Nina
Simone (who died in 2003) was allegedly
a bit of a Martinet when it came
to her personal life and music
career but blessed with a
fantastically rich, vibrato
filled voice and great skill as
a piano player she has certainly
left a choice legacy of gorgeous
songs behind.
This
classy new Universal release
brings together some of her
greatest hits from her Gospel
inspired early 50's days through
to her hit scoring heyday of the
late sixties.
Taking things in a strictly non
chronological order the songs
run from the Newley/Bricusse
blues bash Feeling Good, her
breakthrough hit the jaunty My
Baby Just Cares For Me through
to Don't Let Me Be
Misunderstood, most of these
songs though stem from her
fertile mid sixties period when
she was recordings such
heartbreaking songs as The Other
Woman, the very funky Work Song,
through standards like Love Me
or Leave Me, Strange Fruit and
Mood Indigo.
Encompassing
jazz, blues, folk and rock n
roll Nina Simone was like no
other and whilst many of today's
acts (Erykah Badu and Alicia
Keys to name just two) may claim
her as an inspiration none can
match her for sheer vitality and
depth of soul. Gold, despite not
including hits like I Got Mine
and To Love Somebody and despite
including a couple of
superfluous bonus remix tracks,
is still an essential purchase.
