release date: Feb. 1959
format: cd (2013 remaster) / vinyl (2021 remaster)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,26]
producer: ? (arr. by Nina Simone)
label: Bethlehem Records / BMG - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Mood Indigo" - 2. "Don't smoke in Bed" - 3. "He Needs Me" (5 / 5) - 4. "Little Girl Blue" (5 / 5) - 5. "Love or Leave Me" (5 / 5) - 6. "My Baby Just Cares for Me" (5 / 5) (TV performance) - 7. "Good Bait" (instr.) - 8. "Plain Gold Ring" - 9. "You'll Never Walk Alone" (instr.) - 10. "I Loves You Porgy" - 11. "Central Park Blues" (instr.)
Studio album debut by Nina Simone (aka Eunice Kathleen Waymon) with 11 tracks stemming from the only recording sessions she did while associated with Bethlehem Records. Regardless, the label would go on for many years after by issuing releases from these recordings - be it compilations, or single releases, and all without Simone's consent. Despite the label did little to promote this album, it soon crept up on the charts and in people's consciousness. The album is one of jazz' great classics, and only one of many outstanding by Nina Simone. Although recorded in 1957, the sound is remarkably dynamic - perhaps due to great remastering, and even though Simone herself alledgedly wasn't thrilled with the compositions, the selected style, the album is a fine document and proof of her eneormous versatility. She may have seen herself as a classic pianist at the time, but the recordings are luckily there to show that she could perform on highest level in any genre and style. Here, she performs as jazz vocalist, as an outstanding interpreter, arranger, and pianist. It's just... mindblowing 'waow'!
Highly recomended.
EDIT 2021:
The 2021 Bethlehem / BMG vinyl remaster is a fine pressing, although, it's in stereo and remastered, but it sounds like a studio recording, although there's probably a lot of adjustments involved, you need to appreciate the end result, and thats quite an accomplishment.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]
