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Heard her a few times on a local jazz radio show, and me likes very much. However, a quick Amazon search reveals skads of albums, re-releases, dozens of compilations,etc...Help a guy out please! If there's a couple of "essential" Nina Simones, what would they be? Being a novice, a compilation would probably be best to start me up, unless she has 1 classic album that all others are judged against - her very own "Kind of Blue", let's say...
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Her first recording, originally on Bethlehem, is a standout title. I'm not sure how the record has been released on CD.
Yes, this is a really great one, both musically and soundwise. My clear #1 favorite when it comes to Nina Simone. More small-scale, jazzy, displaying more of her instrumental strengths (and training), and sung with heartbreaking finesse (for her standards, that is).It's out in a few different versions, in Japan and Europe at least, under titles like "Jazz as Played in an Exclusive Side Street Club" (under Bethlehem/Charly, which is what I have) and some others which I can't recall now. Includes titles "Moon Indigo," "Don't Smoke in Bed" (tremendously done), "He Needs Me," "Little Girl Blue," "Love Me or Leave Me," "My Baby Just Cares for Me," "Good Bait" (good one!), "Plain Gold Ring," "You'll Never Walk Alone," "I Loves You Porgy" (her best version), "Central Park Blues," and 4 bonus tracks. Just so you know what to look for.
That's her "Kind Of Blue". Try to find an LP if you can.
Nina Simone recorded seven albums for the Philips label between 1964 and 1966. It was the period in her career in which her reputation was cemented as a world-class artist, and one in which she gained fame for her contributions to the civil rights movement as well. Despite the fact that she recorded great albums both before and after her years with Philips (most notably with RCA), her Philips period is easily her most enigmatic.
Catalogue number B0000046UW. The CD was produced in 1990 and is a reissue of her 1964 Phillips LP. While it doesn't have a lot of cuts on it, it is an excellent representation of her best known songs including I Put A Spell On You, I Loves You Porgy, and Pirate Jenny. You can pick it up used for as little as $5.29 at Amazon.
Hard to wrong with
Don't piss on my shoe and tell me it's raining.
I know what you mean; there is alot on her out there. In my opinion, she has been well served by many of her compilation records. If I were you I'd pick any of her compilation discs that has the most songs you know and are crazy about. Then I would buy "Nina Simone and Piano", which is her at her considerable best, and I think she thought so, as well. That is truly one indispensible record if you love Nina. Afterwards you'll have a better idea of where you want to go from there. It might be a long while before you get tired of discovering "new" Nina Simone records, if you are a fan.
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