Nina Simone: Break Down and Let It All Out [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Sylvia Hampton (Author), David Nathan (Author), Lisa Kelly Simone (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2004

One of the last divas of jazz, Nina Simone (1933 - 2003) was one of the finest songwriters and musicians of her day. For over 40 years she and her music defied categorization. Trained as a classical pianist, she performed blues, jazz, protest songs, gospel, pop, hymns, and folk tunes. Simone covered the songs of artists and musicians that she admired, from Bob Dylan to Duke Ellington to the Beatles to George Gershwin. Jazz lover and music journalist Sylvia Hampton met and befriended the soul diva in the late 1950s. After that first meeting, they became close friends, corresponding regularly throughout Simone's lengthy international career. Hampton and her brother David Nathan delve into Hampton's collection of memorabilia, to create a vivid portrait of the singer.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 360 pages
• Publisher: Sanctuary Publishing, Ltd.; illustrated edition edition (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1860745520
• ISBN-13: 978-1860745522
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #636,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Composers & Musicians > Jazz

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars GRIM, April 28, 2005

By 

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

This review is from: Nina Simone: Break Down and Let It All Out (Hardcover)

Well I bought the book on publication - yes I have read it twice. The second time with every greater irritation. Who is this book about Miss Simone or Miss Hampton? Miss Simone I want to learn more about - Miss Hampton, you guessed it - NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sure there are some new angles and insights on this complex diva, but it is not a great read - I wonder if any of Nina's family aside from Lisa had any input. Nina's brother, Sam Waymon, is mentioned but I would guess not sought as a source of information - hell this guy was in Nina's band in the mid 60s and early 70s. The only mention seems to be the rather gratuitous mention about a trip to a gay club!!!

Nina's autobigraphy "I Put A Spell On You", remains the definitive read, so far. If only there was an Ian Carr, Paul Tingen or John Szwed who made such worthy contributions to our undrerstanding of Miles Davis who would do the same for Miss Simone. Her memory deserves a better more in depth analysis of probably the most influential singer and spokeswoman for humanity, equality and womens rights in the 20th century.

Save your cash (avoid this book) and wait another day for the definitive study of this truely remarkable lady and artist.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dreadful, June 1, 2009

By 

Elaine Kappel Ovre (Trinidad and Tobago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nina Simone: Break Down and Let It All Out (Hardcover)

Errol Barrow was the Barbados Prime Minister, not Earl Barrow as Sylvia Hampton renames him - Marion Anderson's accompanist Blanche Burton-Lyles was the first African American to graduate from the Curtis Institute,not Marion Anderson herself. Sloppy research - these were real events, which were important in the life of Ms. Simone.

As someone who came to know Ms. Simone's music first through her CD's and then by watching various clips on youtube and reading articles, etc posted on the net, I can truly say I learned more from youtube and google than from this book.

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SUPERB read. Wonderful insight into this great genius!, February 25, 2005

By 

Aaron Overfield "a-Ron" (www.high-priestess.com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nina Simone: Break Down and Let It All Out (Hardcover)

The other reviewer couldn't be more wrong! This book is a GREAT read - if not for the great insight provided into the complex Nina Simone than for the highly descriptive accounts of rare Nina concerts and appearances. Those of us who didn't have the luck of being present at Dr. Simone's earliest or best performances now have the opportunity to relive them through the eyes of one of Nina's dearest friends and biggest fans. What more could we ask for?!?!

The writing is first-rate and does more to capture the genius of Dr. Simone than her previously published autobiography, I Put A Spell On You (still worth reading). Sylvia Hampton has provided us with the best text available on Dr. Simone to this point and she may be one of the few people on earth to give us such insight and (sometimes brutual) honesty. I would recommend this book to ANY Nina Simone or music fan.

WONDERFUL!