Consumer Guide Album

Laura Nyro: Smile [Columbia, 1975]
The momentum of the Moments' "Sexy Mama" does her nicely through "Children of the Junks," in which r&b goes to Hong Kong, and "Money," the second straight track to use the word "tax-free," although it ends ominously, with instructions to "make your vibe go round." And sure enough, this gasps on from there like a novice practicing circular breathing. I'd say that after four years she's out of training, but she's never been in training. B−