NINA SIMONE 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Nina Simone has rather been written out of popular music history because of quite how confrontational and proudly Black she was. She was just as far ahead of her times musically too and this legendary album Baltimore shows why. It arrived with no promotion and no lead singles and so it was an utter commercial failure, but the sleuths of the internet have rediscovered it over the 45 years since its release and helped to make it a cult favourite now regarded as one of the best in her oeuvre. It has distinctive reggae production and of course plenty of beautiful vocals from Simone as she tackles songs written by Judy Collins, Hall & Oates, and Randy Newman.

Review: The sixth full-length from the incomparable Nina Simone was originally released in 1966 via Phillips Records, and was predominantly comprised of several recordings left over from sessions over the two previous years. Considered by many to be the jazz/soul goddess' most seminal work; the album features some of her most timeless renditions and contributions such as 'Lilac Wine' (later covered by Jeff Buckley), 'Wild Is The Wind' (covered by David Bowie), her definitive version of 'Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair', as well as the somewhat controversial 'Four Women', which was banned by New York jazz radio station WLIB due to their ironic misinterpreting of her skewing of black female stereotypes as racist.

Review: 'Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair' has origins as a black folk ballard that was associated with colonial workers across the United States. It has distinctive melodies and a mournful and melancholic feel and has been covered by man artists, but none quite as powerful as the late great Nina Simone. Taken from her Nine Simone at Town Hall album recorded in 1959, it became a staple of her sets which is what in part helped to increase the song's popularity throughout the late 20th century. Here it is presented as a mash up with 'A Hymn' for a beautifully moody new take.