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Music : A Single Woman: Expanded Edition
Rating: 
- At last available and worth the wait!
I have lived with the original cd since its 1993 release. It was always a worthy addition to her repertoire, the lush settings remind me of Billie Holliday's Lady in Satin. I love the interpretations of the 3 Rod McKuen songs very mature and insightful. In addition, there are fine reworkings of 2 Simone classics "If I should lose you" and "Just say I love him". I enjoyed the re-working of "Papa can you hear me" from the Yentl film soundtrack; Nina personalised the song to give an insight into her relationship with her own father. Finally, I love the humour of her composition "Marry me" - a great ending to the original recording.
We then come to the 7 cuts tracks that did not make the original CD. 2 tracks "Basball boogie" and "The times they are a changin" are fragments at just under 1 minute each. OK but nothing special. That leaves the remaining 5 cuts - they are fine though her voice can be a little wayward at times. "Long and winding road" and "I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter" would have fitted well on the original CD and match the mood of the original CD. The remaining cuts would not have been congruous with the original CD but are worthy cuts nevertheless. "No woman, no cry" is taken in reggae style with powerful backing vocals and Nina sings with real passion. "Do I move you" is a reworking of the song from Nina Sings the Blues LP, it offers no new insights but must have been fun to perform in the studio. "The times they are a changin'" is followed by Prince's "Sign o' the times" - an observation of life in America in the 1960's and then 1990's. For me it is by far the most powerful cut - it stands as the final great interpretation by this diva. Prince must be very proud of this re-interpretation, its full on Nina and full of her trademark passion.
It seems obvious that there was the makings of a second album which was never followed through since the 2 short cuts and the songs No Woman, Do I move and Sign are different in style and approach to the Single Woman concept.
Just one point, it would have been good if Warners had given the personnel listing for the 7 new unreleased songs together with session recording dates for the entire set.
All in all then the long wait for this complete album has been worth the wait, if you don't have the original CD its a steal and a great price too. For those who have the original CD I would recommend this issue too not only for the seven new tracks but also because the sound has been re-mastered and improved over the original cd. Five stars.
Rating: - Legendary Voice at its Finest
The question is why isn't she playing the piano? Given that Simone was a talented, classically trained pianist with wonderful jazz styling it's a mystery why, on this her final studio recording, she isn't accompanying herself as she had on the rest of her thirty-odd albums. More suprising also given that she had never been on better form than on her previous album, Fodder On Her Wings.
I can only assume this is because the producers - and this is a big production - wanted her to focus on her voice. And what a good idea. Oozing with richness, experience and individuality, this album is a testament to a voice that aged like a good wine.
Don't worry about the piano thought, as this is under the capable hands of Michael Melvoin, whose playing is a respectful homage to her easily recognisable playing style. Though she does get chance to bang out the syncopation on the gorgeous, mournful Just Say I Love Him.
For various reasons often beyond her control Simone's output in the seventies went into something of a decline. However, this and the previous two albums are an all-too-short second bloom. This is classic Nina, as good as her mid-sixties Philips high-point.
Rating:
- A good, jazzy cd
If you like the old jazz and blues, this cd is for you. Nina Simone has an incredibly rich and sultry voice that hypnotized me the first time I listened to it. This cd is wonderful - it is very smooth and very listenable. It makes you feel as though you should be in a smoky blues bar with her belting it out on stage. This is a must have cd for anyone who loves the blues - sung by a female.
- At last available and worth the wait!I have lived with the original cd since its 1993 release. It was always a worthy addition to her repertoire, the lush settings remind me of Billie Holliday's Lady in Satin. I love the interpretations of the 3 Rod McKuen songs very mature and insightful. In addition, there are fine reworkings of 2 Simone classics "If I should lose you" and "Just say I love him". I enjoyed the re-working of "Papa can you hear me" from the Yentl film soundtrack; Nina personalised the song to give an insight into her relationship with her own father. Finally, I love the humour of her composition "Marry me" - a great ending to the original recording.
We then come to the 7 cuts tracks that did not make the original CD. 2 tracks "Basball boogie" and "The times they are a changin" are fragments at just under 1 minute each. OK but nothing special. That leaves the remaining 5 cuts - they are fine though her voice can be a little wayward at times. "Long and winding road" and "I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter" would have fitted well on the original CD and match the mood of the original CD. The remaining cuts would not have been congruous with the original CD but are worthy cuts nevertheless. "No woman, no cry" is taken in reggae style with powerful backing vocals and Nina sings with real passion. "Do I move you" is a reworking of the song from Nina Sings the Blues LP, it offers no new insights but must have been fun to perform in the studio. "The times they are a changin'" is followed by Prince's "Sign o' the times" - an observation of life in America in the 1960's and then 1990's. For me it is by far the most powerful cut - it stands as the final great interpretation by this diva. Prince must be very proud of this re-interpretation, its full on Nina and full of her trademark passion.
It seems obvious that there was the makings of a second album which was never followed through since the 2 short cuts and the songs No Woman, Do I move and Sign are different in style and approach to the Single Woman concept.
Just one point, it would have been good if Warners had given the personnel listing for the 7 new unreleased songs together with session recording dates for the entire set.
All in all then the long wait for this complete album has been worth the wait, if you don't have the original CD its a steal and a great price too. For those who have the original CD I would recommend this issue too not only for the seven new tracks but also because the sound has been re-mastered and improved over the original cd. Five stars.
Rating:
- Legendary Voice at its FinestThe question is why isn't she playing the piano? Given that Simone was a talented, classically trained pianist with wonderful jazz styling it's a mystery why, on this her final studio recording, she isn't accompanying herself as she had on the rest of her thirty-odd albums. More suprising also given that she had never been on better form than on her previous album, Fodder On Her Wings.
I can only assume this is because the producers - and this is a big production - wanted her to focus on her voice. And what a good idea. Oozing with richness, experience and individuality, this album is a testament to a voice that aged like a good wine.
Don't worry about the piano thought, as this is under the capable hands of Michael Melvoin, whose playing is a respectful homage to her easily recognisable playing style. Though she does get chance to bang out the syncopation on the gorgeous, mournful Just Say I Love Him.
For various reasons often beyond her control Simone's output in the seventies went into something of a decline. However, this and the previous two albums are an all-too-short second bloom. This is classic Nina, as good as her mid-sixties Philips high-point.
Rating:
- A good, jazzy cdIf you like the old jazz and blues, this cd is for you. Nina Simone has an incredibly rich and sultry voice that hypnotized me the first time I listened to it. This cd is wonderful - it is very smooth and very listenable. It makes you feel as though you should be in a smoky blues bar with her belting it out on stage. This is a must have cd for anyone who loves the blues - sung by a female.