Nina Simone Sinnerman

The story of Eunice Kathleen Waymon is that of an artist emblematic of the difficulty of being and being born in a country under the yoke of racial segregation. Nina Simone (The Word Nina, which means "little girl" in Spanish, is the nickname given to her by a boyfriend and Simone is borrowed from the actress Simone Signoret whom she saw in the film Casque d'or by Jacques Becker) is an American pianist, singer, songwriter and civil rights activist in the United States. Originally wishing to become a classical pianist, she eventually performed and radiated in various musical styles including jazz, blues, classical, soul, folk, R & B, gospel and pop.

Thanks to a steady stream of reissues and her central role in Questlove's 2021 Summer of Soul documentary, Nina Simone has lately been accumulating some of the overdue praise she was denied in life. This fiercely gifted and intelligent pianist, who out of necessity eventually discovered her distinctive singing voice, was especially productive from 1964 until 1967 when she recorded most of what's on this compilation. That mid-'60s period is also when Simone moved from innocuous pop standards to protest songs, many of which she wrote or rearranged herself. Many of her best-known mid-period tunes are here: "I Put A Spell On You," “Sinnerman," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," and the triumphant and justly famous 1964 live version of "Mississippi Goddam" from Carnegie Hall. This brief best-of is completed by the addition of her first hit, "My Baby Just Cares for Me" from 1957. What's new here are remixes of seven tunes whose original versions also appear on this reissue. Opener "Feeling Good," gets a ready-for-the-club makeover from DJ Joel Corry while dance duo Sofi Tukker, who've worked with Lady Gaga and Rodrigo y Gabriela, emphasize Simone's piano part on "Sinnerman" before settling into a standard dance beat. UK duo HONNE evade the dance beat sameness with a downbeat mix of "My Baby Just Cares For Me" that changes the melody entirely while leaving the words intact—an imaginative if not entirely successful reimagining—while the remix of "Take Care of Business" by drum and bass duo Rudimental adds a rumbling undercurrent to the original. The single comes from UK electro-pop band Hot Chip who slow "Be My Husband" and add a fat bass part on keyboards, synth flourishes, and looped reverb to Simone's voice, finishing with a shaking of tambourine. Though not quite the hoped-for hit, the efforts required for a remix adds to the body of respect and awe Simone's work righteously inspires.

"Sinnerman" is an American traditional spiritual song that has been recorded by a number of performers.

"Pastel Blues" is Nina Simone’s 1965 seminal masterwork. The diversified outing is a smooth blend of blues, jazz, soul and folk. The renowned vocalist dazzles on the piano and is joined by Al Schackman (guitar, harmonica), Rudy Stevenson (guitar, flute), Lisle Atkinson (bass) and Bobby Hamilton (drums). It reached the Top Ten on Billboard’s Top R&B albums and includes the standouts, “Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out”, “Trouble In Mind” and “Strange Fruit”.

"Pastel Blues" is Nina Simone’s 1965 seminal masterwork. The diversified outing is a smooth blend of blues, jazz, soul and folk. The renowned vocalist dazzles on the piano and is joined by Al Schackman (guitar, harmonica), Rudy Stevenson (guitar, flute), Lisle Atkinson (bass) and Bobby Hamilton (drums). It reached the Top Ten on Billboard’s Top R&B albums and includes the standouts, “Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out”, “Trouble In Mind” and “Strange Fruit”.

"Pastel Blues" is Nina Simone’s 1965 seminal masterwork. The diversified outing is a smooth blend of blues, jazz, soul and folk. The renowned vocalist dazzles on the piano and is joined by Al Schackman (guitar, harmonica), Rudy Stevenson (guitar, flute), Lisle Atkinson (bass) and Bobby Hamilton (drums). It reached the Top Ten on Billboard’s Top R&B albums and includes the standouts, “Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out”, “Trouble In Mind” and “Strange Fruit”.

"Round Nina" is a tribute to Nina Simone. Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon on February 21 st , 1933 in Tryon, North Carolina, Nina Simone led several lives, drifting wherever she triumphed or foundered in her dreams of becoming Clara Haskil, Katherine Dunham, or an American Miriam Makeba, perhaps. Maria Callas, too. While Nina lived, she never tasted the recognition that was offered to her models. Too wild. Bared. Unstable. Agressive.