There’s little left to say about Nina Simone that hasn’t already been recited ad infinitum, in an inevitably more eloquent manner than I have time for at this moment. Yet on a broiling Indian summer afternoon, To Be Free, the recently released Simone anthology sounds magnificent; particularly, the sun-drenched horns of “Poppies,” and the wobbly but slick strut of “Baltimore.” If you’ve never heard the woman born Eunice Waymon, the To Be Free box set provides an excellent introduction to her abyssal catalogue. Plus, it makes you wonder why “The Wire,” never chose “Baltimore” for its theme song.
Buy To Be Free: Nina Simone Story
Download:
MP3: Nina Simone-”Poppies”
MP3: Nina Simone-”Baltimore”
5 comments
Sach says:
October 7, 2008 at 3:15 pm (UTC -7)
Nina Simone is one of those artists I’ve never REALLY gotten familiar with because I keep getting slugged over the head with the same 12-20 songs (usually standards) that Starbucks plays ad nauseum. I know I should dig deeper but I never did.
These are really funky though. Not a word I expected to use to describe her music. High time for me to get acquainted with her catalogue.
douglas martin says:
October 7, 2008 at 9:03 pm (UTC -7)
ahhh, nina simone: the best artist ever to remind me of a completely fucked relationship.
Zilla Rocca says:
October 8, 2008 at 7:16 am (UTC -7)
Brother Ali and ANT sampled “Baltimore” on “The Undisputed Truth”–can’t remember the name of it. The original is way better.
Sach says:
October 8, 2008 at 5:05 pm (UTC -7)
Thanks Zilla, I knew someone sampled that but I couldn’t remember who. Was bugging the hell out of me.
thomas says:
October 11, 2008 at 11:59 am (UTC -7)
To Be Free is great if you want a lot of live material. as for a first introduction, i’m not so sure.
“Baltimore” is a GREAT pick, though, and it’s not really on any of the other new comps.