Nina Simone is the high priestess of soul music - a rich, deep voice that can bounce around any genre she likes. Whether she is churning out powerful gospel music, ingraining herself in tasteful soul, or belting out the blues, Simone's genre hopping largely done without effort or challenge. Speaking of the blues, though, this leads us to her first album for RCA Victor. No muss or fuss, Nina Simone Sings the Blues is 11 tracks of pure, soulful blues numbers from Nina Simone - spoilers, it's also the best album I've heard from her. Every track is deep down in the blues, played by a confident group of powerful musicians, and complete with some of Simone's finest vocal performances. A foray through classic numbers and a few soaring originals makes for not just one of Simone's finest, but also one of the best blues albums I've heard, period - it's a genre pinnacle from start to finish.
Simone's choice of song throughout is nothing short of stellar and energetic, and not just purely in their contents. Nina also demonstrates a remarkable ability to remold songs and compositions to fit her style, seen no better than in the penultimate "The House of the Rising Sun," an essential standard popularized by The Animals back in '64. It shouldn't surprise you that Simone's version goes out of the box, sounding nothing like The Animals' reinvention - instead, the rhythm is bumping and fast-paced, filled with an unrelenting drum beat and Simone's calculated and rich piano playing, complimented by her powerful voice and Buddy Lucas' harmonica hits. Her rendition of Gershwin's "My Man's Gone Now," apparently recorded in one impromptu take, is another powerful, moving performance - nothing on the track outside of Nina Simone's flying voice that rises and falls with the music, her gentle piano playing, and an incredibly soft, tasteful bass courtesy of Bob Bushnell. The result is one of the album's most enduring moments, although that's a tough medal to award. One of my favorite renditions is "Since I Fell for You," slow and methodical with one of my favorite vocal performances from Simone, and some truly excellent guitar work from the likes of Eric Gale and Rudy Stevenson.
Nina is a strong songwriter, and songs like "Four Women" are evidence of this, but she's always been more of a reinventor of older songs - nonetheless, she has five songs on this record, and they show her skill. Opening track "Do I Move You?" is one of the most instantly captivating opening moments to any record I've heard, immediately immersing you in the deep and gritty world of Simone's blues, stewed in intimacy for good measure. "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl" is similarly saucey and no less captivating in its performance. "Backlash Blues" is a driving blues protest song, with lyrics provided by the great Langston Hughes no less - a particularly big highlight in my book. Simone also ends it strong with "Blues for Mama," another excellently executed and methodical blues number that serves as a great closing track to an excellent album.
Sings the Blues doesn't stumble, meander, or overstay its welcome at any point. Nina Simone has constructed a tight, brilliant run of songs from start to finish that's down deep in the blues. The music is lush and tasteful, beautifully meshing with Simone's bold and shattering vocals through and through. The High Priestess of Soul is far more than a soul woman - by my measure, this should put her up with blues royalty all on its own. Just a fantastic album.
RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Listen to Nina Simone Sings the Blues.
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