's inner turmoil, until the instruments slow down and, over a wonderful and enveloping bass loop (one of the best I’ve ever heard), Nyro lets loose with a stunning outro to the cry of "Eli's coming, you’d better hide your heart".
The frenetic start of "Timer", which then takes on the characteristics of a normal soul, is followed by two calmer tracks: "Emmie", slow and suspended on ethereal strings, is perhaps the least remarkable piece; "Stoned Soul Picnic", more rhythmic and arranged with brass, is instead very catchy and, not surprisingly, will be covered by the 5th Dimension and will have great success.
I don’t know if you’ll agree with me, but I find the real masterpiece of the album is "Woman's Blues": after a slow intro, where Laura showcases her vocal qualities, a frenzied blues ensues that is simply unforgettable, with a bass groove so beautiful that it defies further adjectives, a guitar that couldn’t and shouldn’t play any other notes, a drum with the most fitting and warm sound there can be, and a voice that does nothing but grow in depth until the bridge, then becoming almost hysterical in the outro, with that "Damn be done" repeated several times echoing the background brass. 3 minutes and 48 seconds of virtual perfection.
If "Once It Was Alright Now (Farmer Joe)", a track divided into three parts (the first almost country, the second more in the Nyro style, and the third sweet and whispered) is already enough to demonstrate the unrestrained imagination of the New York singer-songwriter, the following "December's Boudoir" only confirms that we are facing a composer with immense skill: it is a sort of mini-suite supported mainly by the piano and Nyro's three-octave range, which continually changes rhythm and moves with every listen, despite being built on complex and certainly non-catchy harmonies.
The final track "The Confession" highlights Laura’s jazz spirit: after a splendid refrain floating over a fantastic instrumental carpet, the track intensifies up to that shouted "I confess", then continuing in the outro, with Laura sensually crying: "Love my lovething, love is surely gospel". A fitting conclusion, without a doubt.
We unfortunately know that an excellent artist is, in most cases, destined for a premature death. And so it was for Laura, who died of ovarian cancer at only 50 years old just like her mother. She never achieved great success in life, unlike artists such as the 5th Dimension and Tree Dog Night who sang her songs and made a lot of money. Perhaps this is due to her reserved behavior or her rejection of show business, who knows... In any case, we, 40 years later, listen to her music which, beyond any contrived and commercial mechanism, is beautiful.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Luckie (03:03)
Yes, I’m ready, so come on, Luckie.
Well, there’s an avenue of Devil who believe in stone.
You can meet the captain at the dead-end zone.
What Devil doesn’t know is that Devil can’t stay, doesn’t know he’s seen his day.
Oh, Luckie’s taking over and his clover shows.
Devil can’t get out of hand cause Luckie’s taking over and what Luckie says goes.
Dig them potatoes if you’ve never dug your girl before, poor little Devil,
He’s a backseat man to Luckie forever more.
Yes, I’m ready, so come on, Luckie, Luckie inside of me, inside of my mind, inside of my mind.
Don’t go falling for Naughty. Don’t go falling for Naughty, he’s a dragon with his double bite.
Sure can do his shortchanging out of sight.
An artist of a sort but a little bit short of luck, this lucky night.
Oh, Luckie’s taking over and his clover shows.
Devil can’t get out of hand cause Luckie’s taking over and what Luckie says goes.
Dig them potatoes if you’ve never dug your girl before, poor little Naughty,
He’s a backseat man to Luckie forever, a backseat man to Luckie forever more, hey, hey, hey.
It’s a real good day to go get Luckie, go get Luckie.
I’m gonna go get Luckie, I’m gonna go get Luckie.
I’m gonna go get, I’m gonna go get, you gotta go, get on down and get away.
You gotta go, get on down and get away. You gotta go, get on down and get away.
You gotta go, get on down and get away from you, hey hey, from you, yes,
Yes, I’m ready, yes, I’m ready, ready for Luckie.
02 Lu (02:47)
Silver was the color, winter was a snowbell.
Mother of the wind boys, living off the lovewell with Lu.
And everybody's calling Luie, Luie Luie, you got a thing about you.
Keep the light going for Luie and Luie keeps on pushing through.
Amber was the color, summer was a flame ride,
Cooking up the noon roads, walking on God's good side,
I was walking on God's good side, God's good side with Lu.
And everybody's calling Luie, Luie Luie, you got a thing about you.
Keep the light going for Luie and Luie keeps on pushing through.
Keeps on pushing through, through, he keeps on pushing.
I will always be fair, be there for Lu, forever and ever more,
everybody, everybody, everybody yeah.
And everybody's calling Luie, calling Luie, everybody's calling Luie calling
my man, my man Luie, calling Luie, my man Luie…
03 Sweet Blindness (02:42)
Let's go down by the grapevine, drink my Daddy's wine, get happy.
Down by the grapevine, drink my daddy's wine, get happy, happy.
Oh, sweet blindness, a little magic, a little kindness. Oh, sweet blindness, all over me.
Four leaves on a clover, I'm just a bit of a shade hung over.
Come on baby, do a slow float you're a good looking riverboat
and ain’t that sweet eyed blindness good to me?
Down by the grapevine, drink my Daddy's wine, good morning.
Down by the grapevine, drink my Daddy's wine, good morning, morning.
Oh, sweet blindness, a little magic, a little kindness. Oh, sweet blindness, all over me.
Please don't tell my mother, I'm a saloon and a moonshine lover.
Come on baby, do a slow float you're a good looking riverboat
and ain’t that sweet eyed blindness good to me?
Don't ask me cause I ain't gonna tell you what I've been drinking,
ain't gonna tell you what I've been drinking, ain't gonna tell you what I've been drinking,
wine of wonder, wonder, (by the way).
Oh, sweet blindness, a little magic, a little kindness. Oh, sweet blindness, all over me.
Don't let daddy hear it, he don't believe in the gin mill spirit.
Don't let daddy hear it, he don't believe in the gin mill spirit.
Come on baby, do a slow float you're a good looking riverboat
and ain’t that sweet eyed blindness good to me?
Now, ain’t that sweet eyed blindness good to me?
04 Poverty Train (04:21)
last call for the poverty train
last call for the poverty train
it looks good and dirty on shiny light strip
and if you don't get beat you got yourself a trip
You can see the walls roar see your brains on the floor
become God become cripple become funky and split
why was i born
i saw the devil and he's smiling at me
i heard my bones cry devil why's it got to be
devil played with my brother devil drove my mother
now the tears in the gutter are floodin the sea
why was i born
oh baby it looks good and dirty them shiny lights glow
a million night tramps tricks and tracks will come and go
you're starvin today but who care anyway baby it feels like i'm dying
now i swear there's something better than gettin off on sweet cocaine
it feels so good it feels so good
getting off the poverty train
morning
06 Eli's Comin' (04:00)
Eli's comin'. Eli's comin' (Eli's a-comin'). Girl, you better hide your heart, your loving heart.
Eli's a-comin' and the cards say broken heart, oh broken heart.
Eli's comin', hide your heart, girl, Eli's comin', hide your heart, girl.
Girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide, girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide.
Girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide, girl, Eli's comin', hide your heart, girl.
You better, better hide your heart, Eli's comin', better walk.
Walk but you'll never get away, no, you'll never get away from the Burn and the heartache,
I walked to Apollo and the bay, and everywhere I go,
Eli's a-comin' (she walked but she never got away).
Eli's a-comin' (she walked but she never got away).
Eli's a-comin' and he's comin' to get ya (she walked but, she walked but)
Get down on your knees (she walked but she never got away), Eli's comin',
(Hide it, hide it, hide it) Girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide, girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide. Girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide, girl, Eli's comin', hide your heart, girl (hide it).
You better, better hide your heart Eli's comin', better walk.
Walk but you'll never get away, no, you'll never get away from the burn and the heartache.
I walked to Apollo and the bay, and everywhere I go,
Eli's a-comin' (she walked but she never got away).
Eli's a-comin' (she walked but she never got away).
Eli's a-comin' and he's comin' to get ya (she walked but, she walked but).
Get down on your knees (she walked but she'll never get away). Get down on your knees.
No, no, no, no Lord, I said no, no, no, no, no, no (hide it).
She can (hide it) hide it, (hide it). You better (hide it). Somebody (hide it). You got to (hide it).
Eli's comin'. Eli's comin' (Eli's a-comin'). Well, you better hide your heart, your loving heart.
Eli's comin', better hide your heart, girl. Eli's comin', better hide your heart, girl.
Eli's comin', better hide your heart, girl. Eli's comin', better hide your heart, girl…
07 Timer (03:26)
Uptown, going down, old life line, walking down faster, walking with the master of time.
My lady woke up, she broke down, she got up, she let go,
Take me Timer, shake me Timer, let it blow, let it blow.
My darling friends, oh, I belong to Timer, he changed my face.
You're a fine one Timer, you've got me walking through the gates of space.
I keep remembering indoors that I used to walk through,
baby, I'm not trying to talk you down.
But I could walk through them doors onto a pleasure ground.
It was sweet and funny, a pleasure ground.
Didn't know about money, did not know about Timer, did not know about Timer.
Holding to my cradle at the start but now my hand is open
and now my hand is ready for my heart.
So let the wind blow Timer, I like her song.
And if the song goes minor, I won't mind.
And Timer knows the lady's gonna love again.
Time says the lady rambles never more.
If you love me true, I'll spend my life with you and Timer.
You're a jigsaw Timer, God is a jigsaw souling with, souling.
You're a jigsaw Timer, God is a jigsaw souling with, souling with Timer, Timer…
08 Stoned Soul Picnic (03:50)
Can you surry, can you picnic? Can you surry, can you picnic?
Come one, come on and surry down to a stoned soul picnic.
Surry down to a stoned soul picnic. There'll be lots of time and wine.
Red yellow honey, sassafras and moonshine,
red yellow honey, Sassafras and moonshine, moonshine. Stoned soul, stoned soul.
Come on, come on and surry down to a stoned soul picnic. Surry down to a stoned soul picnic.
Rain and sun come in akin, and from the sky come the Lord and the lightning.
And from the sky come the Lord and the lightning.
Stoned soul, stoned soul, surry on, soul.
Surry, surry, surry, surry.
There'll be trains of blossoms (there'll be trains of blossoms).
There'll be trains of music (there'll be music).
There'll be trains of trust, trains of golden dust.
Come along and surry on sweet trains of thought, surry on down.
Can you surry, can you surry?
Surry down to a stoned soul picnic. Surry down to a stoned soul picnic.
There'll be lots of time and wine. Red yellow honey, sassafras and moonshine,
red yellow honey, Sassafras and moonshine, moonshine. Stoned soul, stoned soul.
Surry on soul. Surry, surry, surry, surry. Surry, surry, surry, surry…
09 Emmie (04:24)
Oo la, la, la, oo la, la, la, la.
Emily and her love to be, carved in a heart on a berry tree.
But it's only a little farewell love spell, time to design a woman.
Touch me, oh wake me, Emily you ornament the earth for me.
Emily, you're the natural snow, the unstudied sea, you're a cameo.
And I swear you were born a weavers lover, born for the loom's desire.
Move me, oh sway me. Emily, the ornament, the earth for me.
Emmie, your Momma’s been calling you.
Who stole Mama’s heart and cuddled in her garden?
Darling Emmie, la, la, la, oo la, la la.
You're my friend and I loved you, Emily, Emily, Emily, Emily.
She got the way to move me, Emmie. She got the way to move me, yeah.
She got the way to move me, Emmie. She got the way to move me, get up and move me...
11 Once It Was Alright Now (Farmer Joe) (03:01)
Farmer Joe, I’m the meanest woman you know, woman you know, she said,
Farmer Joe, I’m the meanest woman you know, woman you know.
I let you slide about an hour ago, now.
Farmer boy, get your gun, run, run, run. Farmer boy, get your gun, run, run, run, run, run, run.
Farmer boy, get your gun, run, run, run.
Farmer boy, get your gun and run, run, run like a son of a gun from love.
Running from the mindreader, run baby, run.
Got a date with the town shoe maker you know, baby you know,
she said, I can’t wait for your cornfields to grow, baby to grow.
Whoa, baby, whoa baby, give my bags and let the good wind blow.
Give my bags and let the good wind blow. Give my bags and let the good wind blow.
I’ve got to see about a man I know.
Fire, flames of gold rush my mind. Fire, flames of gold rush my mind.
Sock it to the railroad, baby. Baby, there’s a train whistle coming.
Baby, there’s a train whistle coming.
Once it was alright, alright, baby. Once it was alright, alright, baby.
Once it was alright, alright, no…
13 The Confession (02:49)
Super summer sugar coppin'
In the mornin'
Do your shoppin' baby
Love my lovething
You may disappear
But you'll be back I swear
Would you love to love me baby?
I would love to love you baby now
Would you love to love me baby?
I would love to love you baby now
Super summer sugar croppin'
In the mornin'
Do you shoppin' baby
Love my lovething
Super ride inside my lovething
You may leave the fair
But you'll be back I swear
Would you love to love me baby?
I would love to love you baby now
Would you love to love me baby?
I would love to love you baby now
I keep hearin' mother cryin'
I keep hearin' daddy through his grave
"Little girl, of all the daughters
You were born a woman
Not a slave"
Oh I hate my winsome lover
Tell him I've had others
At my breast
But tell him he held my heart
And only now am I a virgin
I confess
Love my love thing
Love is surely gospel
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Other reviews
By ulysses
This Eli And The Thirteenth Confession is an absolute masterpiece of female songwriting.
We are left with the work of an extraordinary singer-songwriter, never too appreciated, who received the recognition she deserved only after her death.
