American Dreamer
Box set by Laura Nyro
Released	September 3, 2021 (2021-09-03)
Recorded	1960s and 1970s
Studio	Various studios in the United States
Language	English
Label	Madfish
Producer	James Batsford Charlie Calello Felix Cavaliere Kenny Gamble Roscoe Harring Leon Huff Arif Mardin Roy Halee Milton Okun Laura Nyro
Laura Nyro chronology
A Little Magic, A Little Kindness: The Complete Mono Albums Collection (2017) American Dreamer (2021)

American Dreamer is a 2021 box set of reissues from American singer-songwriter Laura Nyro released by Madfish. It has received positive critical reception.

Reception

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, American Dreamer received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 99 out of 100 from four critic scores.^[1] Sam Sodomsky of Pitchfork Media rated this collection an 8.8 out of 10 for Nyro's "obvious, prodigious talent", with the publication declaring this "Best New Reissue".^[2] For Under the Radar, Hays Davis rated this album an 8.5 out of 10 for Nyro's importance in pop music history and her ability to move "comfortably between various musical styles".^[3] In Uncut, Laura Barton gave the set five out of five stars, due to the "sheer heft of her talent" displayed on the music.^[4] Record Collector's Charles Waring issued the same score and noted the artist's influence and breadth as a songwriter, as well as the value of the bonus tracks for collectors.^[5]

Track listing

All songs written by Laura Nyro, except where noted

More Than a New Discovery

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. "Flim Flam 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 Shoeshine Boys" – 2:45

Eli and the Thirteenth Confession

1. "Luckie" – 3:00
2. "Lu" – 2:44
3. "Sweet Blindness" – 2:37
4. "Poverty Train" – 4:16
5. "Lonely Women" – 3:32
6. "Eli's Comin'" – 3:58
7. "Timer" – 3:22
8. "Stoned Soul Picnic" – 3:47
9. "Emmie" – 4:20
10. "Woman's Blues" – 3:46
11. "Once It Was Alright (Farmer Joe)" – 2:58
12. "December's Boudoir" – 5:05
13. "The Confession" – 2:50

New York Tendaberry

1. "You Don't Love Me When I Cry" – 4:24
2. "Captain for Dark Mornings" – 4:38
3. "Tom Cat Goodbye" – 5:32
4. "Mercy on Broadway" – 2:18
5. "Save the Country" – 4:36
6. "Gibsom Street" – 4:47
7. "Time and Love" – 4:24
8. "The Man Who Sends Me Home" – 2:52
9. "Sweet Lovin' Baby" – 3:55
10. "Captain Saint Lucifer" – 3:17
11. "New York Tendaberry" – 5:33

Christmas and the Beads of Sweat

1. "Brown Earth" – 4:09
2. "When I Was a Freeport and You Were the Main Drag" – 2:42
3. "Blackpatch" – 3:33
4. "Been on a Train" – 5:49
5. "Up on the Roof" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 3:13
6. "Upstairs by a Chinese Lamp" – 5:34
7. "Map to the Treasure" – 8:08
8. "Beads of Sweat" – 4:47
9. "Christmas in My Soul" – 7:00

Gonna Take a Miracle

1. "I Met Him on a Sunday" (Doris Jackson, Addie Harris McPherson, Beverly Lee, Shirley Alston Reeves) – 1:55
2. "The Bells" (Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Iris Gordy, Elgie Stover) – 2:56
3. "Monkey Time/Dancing in the Street" (Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Ivy Jo Hunter, William "Mickey" Stevenson) – 4:57
4. "Désiree" (L.Z. Cooper, Danny Johnson) – 1:52
5. "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (Smokey Robinson) – 4:07
6. "Spanish Harlem" (Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector) – 2:52
7. "Jimmy Mack" (Holland–Dozier–Holland) – 2:56
8. "The Wind" (Devora Brown, Bob Edwards, Nolan Strong) – 2:58
9. "Nowhere to Run" (Holland–Dozier–Holland) – 5:08
10. "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" (Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein, Lou Stallman) – 3:24

Smile

1. "Sexy Mama" (Al Goodman, Sylvia Robinson, Harry Ray) – 2:41
2. "Children of the Junks" – 2:49
3. "Money" – 4:59
4. "I Am the Blues" – 5:44
5. "Stormy Love" – 4:29
6. "The Cat Song" – 2:34
7. "Midnite Blue" – 3:05
8. "Smile" – 5:36

Nested

1. "Mr. Blue (Song of Communications)" – 5:01
2. "Rhythm and Blues" – 2:57
3. "My Innocence" – 3:24
4. "Crazy Love" – 4:18
5. "American Dreamer" – 4:08
6. "Springblown" – 4:24
7. "The Sweet Sky" – 3:32
8. "Light" – 2:53
9. "Child in a Universe" – 4:09
10. "The Nest" – 2:27

Rarities and Live Recordings

1. "Stoney End" (Single Version)
2. "Lu" (Demo)
3. "Stoned Soul Picnic" (Demo)
4. "Emmie" (Demo)
5. "Eli's Comin'" (Mono Single Version)
6. "Save the Country" (Single Version)
7. "In the Country Way" (Album Version)
8. "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (Live at Fillmore East, May 30, 1971)
9. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Goffin and King) (Live at Fillmore East, May 30, 1971)
10. "O-o-h Child" (Stan Vincent) (Live at Fillmore East, May 30, 1971)
11. "Up on the Roof" (Goffin and King) (Live at Fillmore East, May 30, 1971)
12. "Someone Loves You" (Demo)
13. "Get My Cap" (Demo)
14. "Coffee Morning" (Demo)
15. Medley – "Emily" / "Nested" (Live)

Personnel