"Gonna Take a Miracle" is the fifth album by New York City-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro, with the vocal trio Labelle providing backing vocals. Released in November 1971 on Columbia Records, one year after Christmas and the Beads of Sweat, the album is Nyro's only all-covers project. It features her interpretations of mainly 1950s and 1960s soul and R&B standards, with Labelle serving as the traditional backing vocal group.
Nyro had the idea to make a covers album as early as 1970, and she introduced several of the songs that later appeared on Gonna Take a Miracle during her tour in support of Christmas and the Beads of Sweat. Notable tracks such as "Spanish Harlem" and "Dancing in the Street" were part of her live set before they made it onto the album.
Critically, Gonna Take a Miracle is often regarded as a favorite among Nyro’s albums, praised for its laid-back atmosphere, soulful grooves, and impressive musicianship. The album features classic Philadelphia soul production from the legendary duo Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, with Nyro’s evocative renditions of classic tracks. It became Nyro’s last commercially successful album, peaking at #46 on the Billboard 200 (formerly known as the Pop Albums chart) and #41 on the Black Albums chart.
This album marked the end of Nyro’s commercial career for over four years, as she stepped away from the music industry to focus on her personal life, getting married and living a rural life away from the public eye. However, her collaboration with Patti LaBelle on this record led to a lifelong friendship between the two artists.
In 2005, Gonna Take a Miracle was named one of the "60 Best Underrated Albums of All Time" by The Word magazine.
Nyro first met Patti LaBelle in 1970, shortly before giving an interview to LaBelle’s manager, Vicki Wickham. LaBelle joined them for the interview, and the two women connected over a deep conversation. Their bond grew, and they spent time on the road together, with LaBelle even cooking for Nyro.
The album was recorded in May and June of 1971 at Sigma Sound Studios, with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff producing. Patti LaBelle, along with her fellow Labelle members Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, provided the backing vocals for the project.
Nyro was the primary selector of the material for the album, choosing songs that had influenced her while growing up in the Bronx during the 1950s and 1960s. The tracklist includes The Shirelles’ "I Met Him on a Sunday," The Originals’ "The Bells" (written by Marvin Gaye), Smokey Robinson & the Miracles’ "You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me," Ben E. King’s "Spanish Harlem," The Charts’ "Deserie/Desiree," Major Lance’s "The Monkey Time" (written by Curtis Mayfield), and The Royalettes’ "It’s Gonna Take a Miracle."
The album blends grittier tracks like "The Monkey Time" and "Spanish Harlem" with more ethereal ballads like "The Wind" and the sultry love song "Désiree." The mix of doo-wop, soul, R&B, pop, and gospel styles highlights Nyro’s ability to interpret the material while remaining true to her own voice. Despite the involvement of Gamble and Huff, Nyro retained full creative control over the project, with biographer Michele Kort noting that Nyro “remained fully in charge” of the album’s direction.
