Four Women: The Nina Simone Philips Recordings

Artist: Nina Simone
Label: Verve
Availability: In stock
Item #: 20982901

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Review

Nina Simone recorded seven albums for the Philips label between 1964 and 1966. It was the period in her career in which her reputation was cemented as a world-class artist, and one in which she gained fame for her contributions to the civil rights movement as well. Despite the fact that she recorded great albums both before and after her years with Philips (most notably with RCA), her Philips period is easily her most enigmatic. Among her Philips recordings are her live label debut and six studio recordings featuring wildly varying instrumentation, arrangements, and contents. The box contains all seven LPs on four CDs, and includes one bonus track. But Simone's Philips period is a monolithic accomplishment when measured against many of her peers, both male and female. First there is the audacious Nina Simone in Concert recording, done on two separate dates in New York in March and April of 1964 and issued later that summer. Simone's political stance with "Old Jim Crow," "Mississippi Goddam," and Weill and Brecht's "Pirate Jenny" makes them feel like they are of a piece with Gershwin's "I Loves You Porgy" and Willard Robison's "Don't Smoke in Bed," where blues, jazz, folk songs, and Broadway tunes all come together in that theatrical, sultry, and smoldering voice. The reality of that initial performance was further reinforced on the Broadway-Blues-Ballads disc, which opens with the definitive rendition of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and George Bass' wondrous "See Line Woman." Going from the small combo concert album -- where Simone accompanied herself on piano, to the lush orchestrations of the Broadway-Blues-Ballads album, with Hal Mooney conducting and writing the charts, is a jarring yet complementary experience. But it is on I Put a Spell on You, with its large and lush orchestral backing, and the chamber jazz setting of Pastel Blues that Simone's truly diva-like quality asserts itself. Working again with Mooney and complemented by Horace Ott on the former album, Simone found the orchestral formula and used it as a single musical instrument. True, it was one she could manipulate in terms of color and dynamic, but nonetheless, she used it as one would use a guitar, a saxophone, or a piano. Her voice found challenge and support in the various chromatic figures presenting themselves in songs like the title track, Charles Aznavour's "Tomorrow Is My Turn," "Take Care of Business," "Our September Song," "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out," "Tell Me More and Then Some," "Strange Fruit," "Chilly Winds Don't Blow," and others, offering a vocalist in control not only of the melody, but the flow of emotion in the song, imparting its message to the instrumentalists and listeners even as it occurs to her in the act of singing.

On Let It All Out, Simone went back to work with Ott. Here she covered everyone from Bob Dylan ("The Ballad of Hollis Brown") to Duke Ellington ("Mood Indigo") to Rodgers & Hart on her signature tune ("Little Girl Blue"), and she co-wrote the inimitable, compelling "Images." But it is on Four Women (subtitled Wild Is the Wind) where Simone revealed how fully in control she was of virtually any repertoire she chose to sing. This is the gentlest of Simone's albums and arguably her best. Working with Ott -- who wrote a pair of songs for the album -- she showed a tenderness that was never as naked before or after as it was on tracks such as the title (authored by Simone) and "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair." On her last album for the label, Simone turned the tables once again. Recording with an orchestra arranged and conducted by Mooney this time out, as well as playing piano, Simone took on Chuck Berry ("Brown-Eyed Handsome Man"), Nat Adderley and Oscar Brown, Jr. ("Work Song"), Angelo Badalamenti ("I Hold No Grudge"), and Ellington ("The Gal from Joe's"), as well as herself and Rudy Stevenson, her longstanding guitarist, in her quest to thwart pop music's then radio-friendly dictum that substance was not to be rewarded with record sales. And she succeeded. Simone's career at this time, and forevermore, really would be inextricably entwined with the triumphs and tribulations of the civil rights movement, and she would not argue or complain. But it's far from dogmatic protest music that's featured here, but the true triumph of the era, in that a woman of Simone's uncompromising stature and artistry would be as highly visible and successful as she was. Four Women documents all the knots, turns, twists, peaks, and valleys of that journey and makes for an essential listening experience. This is history, this is art, this is the joy of pop at its finest. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Read About This Recording

The years 1964, 1965 and 1966 were turbulent years. The civil rights and anti-war movements were gaining momentum. Young people were ready for change. Folk, rock and soul musicians were heating things up, jazz musicians keeping it cool-or not. In the midst of it all was Nina Simone.

An artist and activist, Simone excelled in different genres and eluded categorization. A classically trained pianist influenced by gospel, blues, jazz and more, she was adept at singing with small groups and orchestras. An astute interpreter, she also wrote her own classics. All seven of her Philips albums are available on this four CD set.

Listen to protest anthems of her own (Old Jim Crow, Mississippi Goddam) and by Bob Dylan ("The Ballad of Hollis Brown"). Wistful show tunes ("Night Song," "Something Wonderful") co-exist with vaudeville ("Nobody"). There's her poignant "Four Women," her passionate versions of "Wild Is the Wind," "Ne Me Quitte Pas" and traditional folk songs like "The Last Rose of Summer" and "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair." Included are favorites like "I Put a Spell on You." The evocative arrangements are by Simone, Hal Mooney and Horace Ott. Remastered, with classic photos, illustrations and liner notes by Ashley Kahn.

—Richard Antone

Quotes

"She sang of the world." —Abbey Lincoln

Extended Article

If there is one singer whose music reflected and still resonates with the sophistication and spirit of the 1960s, it is Nina Simone. Her sound channeled the emotional spark of the day; her voice reflected its innocence; her piano virtuosity elevated it with an air of elegance; her songs provide intelligent and moving social commentary. And she grounded it all, thrillingly, in the blues. At a time when a growing number of listeners wanted their music to have depth and meaning and soul, Nina Simone delivered.

This collection, which brings together in their entirety all seven of the albums Simone recorded for the Philips label between 1964 and 1966, chronicles the most significant period of her long and distinguished career. From the incendiary Mississippi Goddam to the heartbreaking Lilac Wine to the mini-epic that gives this collection its title, Four Women: The Nina Simone Philips Recordings captures a uniquely powerful artist at her peak.

I Loves You, Porgy; Plain Gold Ring; Pirate Jenny; Old Jim Crow; Don't Smoke In Bed; Go Limp; Mississippi Goddam; Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood; Night Song; The Laziest Gal In Town; Something Wonderful; Don't Take All Night; Nobody; I Am Blessed; Of This I'm Sure; See-Line Woman; Our Love (Will See Us Through); How Can I?; The Last Rose of Summer; I Put A Spell On You; Tomorrow Is My Turn; Ne Me Quitte Pas; Marriage Is For Old Folks; July Tree; Gimme Some; Feeling Good; One September Day; Blues On Purpose; Beautiful Land; You've Got To Learn; Take Care of Business; Be My Husband; Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out; End of the Line; Trouble In Mind; Tell Me More and More and Then Some; Chilly Winds Don't Blow; Ain't No Use; Strange Fruit; Sinnerman; Mood Indigo; The Other Woman; Love Me or Leave Me; Don't Explain; Little Girl Blue; Chauffeur; For Myself; The Ballad of Hollis Brown; This Year's Kisses; Images; Nearer Blessed Lord; I Love Your Lovin' Ways; Four Women; What More Can I Say; Lilac Wine; That's All I Ask; Break Down and Let It All Out; Why Keep On Breaking My Heart; Wild Is The Wind; Black Is The Color of My True Love's Hair; If I Should Lose You; Either Way I Lose; Don't You Pay Them No Mind; I'm Gonna Leave You; Brown Eyed Handsome Man; Keeper of the Flame; The Gal From Joe's; Take Me to the Water; I'm Going Back Home; I Hold No Grudge; Come Ye; He Ain't Comin' Home No More; Work Song; I Love My Baby.

Nina Simone, Vocals, Piano, Arranger; Rudy Stevenson, Guitar & Flute; Al Schackman, Guitar & Harmonica; Lisle Atkinson, Bass & Percussion; Bobby Hamilton, Drums; Horace Ott, Hal Mooney, Arrangers & Conductors.

CD Special Features

This deluxe 4-CD set includes:

• All 7 albums Nina Simone recorded for the Philips Label

• Many rare photographs

• 1 bonus track

Tracks + Soundclips

Four Women: The Nina Simone Philips Recordings
	1. I Loves You, Porgy [Live]	2:33
	2. Plain Gold Ring [Live]	6:24
	3. Pirate Jenny [Live]	6:40
	4. Old Jim Crow [Live]	2:41
	5. Don't Smoke in Bed [Live]	5:32
	6. Go Limp [Live]	7:07
	7. Mississippi Goddam [Live]	4:57
	8. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood	2:48
	9. Night Song	3:06
	10. Laziest Gal in Town	2:19
	11. Something Wonderful	2:46
	12. Don't Take All Night	2:54
	13. Nobody	4:19
	14. I Am Blessed	2:57
	15. Of This I'm Sure	2:37
	16. See Line Woman	2:38
	17. Our Love (Will See Us Through)	3:01
	18. How Can I?	2:07
	19. Last Rose of Summer	3:04
	20. I Put a Spell on You	2:37
	21. Tomorrow Is My Turn	2:52
	22. Ne Me Quitte Pas	3:38
	23. Marriage Is for Old Folks	3:33
	24. July Tree	2:44
	25. Gimme Some	3:02
	26. Feeling Good	2:57
	27. One September Day	2:51
	28. Blues on Purpose	3:20
	29. Beautiful Land	1:57
	30. You've Got to Learn	2:44
	31. Take Care of Business	2:06
	32. Be My Husband	3:22
	33. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out	2:41
	34. End of the Line	2:57
	35. Trouble in Mind	2:43
	36. Tell Me More and More and Then Some	3:10
	37. Chilly Winds Don't Blow	4:03
	38. Ain't No Use	3:03
	39. Strange Fruit	3:31
	40. Sinner Man	10:19
	41. Mood Indigo	2:29
	42. Other Woman	3:06
	43. Love Me or Leave Me	4:08
	44. Don't Explain	4:22
	45. Little Girl Blue	2:35
	46. Chauffeur	2:51
	47. For Myself	2:08
	48. Ballad of Hollis Brown	4:58
	49. This Year's Kisses	3:02
	50. Images	2:54
	51. Nearer Blessed Lord	4:33
	52. I Love Your Lovin' Ways	2:39
	53. Four Women	4:28
	54. What More Can I Say	2:52
	55. Lilac Wine	4:16
	56. That's All I Ask	2:31
	57. Break Down and Let It All Out	2:41
	58. Why Keep on Breaking My Heart	2:37
	59. Wild Is the Wind	7:00
	60. Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair	3:28
	61. If I Should Lose You	3:58
	62. Either Way I Lose	2:43
	63. Don't You Pay Them No Mind	3:09
	64. I'm Gonna Leave You	2:19
	65. Brown Eyed Handsome Man	2:06
	66. Keeper of the Flame	3:26
	67. Gal from Joe's	2:48
	68. Take Me to the Water	2:49
	69. I'm Going Back Home	2:50
	70. I Hold No Grudge	2:21
	71. Come Ye	3:39
	72. He Ain't Comin' Home No More	3:10
	73. Work Song	3:07
	74. I Love My Baby	4:04
	75. Monster [*]	2:43

Details and Credits

Product Details

Label: Verve
Release date: 2003/05/20
Best of, Box set

Styles

Vocal Jazz
Tin Pan Alley Pop
Traditional Pop
Standards
Cabaret
American Popular Song
Torch Songs

Album Credits
Performance Credits
Al Schackman	Guitar
Bobby Hamilton	Drums
Lisle Atkinson	Bass
Nina Simone	Piano
Rudy Stevenson	Flute

Technical Credits
Ashley Kahn	Liner Notes
Bryan Koniarz	Compilation Producer
Burt Goldblatt	Photography
Don Bronstein	Cover Photo
Hal Mooney	Arranger
Herb Snitzer	Photography
Hollis King	Art Direction
Horace Ott	Arranger
Isabelle Wong	Art Direction
Jan Persson	Photography
Jeff Willens	Mastering
Ken Druker	Executive Producer
Maurice Seymour	Cover Photo
Mort Shuman	Cover Photo
Peter Basch	Photography
Peter Keepnews	Note Editing
Sherniece Smith	Art Producer