From what I can find, it appears that Laura Nyro published the song in 1966, and it was on the 1966 Peter, Paul & Mary Album. Blood, Sweat & Tears recorded it in 1969. Laura Nyro wrote lots of songs that were recorded by Barbra Streisand and by the Fifth Dimension - or both. Among the songs she wrote were "Flim Flam Man," "Save the Country," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "Stony End," "Wedding Bell Blues" (I hate that song), and "Eli's Coming."

I'm not sure when Laura started recording her own songs - I think it was the 1970's. Many of her songs sounded a whole lot better when she sang them. Her contemporary Carole King did the same thing - wrote songs for other, and then recorded them herself in the 1970's.

Of all the songs Nyro wrote, I think it's "And When I Die" that will endure. It has a timeless quality.

-Joe Offer-