In Concert/I Put a Spell on You [Live]

Nina Simone | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 7, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000047B6
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,033 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Loves You, Porgy

2. Plain Gold Ring

3. Pirate Jenny

4. Old Jim Crow

5. Don't Smoke In Bed

6. Go Limp

7. Mississippi Goddam

8. I Put A Spell On You

9. Tomorrow Is My Turn

10. Ne Me Quitte Pas

11. Marriage Is For Old Folks

12. July Tree

13. Gimme Some

14. Feeling Good

15. One September Day

16. Blues On Purpose

17. Beautiful Land

18. You've Got To Learn

19. Take Care Of Business

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Soul Diva, April 22, 2003

By 

Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: In Concert/I Put a Spell on You (Audio CD)

Yesterday I got the news that Nina Simone had passed away; curiously enough I had been listening to some of her discs quite a bit of late. Her discography is extensive and consequently several "2-fer" disc have been released featuring two albums on one disc. This is one of those and features a fine collection of songs and a telling live performance. I say telling because Simone not only conveyed a message in her music but cajoled and incited her audience to feel the passion of her song. Simone was a superb story teller, a fine pianist and just happened to have one of those voices often imitated but never duplicated. Her voice had a shimmering , frolicking vibrancy that comes from living the emotions of her music. Her folk-jazz style was not only unique and provocative it was the music that reflected the times of the civil rights era in America. Her anti- racism anthems abound on the live performance, including "Old Jim Crow" which she co-penned and the scorching, seething "Mississippi Goddam" which she wrote. Although "Mississippi Goddam"is a scathing outcry of American injustice there is a jubilant feeling to the song. It is reminiscent of a lively spiritual or as she says"a show tune but the show hasn't been written for it yet." Although these songs of protest are powerful , for my money her real strength was in her bluesy-jazzy vocals like "I Put a Spell on You" and her signature song, which also happened to be her first "hit" in 1959, "I Loves You, Porgy." The second part of the disc has Simone doing more of her scat, jazz singing, even doing three French(where she eventually died) songs, including"Ne Me Quitte Pas"that features a soft, nasal Simone backed by a suttle orchestra. At other times the orchestra is too dominant and Simone becomes just another instrument in the band; she deserved first chair dominance . The several show tune type songs don't really work for me but is saved by songs like "Feeling Good" that some newbie audiences might recognize as sampled bits are featured on a recent Thievery Conspiracy mix. All in all there are enough great songs to make this budget priced disc worth your buying. Recommended for fans of fantastic, jazz female vocals that also has spirited civil rights, folksy, songs and even some light show tunes.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In Concert I Put A Spell On You, April 24, 2000

By 

"renee344" (Seattle WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Concert/I Put a Spell on You (Audio CD)

The music touches your heart, but for Nina to touch your soul you need to hear her in concert and on her collected works...She has been with me since the early 70's...no part of your music collection is complete or valid until Nina is part of your life and your love, because she is not only both, she is our Voice and our heart's lament, as well as our joy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nina at her best!, December 19, 2002

By 

James Ferguson (Vilnius, Lithuania) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In Concert/I Put a Spell on You (Audio CD)

This is my favorite collection of Nina Simone. "In Concert" is a rare treat because it captures Nina in full force, playfully chiding her audience as she sings some of her most socially active songs like "Mississippi Goddam" and "Pirate Jenny." "I Put a Spell on You" offers up such pearls as "Blues on Purpose," which showcases Nina on piano. She is such a great storyteller, and this concert is Nina at her best.