Shybi 3.0

Sometimes you completely miss the boat on an artist. Thus it was with me and Margo Guryan. I'd been vaguely aware of the revival of interest in her music some years back. But I finally explored her small, wonderful catalogue after running across her New York Times obituary -- she died in November 2022 at the age of 84. She was a sophisticated songwriter who had a "Eureka!" moment when she heard "Pet Sounds." Her complex, tuneful songs, sung in an affecting, glowing double-tracked voice, were heard on her lone solo album Take a Picture (1968). But her reluctance to perform live torpedoed her career. Two decades ago, she enjoyed a belated renaissance thanks to reissues of the album and some later demos. After I pulled his coat about Guryan, a producer, who had abetted her rediscovery, graciously sent along me a two-disc Korean box containing Take a Picture and the demos, and the demo collection (autographed!) he released on his indie label Oglio Records.

If you haven't heard her terrific stuff, listen to "Take a Picture" on YouTube. You'll go a-hunting for it, too.