Nina Simone: Little Girl Blue (LP+7", colour vinyl) [GLAMOURAMA]

Why you'll love it

This edition adds a bonus 7-inch single on coloured vinyl and the session track "For All We Know," which wasn't on the original LP. "I Loves You, Porgy" gave Simone her first hit, reaching No. 18 pop and No. 2 R&B.

This edition

• Bonus 7" single
• Coloured vinyl
• Bonus track "For All We Know"
• Stereo mix
• Pressed in the EU

About the album

In late 1957 Nina Simone was a young pianist from Philadelphia who still meant to become a classical concert performer. Bethlehem Records heard a demo, signed her immediately, and in a single long session in New York she cut the songs from her club set with bassist Jimmy Bond and drummer Albert Heath.

The session lasted 13 hours and produced 14 songs, essentially her club set without the long improvisations. You can hear the conservatory in every bar. "Love Me or Leave Me" breaks into a Bach-style counterpoint, "Mood Indigo" swings with a light touch, and "Little Girl Blue" lays the old Rodgers and Hart song over a melody borrowed from a Christmas carol. Her own instrumental "Central Park Blues" shows off the trio, "Plain Gold Ring" is stark and haunting, and "My Baby Just Cares for Me" is pure, breezy charm.

That last song came back as a huge UK and European hit in 1987, almost thirty years after the session, and introduced her to a whole new generation. After the recording she went home and played Beethoven for three days straight, which is one way to come down from making a classic.

Also at Kops: more Nina Simone on vinyl · browse Vocal Jazz

Tracklist

Listen

On Glamourama (cat# 660151), a reissue of the 1959 album.