Customer Reviews

Emergency Ward

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It wan't more than 6 months ago that I realized I could buy this music on a new CD, and when it came this morning and I put it on, there it was; the old vinyl, pristine, with its gritty LIVE sound. I hadn't heard it for more than forty years, and didn't think I would ever hear it again. But now, I'm back in the great presence. It's the fillmore; its summer concerts in Central Park. Its Be-Ins and Peace Ralleys. It's the time of Hope.

Nina Simone had always been singing around. Hers and Richie Havens' voices were the great voices of the early rock era before American POP was threatened by the trivialization of hi-bucks production and Euro-Cute. They reminded everybody that the roots of ROCK are at the very least anchored in the Blues and the old African Church. It is curious and overpoweringly ironic that George Harrison, the most spiritual of the Beatles, managed to take that little "inevitable" riff which was everywhere in those days, and in HE'S SO FINE too, and combine it or overlay it with the Hare Krishna chant and make MY SWEET LORD. Miracles always seem easy, even inevitable, when they're done. The miracle is that even after his trial for plagerism -- that sordid business -- this music and the vision that animates it, remain his, forever.

And so, here, Nina Simone, on the piano, as always, with a live chorus backing, and rhythm section, delivers it like the great spiritual anthem of yearning for Love and Peace and an end to stupid neo-colonial warfare, that the '60's were all about. It is the essence of George Harrison. It is the essence of Nina Simone. Its all Call and Response. Pristine. It still radiates a healing, redemptive musical power. There is nothing, anywhere on earth like it.

The two main songs off the album are covers of George Harrison Classics, Isn't it a Pity and My Sweet Lord mixed with Today is a Killer, ~ The Last Poets. The songs are done with the help of mission gospel choir, which gives it tremendous energy, and with Dr. Nina Simone on lead you can expect the unexpected.

Anyone who has an appreciation of gospel or the heavier songs of Nine Simone (Sinnerman, Sea Line Women, Blackbird, Aint Got No) should take the time to listen to this album. Its not a smooth-jazz-ish album that I think people may come to exspect from her. However in my eyes it is her absolute best.

"I never dreamed, I certainly never hoped, that one day I'd be screaming, for something my mother told me, i needed, in the begining." ~ My Sweet Lord

As you can probably tell from earlier reviews, I'm a big Nina Simone fan. There's something immensely appealing about this woman's sense of justice and her quirky and unique mixture of musical genres - folk, jazz, pop, R&B, and soul; sometimes all mixed together in one song. That said, 1973's "Emergency Ward" was one strange release ... Billed as a live album, the opening audience chanting certainly sounded like a concert performances, but with an elaborate arrangements, the two songs on side two had to be studio tracks. The album itself only featured four performances, including two George Harrison covers ('My Sweet Lord' and 'Isn't It a Pity'). In spite of the fact there weren't many discrete songs, there was something quite mesmerizing about three of the four performances. Yeah, some judicious editing and the addition of a couple more songs wouldn't have hurt the set, but I can understand why co-producers Waldon Irvine Jr. or Andrew Stroud weren't about to tell Simone what to do..

- Backed by a slightly ragged choir (the Bethany Baptist Church Junior Choir of South Jamaica New York) and some frenetic drumming, Simone's cover of Harrison's 'My Sweet Love' had a distinctive Sunday morning Gospel feel. Yeah, she vamped and twisted the song all over the place, occasionally sticking with he melody and occasionally taking a detour into other areas, but the results were frequently fascinating. Her brother Sam Waymon was featured on the song. rating: **** stars
- 'Written by Last Poets member David Nelson, 'Today Is a Killer' found Simone reciting an extended song-poem. I'm normally not a big poetry fan, but will admit there was something compelling in hearing Simone's stark (piano, bass, and voice) arrangement. The segment where she holds a note for seemingly ever is simply breathtaking. rating: *** stars
- The album's most commercial track, 'Poppies' started out as a ballad with an elaborate, somewhat MOR-arrangement. Out of the blue the mid-section morphed into something that sounded like it was part of the Baretta television theme. Probably the least interesting song on the LP. rating: ** stars
- Initially just Simone accompanying herself on piano, her bluesy cover of 'Isn't It a Pity' was really special. One of the best Beatles covers I've ever heard. Okay, okay I know it was a Harrison solo effort. rating: **** stars

Worth hearing, but probably not the place for a Simone neophyte to start ...

"Emergency Ward" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) My Sweet Lord / Today Is a Killer George Harrison / David Nelson - Nina Simone) - 18:35

(side 2)
1.) Poppies Lenny Bleecher - Jeremy Wind) 4:45
2.) Isn't It a Pity George Harrison) - 11:11

I am a big Nina Simone fan, but this is not one of my favorites. Try "It Is Finished" instead. Currently, both of them, and "Black Gold", are available in a two disc set titled "Emergency Ward". Nina's rendition of "Obeah Woman" (from "It Is Finished") IS an essential recording!