Laura Nyro vs. Deniece Williams | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 35^th edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), Laura Nyro (with LaBelle) and Deniece Williams contend for the best rendition of “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle.”

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing their performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 35^th  edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2023), 🎙 Laura Nyro (with 🎙 LaBelle) and 🎙 Deniece Williams contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Laura Nyro & LaBelle, “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle”

💿 Gonna Take A Miracle • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 1971

“It’s gonna take a miracle / Yes, it’s gonna take a miracle / To make me love someone new / ‘Cause I’m crazy for you.” Despite a short life, just 49 years, 🎙 Laura Nyro made her impact known. A talented and soulful singer/songwriter, one of the true bright spots of Nyro’s discography is her 1971 covers album, 💿 Gonna Take A Miracle.  The title track from the album, 🎵 “It’s Gonna Take A Miracle”, appears as the 10^th track.  Nyro covers the Baltimore girl group, 🎙 The Royalettes, who peaked at no. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the original from 1965.  Performing alongside Nyro is none other than 🎙 LaBelle including the one and only 🎙 Patti LaBelle.  Safe to say, given Nyro’s high flying lead, and LaBelle’s superb background vocals, “It’s Gonna Take A Miracle” ends up being a truly special record.

“Oh, didn’t you know / It wouldn’t be so easy / Letting you go / I could have told you.” In Nyro’s hands, “It’s Gonna Take A Miracle” features a slow, relaxed tempo.  She NEVER gets in a rush. Her vocals are superb – expressive and filled with ear catching soulfulness. Furthermore, the harmonized backing vocals by LaBelle only up the ante.  Beyond the chorus, the bridge marks one of the best moments, particularly the energy Nyro brings on the final line (“I’ll never be the same anymore”).   Beyond elite vocals, coupled with the masterful songwriting by 🎼 ✍ Teddy Randazzo, Lou Stallman, and Bobby Weinstein, the production work is radiant, including rhythm section and warm, lush strings.  In the hands of Nyro and LaBelle, 🎵 “It’s Gonna Take A Miracle” is a surefire vibe.  It’s a shame this rendition didn’t hit the pop charts – it is incredible!

Appears in 🔻:

• Laura Nyro, It’s Gonna Take A Miracle: Covers No. 33 (2023)

2. Deniece Williams, “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” 

💿 Niecy • 🏷 Columbia • 🗓 1982 

“Loving you so / I was too blind to see / You letting me go / But now that you’ve set me free,” 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 Deniece Williams sings on 🎵 “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle”, continuing, “It’s gonna take a miracle / Yes, it’s gonna take a miracle / To make me love someone new / ‘Cause I’m crazy for you.” Oh, the plight of love – those matters of the heart ❤️!  “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” has the distinction of being one of three top-10 hits by Williams. “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle,” is the song to beat on her 1982, gold certified album, 💿 Niecy, peaked at no. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Williams produced this update of the 🎙 The Royalettes’ 1965 joint alongside the late, great 🎛 Thom Bell.

All writers and producers on “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” earn incredibly high marks.  First and foremost, this is a well-written record.  It superbly captures the relatable feeling of struggling to move on from a past relationship – it’s literally gonna take a miracle to get over this person! Williams does a marvelous job of bringing the lyrics to life authentically with her classy and sophisticated lead vocals.  Furthermore, she does some impressive, playful ad-libs that are must-hear.  Also, she receives fine support from backing vocals, upping the soulful ante. Focusing on the production, it is stunning; utterly sublime.  “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” benefits from a superb, soulful groove.  Specifically, the ostinato piano lines are lovely, while the vibraphone hits are timely. Additionally, the string orchestration is marvelous – lush and warm.  One other note about the brilliance of this top-10 smash. The bridge provides sizable contrast to other sections of the song with the harmonic adventurousness being a big selling point.  All told, the excellence of 🎵 “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” speaks for itself. It’s simply marvelous, darling!  

Appears in 🔻:  

• Deniece Williams, It’s Gonna Take a Miracle: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 112 (2023)
• Deniece Williams: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 65 (2023)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

And so, it all comes down to this. Which cover of 🎵 “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” takes the cake? Is it the 1971 take by 🎙 Laura Nyro and 🎙 LaBelle or is it the 1982 take by 🎙 Deniece Williams? Both covers are absolutely marvelous. That said, the most successful rendition of the song belongs to Williams, who even beat out 🎙 The Royalettes on the pop charts! So, the victor in this head to head is Deniece Williams!

Laura Nyro vs. Deniece Williams: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 35 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Columbia, Sony Music Entertainment; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]