Forever Young Gifted & Black: Songs of Freedom

Nina Simone | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 17, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000CNE15A
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,941 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You must buy this CD - its value is 500 stars!, June 19, 2006

By 

G A Lankester (North London, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Forever Young Gifted & Black: Songs of Freedom (Audio CD)

We have several Nina re-releases of her marvelous RCA era - now on this issue, at last, we have the full recording of my all time Simone favourite, "Why the King of Love Is Dead".

At last we hear the song, the passion in all its glory and hellfire anger. Tell you what folks - I have heard this song often before (in edited 5 minute sound bites) - hearing the full (12.55) version will leave you drained - I cried the first and second time I listened it was so moving.

I reckon RCA must have quaked at its message. Despite the "I ain't about to be non violent honey" rhetoric - this is the most forgiving and humane message song ever recorded.

Please Andy Stroud and Lisa Kelly, executors of Nina's estate, release the full and unexpurgated version of the April 7, 1968 Westbury Music Fair concert. It has to be the ultimate testomony to an icon of the 20th century.

Then if RCA/BMG can keep their nerve release all the 1967 to 1974 material Dr Simone recorded/outakes and all. We would learn much for decades to come.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars young gifted to old mastery, March 25, 2006

By 

Maureen A. Lynch "george & george" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Forever Young Gifted & Black: Songs of Freedom (Audio CD)

I have loved Nina Simone's ferocity and intelligence and music forever. She is very very real. a resource to draw upon in this dark time when truth seems scarce. I give this album 5 stars on the strength of the single track that I've heard...West Wind. I heard this song on the radio while I was driving late one night recently and was transported by its power. An African prayer for transcendence, the song begins in a whisper and builds slowly upon the accompaniment of a band of truly master drummers to a place of shining mystery, freedom, and release. Nina sings with breathtaking wisdom fully aware of all complacent dangers, praying for us all to be taken up and lifted to safety. Nina for president!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long Live Nina, September 18, 2007

By 

Spencophany "Spencophany" (Kingston, Jamaica) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forever Young Gifted & Black: Songs of Freedom (Audio CD)

I bought this album for all the songs but primarily for the song 'I Wish' which i have known for a long time but did not attribute it to Nina. I cant stop listening to that song. I havent even listened to some of the others yet. Not to worry, I can swear for them. Nina has never let me down. She is a Demi-God(dess). She can really transport you to another place that is rich and full of soul and empowering and BLACK. She brings to life all the pain of the Black struggle. She makes it palpable. But her singing resonates with everyone of every race. Superb. Long Live Nina. Forever Young, Gifted and Black.Abbey Sings Abbey