The Very Best Of Nina Simone - Nina Simone Album Review

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Album Review

Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon who died 21 April 2003, Nina Simone a well crafted piano player, adopted her stage name as she gigged in bars around Atlantic City. Although considered a high priestess of Soul, in fact she diversified into Jazz, Pop, Blues, Pop and Gospel music with equal finesse and impact. She studied piano at the renowned Julliard School, but she would eventually draw inspiration from any source she thought suitable. Predictably all the biggies are hear - tracks 1 (UK no.2 '68) , 2 ( UK no.5 '87), 3 (UK no.40 '94) 4, ( UK no.49 '65 ), 20 (UK no.5 '69 ) , though it's away from the hits we hear the full range and measure of her eclectic repertoire. Now considered a standard, Nobody's Fault But Mine written by Simone, shows her thorough understanding of the blues. Jerry Jeff Walker's Mr.Bojangles is a definite delicate highlight, as is her rendition of the Bee Gees' Love Somebody from 1969. Here she does the self-penned Bob and Marcia 1970 reggae romp Young Gifted And Black, which bares little resemblance to their hit. A cover of Buddy Johnson's Since I Fell For You is possibly the best track on the collection.

Only disappointments are tragic covers of Bob Dylan's The Times They Are A Changing, George Harrison's Here Comes The Sun and a pacey self-penned Sinnerman.

Elly Roberts