Forbidden Fruit/Nina Simone at Newport [LIVE]

Nina Simone

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 11, 1998)
• Original Release Date: July 28, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Collectables
• ASIN: B000009QJJ
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #91,134 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It was well worth the wait..., March 23, 1999

By	africon (Oakland, California - USA) - See all my reviews

This is the album that I have waited almost 30 years to own... It was well worth the wait!!!

In late 1969, I first heard the album "Nina's Choice"; a Colpix (Columbia Pictures) compilation of Ms. Simone's fine recordings for that label.

Since that day, I have searched high and low for a copy of "Nina's Choice", for the original albums from which the songs were drawn, or for other albums/tapes/cd's containing these classics.

A former girlfriend's father owned copies of most of Nina's early albums, but prying them from him was literally "Mission Impossible". They went happily with him to the grave...

With the release of "Anthology: The Colpix Years" in 1996, my dreams were partially satisfied... I bought the album at my very first opportunity.

At last, I owned copies of "I Don't Want Him (You Can Have Him)", "Little Liza Jane", "Work Song", "Forbidden Fruit"; and other unforgettable Nina Simone interpretations of songs like "That's Him Over There"....

BUT, I did not have "Memphis In June", or the one song that I just would NOT be without, the incomparable "Just Say I Love Him"....

With delivery of the CD, Forbidden Fruit/At Newport, this past Saturday, my search is over...

I'm still trying to wipe the silly smile off of my face!

My old love has been located, my passion rekindled... Praise the Lord for the great Al Shackman on guitar, and for Nina's poignant interpretation of the most memorable lyrics I've ever known....

"...just say that I need him, as roses need the rain; and tell him that without him, my dreams are all in vain..."

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Incredible performances, flawed sound, May 21, 2003

By	Michael Knowles "Bink" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I won't spend much time talking about how wonderful Nina's singing is -- you wouldn't be here if you weren't already a believer. Forbidden Fruit's "I'll Look Around" is an amazingly beautiful slow torcher. "Just Say I Love Him" is a wonderfully smoky number with a pleasingly spare arrangement that includes an understated Cubano rhumba beat. Nina rerecorded "Just Say I Love Him" in 1993 but the 1961 New York studio version is my favorite interpretation.

The big problem here is that this Collectibles Records (via Rhino) combo album is poorly mastered. You can't really hear it on the sample clips available above but every single song has an imbalance of too much low booming bass sound interfering with Nina's voice. All the low piano and standup bass lines are overwhelmingly strong. There is even some ultra-low rumble that wasn't removed in the mastering process. To top it off there is a prevalent 60Hz electric power hum found on the seven tracks recorded live at Newport. What were you guys at Collectibles thinking? Spend a little time getting it right next time! Nina Simone is soooo worth it... -Bink

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So long,Little Girl Blue. Rest in peace now., April 21, 2003

By	JEAN-MARIE JUIF (BESANCON France) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Monday,April 21,2003.One of the greatest singers and piano players of jazz is gone at 70.Nina Simone,born Eunice Waymon in 1933,North Carolina,passed away today at her home in the south of France.
She will remain as one of the most haunting voices in the jazz history,with Lady Day and Dinah Washington.She also will remain as an incredible piano player,among the greatest.She could have been one of the greatest classical piano players too, but she was a black girl,and during the fifties,a black girl (or a man) wasn't supposed to play classical music (remember Art Tatum,for example).
I listened to this record three times before starting to write this review.And believe me,it's very difficult to write about such an immense artist at the time of her death.
Nina recorded several albums for the Colpix label.And they are all masterpieces: "Nina at Town Hall","Nina at the Village Gate","Nina Simone with strings","the amazing Nina Simone","sings Duke Ellington","Nina Simone at Carnegie Hall".
I won't write about each tune;I'll just tell you which ones are to me,tonight,the most emotionnal ones: the very sad "I'll look around" (remember Billie Holiday's version);the hard-bop blues feeling of Cannonball Adderley's "Work song",and tears come at my eyes while listening to Nina's outstanding vocals;the great "Gin house blues";Oscar Brown's "forbidden fruit";the somptuous "trouble in mind",with Nina's imperial piano and vocals,five minutes and thirty-two seconds of terrific music;the Dorothy Fields/Jimmy McHugh's "Porgy",one of the most beautiful songs ever written,in which Nina reachs a very emotionnal peak;the classic "Little Liza Jane".
After listening to these two records,if you're not convinced that Nina Simone was one of the most important jazz artists of all times,then you'd rather have to listen to another kind of music.To me,she was the last of the very great jazz singer.Just one of the most beautiful voices ever.
So long,Nina;maybe eternity will be smooth and soft to you,if your life wasn't.I'll miss you.