"Christmas and the Beads of Sweat" is the fourth album by New York-born singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro. It was released in November 1970 on the Columbia Records label after Nyro recorded it in the early summer with producers Felix Cavaliere and Arif Mardin. While Nyro had handed over the production reins, she maintained creative control over the project and co-arranged her compositions.
The album marks the conclusion of a trilogy of classic Nyro records, following Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968) and New York Tendaberry (1969). Musically, Christmas and the Beads of Sweat serves as a bridge between the two, balancing the lighter, more upbeat tones of Eli with the darker, more introspective, and piano-driven atmosphere of Tendaberry.
The presence of The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section on the first side of the album gives it a more relaxed, rock-inspired sound, but this is countered by Nyro’s evocative lyrics and the moody intensity of her piano playing. By this time, Nyro had built a strong reputation as a songwriter, and Christmas and the Beads of Sweat features contributions from some notable musicians. Duane Allman adds a striking guitar solo to the driving title track, "Beads of Sweat," while Alice Coltrane contributes a harp arrangement to side two, further enhancing the album's rich sound.
Commercially, the album was a success, reaching #51 on the Billboard 200 (the Pop Albums chart). It also spawned Nyro's only charting single, a cover of Gerry Goffin and Carole King's "Up on the Roof," which peaked at #92 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album's blend of rock, soul, and jazz influences, along with Nyro’s emotionally charged songwriting, cemented her reputation as a distinctive and influential artist of the era.
