Customer Reviews

Amazing Nina Simone / Nina Simone at Town Hall

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This collection encompasses Simone's first two releases from the Colpix Label, a division of Columbia Pictures..when Darryl F Zanuck's sister heard Nina Simone's great artistry, she offered the singer a better deal than the one she got with Bethlehem. In fact, after only one recording and her #7 hit "I Loves You Porgy" from "Porgy & Bess", Nina was unhappy. She wasn't being promoted much, and the lucrative deal was just what she needed. With her Colpix years, she was able to establish a reputation as an individual artist who could incorporate folk and blues seamlessly with jazz, while adding a classical flair. Her first recording for Colpix, "The Amazing Nina Simone", includes a haunting rendition of "(Theme from) Middle of the Night", a Columbia Picture. Likewise, other great songs like "Solitaire," "That's Him Over There", "Tomorrow (We Will Meet Once More" and "It Might as Well Be Spring" balance more uptempo numbers like "Stompin' at The Savoy," "Chilly Winds Don't Blow", and "Children Go Where I Send You." Simone's next album, "Nina Simone at Town Hall," showcases her talent as a pianist. Outstanding pieces include "Theme from Samson & Delilah (instrumental), "Black Swan", and "Under The Lowest (instrumental). Vocal standouts are her interpretation of the folk ballad "Black is The Color of My True Love's Hair" and "You Can Have Him". As all of Nina Simone's US releases are now available on cd, this is a great place to start, but don't ignore her first recording for Bethlehem Records, "Jazz As Played in an Exclusive Side Street Club a.k.a. Little Girl Blue." That release includes some songs that were later compiled after Simone had left Bethlehem onto an album featuring other old Bethlehem artists, Chris Connor and Carmen McRae (Nina Simone and Her Friends). Also worth it's purchase is Nina Simone - Forbidden Fruit which is also a double album release on Collectables...

Nina Simone is simply the best. Her extraordinary soul and enormous talent as a musician, vocalist, songwriter, pianist and performer, put her in a league all her own.

Ms. Simone has often been called a musical anomaly because it is impossible to categorize her work. Whether she sings soul, jazz, blues, folk or gospel, she invests old, familiar lyrics with new meaning, and evokes strong emotion with her fierce and unique style. As a performer she is a consummate actress, and displays a range of emotions with her sound. Her training as a classical pianist is evident in much of her work.

"The Amazing Nina Simone/Nina Simone At Town Hall" is one of her very best collections, running the gamut of all genres, and highlighting her many talents. Her torch songs are some of my favorites: "The Other Woman," "That's Him Over There," "Solitaire," and "Blue Prelude" are classics that recall love, loss, and dark smoke-filled rooms. Also included here are some songs made famous by Billie Holiday, "Exactly Like You," and George Gershwin, "Summertime," (a vocal), both favorite artists of Ms. Simone's; and Rogers and Hammerstein's lyrical "It Might As Well Be Spring" - all invested with the Nina touch. The gospel "Children Go Where I Send You," can raise the roof and bring down the house, as can her instrumental numbers that showcase her ability as a pianist, like "Summertime," "Under The Lowest," and "Return Home." The beautiful folk song "Black Is The Color," and the traditional spiritual "Chilly Winds Don't Blow" are included here, as are the bluesy "Willow Weep For Me," and her jazzy version of "Stompin' At The Savoy."

Nina Simone always delivered with artistry, heart and passion. This CD demonstrates all that. Ms. Simone is now a legend. We will miss her. And we will always have her music.

Great jazz singers seem to have to live a sad life.Billie Holiday did;so did Dinah Washington;and Lil Green,and even Ella Fitzgerald who,even if she didn't know alcohol and drugs troubles,could never live an harmonious life;she couldn't have no children,and never found a good man to live with.
Nina Simone's life was damaged by too much racism,masochism and ragging.AS a child,after learning the piano,aged 4,she dreamed about becoming a classical music piano player,but she was black,and she was a girl,and she lived in North Carolina.The dream was over.
During her jazz artist career,she had many troubles;troubles with managers who stole her money,for example.
But even if she had ups and downs during these fifty years,and maybe more downs than ups,she'll forever remain as one of the greatest voices of jazz,and also as one of the most talented piano players.
This CD,which includes two original Colpix LPs,deserves five stars for the fantastic,amazing,outstanding "Town Hall" concert.Of course,the first album has great moments,but some songs are rather poor ones."Town Hall",on the other hand,is a true masterpiece.It starts with the traditionnal "black is the color of my true love's hair",an irish song also recorded by Johnny Griffin ("the kerry dancers",Riverside).Then comes the beautiful standard,"Exactly like you",introducing Nina's piano.Doesn't her use of percussion effetcs reminds you of Ahmad Jamal's style ? (or MaryLou Williams' ?).If you only thought about Nina as a singer,then you'll discover the other side of her musical skills here."The other woman" has a very emotional melody,perfectly sung by Nina."Under the lowest" is a superb piano solo built around the blues.etc.etc.
Nina Simone's music is full of sadness and melancholy,and the Town Hall concert is a perfect example of this.You'll find here the same feeling you have in Lady Day's singing,in Pres' tenor sax;very very great music,even if the first part of this CD doesn't reach the same levels as the live part.But each and every Colpix record by Nina is a must to have (the terrific Newport live recording,"forbidden fruit",the Village Gate session,the strings session,the Duke Ellington songbook).
Goodbye Nina.You gave us so much,and had so little in return.

Her & one of the worlds best albums period - Nina Simone at Town Hall - The all-time classic, you will never regret getting this one. Oh I miss my vinyl with all the classic after the song endings, this CD has most of the ending like on the album, but cut short a couple of the after the song endings that are on the vinyl..........Potato - Potato........1 & 1A

In what was to become a world legendary live performance, Nina Simone's version of summertime is like a religious experience. It catches you by surprise. Although wonderful renditions of it exist in the repertory of the greats such as Ella and Louie, Lena Horne, and Sarah Vaughan, they don't come close to Nina's hypnotic live, smokey, and magical delivery. Like the Audience, every time I hear this, I slowly fall under the spell of the dreamlike sounds she skillfully weaves out of this piece improvising with her piano and voice and taking it to a level above and beyond other versions I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. I don't think I can say enough good things about it--nevermind the whole live performance.

Nina Simone at Town Hall is one of the best albums - period. I first bought it as a vinyl in the 60's. It's live and she develops a groove impossible to attain in a recording studio and matched by few others - male or female. Her blues (e.g., Under the Lowest and Fine & Mellow swing like no one else). Her ballads (e.g., The Other Woman, Cotton Eyed Joe,... are simply beautiful - simple yet astoundingly beautiful). The other half of the CD is a packaged collection of studio-recorded tunes, somewhat slick and somewhat entertaining. Buy this for Nina at Town Hall!

the unique richness of her voice really shines through, even just the song "Blue Prelude" is worth getting this cd. same with "Tomorrow". and "Black is the Color of My True Lover's Hair" is definitely an all-timer. get a glass of good wine, put this cd on, and be moved!

For Nina Simone fans it doesnt get any better than this two-cd purchase. These are two classic albums that show the wide range of talent, feeling, and soul this woman had. Simone was a consumate artist. I strongly reccommend this purchase!!

This double CD combines one of Nina's early albums with one of her best live performances. I had not heard "Amazing Nina Simone" prior to my purchase but was pleased to find that it matched, in style and performance, that of my best-loved album, "Nina Simone at Town Hall". These are vocal showcases for her amazing talent and present evidence of her piano jazz mastery as well. I grew up listening to the Town Hall album and it was one of my introductions to jazz (along with Dave Brubeck and David "Fathead" Newman). Her inclusion of show tunes (I Loves You, Porgy) and torch songs (I Don't Want Him, The Other Woman) along with the love songs (Cotton-Eyed Joe, etc.) were eye-opening to me as they presented some familiar songs in a style wonderfully unfamiliar. To me, no Nina Simone fan should be without this selection.

This is one of Nina's best albums - gritty, sad, joyful, raw. Each song is wonderful and familiar.