Feeling Good (The Very Best Of Nina Simone) - Nina Simone

Nina Simone is one of those musical artists whoes voice is instantly recognisable. This album, 'The Very Best Of Nina Simone' is a solid, well organised CV of her musical achievements. She is one of those artists who, until you recieve an album like this, you forget had so many brilliant songs.

The three tracks that leap off the 20 long song list for me are arguably three of the best American soul tracks ever. Firstly, of course, the ...
...It is a pure soul track, a song that moulds the listener into a somber but content mood to begin with, then has them up on their feet singing as load as they can by the end. The second track is her religious masterpiece, Sinnerman. you can sense the faith in this track - one clearly derived from an upbringing in gospel churches. The third is 'Don't let me be misunderstood'. Purely for the song's symbolic stature, written during the time of Martin ... more

Nina Simone is one of those musical artists whoes voice is instantly recognisable. This album, 'The Very Best Of Nina Simone' is a solid, well organised CV of her musical achievements. She is one of those artists who, until you recieve an album like this, you forget had so many brilliant songs.

The three tracks that leap off the 20 long song list for me are arguably three of the best American soul tracks ever. Firstly, of course, the magical 'Feeling Good' - a song that cannot be ignored. It is a pure soul track, a song that moulds the listener into a somber but content mood to begin with, then has them up on their feet singing as load as they can by the end. The second track is her religious masterpiece, Sinnerman. you can sense the faith in this track - one clearly derived from an upbringing in gospel churches. The third is 'Don't let me be misunderstood'. Purely for the song's symbolic stature, written during the time of Martin Luther King, it depicts the black American's experience, and has become synonomous with those times.

There are more fantastic tracks on this album - The mesmorising 'Put A Spell On You', a seductive, eligent track that just slowly sweeps you away into Nina Simone's world. There are a number of jazz tracks on this album too, the bubbly 'Work song' and the glorious 'Love me or leave me'. Her true elegance is shown in the beautiful 'Don't explain' whilst 'Mississippi Goddam' is a track that lets the real diva come out of Nina Simone. 'Strange fruit' is a track about black oppression n America and you can feel Simone's pain for her people's problems. This track is followed by another upbeat funk track 'I'm going back home'. Nina Simone's voice is shown in its purest and harshet forms on this album. It really highlights her versatility and quality.

That covers half the album, but as a review of the CD I will say that the rest is as good as the half mentioned. But it is up to you to find out why for yourself. It is a definate buy in my book, so go get it.

The album is a must have for any music fans. I don't just mean Nina Simone fans, or soul fans, but anyone that feels that passion for music inside them. It is as essential as the hits of Marvin Gaye, Smokey robinson, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Aretha franklin etc. It really is that good an album.

 

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