Description

1LP Vinyl – MOVLP878

Nina Simone Sings The Blues, issued in 1967, was her RCA label debut, and was a brave departure from the material she had been recording for Phillips. Indeed, her final album for that label,  High Priestess Of Soul, featured the singer, pianist, and songwriter fronting a virtual orchestra. Here, Simone is backed by a pair of guitarists (Eric Gales and Rudy Stevenson), bassist (Bob Bushnell), drummer (Bernard Purdy), organist Ernie Hanes), and harmonica player who doubled on saxophone (Buddy Lucas). Simone handled the piano chores. The song selection is key here. Because for all intents and purposes this is perhaps the rawest record Simone ever cut.