Nina Simone: The Soul of Nina Simone [Dual Disc]

Nina Simone | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 11, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Dual Disc
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000B5XZQU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,561 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Feeling Good

2. In the Dark

3. Since I Fell for You

4. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood [#]

5. To Love Somebody

6. My Man's Gone Now

7. I Think It's Going to Rain Today

8. My Baby Just Cares for Me [Live]

9. I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl

10. Save Me

11. The Look of Love

12. I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)

13. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues

14. Nobody's Fault But Mine

15. Porgy and Bess Medley: Fishermen, Strawberry and Devil Crab/I ...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BUY BUY BUY, January 31, 2006

By 

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

This review is from: Nina Simone: The Soul of Nina Simone (Audio CD)

I have to admit to being a Nina fan of nearly 40 years. I have virtually everything she has released on disc, yet this collection is worthy, really worthy of purchasing. The Audio CD consists of a good selection of her 60's material in top quality sound. In addition, there are a couple of new songs never before released previously - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood from the 1968 Westbury Music Fair - highly charged and very intense. The second new take is a killer titled Pory & Bess Medley from the 1963 Newport Jazz Festival - all I can say is it is just stunningly haunting.

The real bonus in this collection is the DVD side with three dates from 1960, 1968 and 1969. For those fortunate enough to have seen her communication skills live this is the prize. Living in UK I was privileged to see her twice in the 1970s. These concerts from the 60s see her in her prime. The three concerts last for just over 30 minutes but they are diamonds. Just trust the executors of Miss Simone's estate will release more DVD recordings of her in concert since it is here you see the true majesty of her art.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Soul of Nina Simone, March 5, 2006

By 

Geminigirl (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nina Simone: The Soul of Nina Simone (Audio CD)

As a fan who is "growing" my Nina Simone collection, this disc was and absolute must buy for me. Not only does the audio side contain a few of my favorite songs like: FEELING GOOD, THE LOOK OF LOVE, I GET ALONG WITHOUT YOU VERY WELL, DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD & I THINK IT'S GOING TO RAIN TODAY. But it also includes songs that I had never heard before like SINCE I FELL FOR YOU & THE PORGY & BESS MEDLEY.

But the real reason I bought this disc is for the DVD side of performances by this amazing woman. I was never fortunate enough to see her perform live but this all-too-brief collection of performances gives me a chance to see what those who did see her perform have been raving about for years. Her performance of I LOVES YOU PORGY is especially mesmerizing - the piano playing is breathtaking!!!

If you are a fan, I'd highly recommend adding this disc to your collection.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good samplings, February 21, 2007

By 

Swing King (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nina Simone: The Soul of Nina Simone (Audio CD)

Nina Simone (1933-2003) was one of the greatest female jazz vocalists of the 1960s, a politically enlightened singer with a richness of voice which remains unsurpassed even today. This 2-sided disc offers a nice sampling of some of Nina's best work, the DVD side being of a remarkably high quality. The DVD sets contain two songs for the "Ed Sullivan Show" from 1960, "Live from the Bitter End" from 1968, and the "Harlem Festival" (a.k.a. "The Black Woodstock") from 1969.

The regular CD side showcases exactly what the album title suggests, a reflective, soulful and bluesy Simone sampled on 15 different tracks. My personal favorite on here would have to be the "Porgy and Bess Medley" from a 1963 recording done live somewhere in Rhode Island. Also on here is a cover of a Bee Gee's song, "To Love Somebody", which is probably better than the original. Or even her Bob Dylan cover, "Just like Tom Thumb's Blues, which indeed is the most delicious version of the song you can ever hear.

From the DVD performances I especially enjoyed the last set, which was filmed at the "Harlem Festival" during the summer of 1969 in Central Park. Nina sings "Four Women" with a small backup crew before a fairly large audience, and by the looks of things you know it must be the 60s. Nina ends the performance with "To Be Young, Gifted and Black", which is a song of inspiration and thanksgiving.

This Dual-Disc CD/DVD is an excellent value, and deserves 5 stars for being a well-produced product. For a more extensive compilation of Nina Simone's recordings, please see "Four Women: Nina Simone Phillips Recording" 4CD box set. A more costly CD but also musically more complete. This disc is worth it for the DVD film footage of live performances alone. A nice disc to own.