Tracks: 1) Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair; 2) Exactly Like You; 3) The Other Woman; 4) Under The Lowest; 5) You Can Have Him; 6) Summertime (Instrumental); 7) Summertime (Vocal); 8) Cotton Eyed Joe; 9) Return Home; 10) Wild Is The Wind; 11) Fine And Mellow.
Right on the money with your analysis of Nina being much better appreciated as a live performer than a studio artist. I always felt her studio albums were generally pretty underwhelming besides Pastel Blues and the debut, but the live stuff, now that's stuff truly breathtaking! Really nothing to add to your absolutely excellent review, but I have two quick questions to ask if you don't mind. First, with this opinion of Nina better live than in studio in mind, do you make an exception for Pastel Blues since much of it was recorded live? Second (this is unrelated), do you plan to review the Platters? I noticed you mentioned them in a positive light in your review of Elvis's debut (I am a big fan of their best singles and self-titled), so I was interested if they are in schedule or not. Always get super excited for new content, thanks for all of this wonderful reviews!
Re: Nina - well, it's clearly not an exceptionless rule, there's no law that says you always have to be great in concert and suck in the studio; obviously, I plan to gradually slide along as much of her discography as possible, both studio and live, and give it an honest overview. Pastel Blues is the one with 'Sinnerman' on it, so clearly it's better than "The Amazing Nina Simone"!
Re: the Platters - probably won't include them in the regular schedule, it's already a little too late for that and they sort of represent a pre-rock era doo-wop vibe that's just a bit outside the covered scope. But if I ever get around once again to systematically writing about some of the pre-1955 singles from various artists, they'll certainly be included.
Your review, like so many of your other ones, is inspiring. I'm going to get a copy of this record. Thanks!
Amazing live album. Thanks for helping me to discover it.
Thank you Starostin for pointing me to live Nina! I don't even know her music yet, and this sounds like a great place to start!
Right on the money with your analysis of Nina being much better appreciated as a live performer than a studio artist. I always felt her studio albums were generally pretty underwhelming besides Pastel Blues and the debut, but the live stuff, now that's stuff truly breathtaking! Really nothing to add to your absolutely excellent review, but I have two quick questions to ask if you don't mind. First, with this opinion of Nina better live than in studio in mind, do you make an exception for Pastel Blues since much of it was recorded live? Second (this is unrelated), do you plan to review the Platters? I noticed you mentioned them in a positive light in your review of Elvis's debut (I am a big fan of their best singles and self-titled), so I was interested if they are in schedule or not. Always get super excited for new content, thanks for all of this wonderful reviews!
Re: Nina - well, it's clearly not an exceptionless rule, there's no law that says you always have to be great in concert and suck in the studio; obviously, I plan to gradually slide along as much of her discography as possible, both studio and live, and give it an honest overview. Pastel Blues is the one with 'Sinnerman' on it, so clearly it's better than "The Amazing Nina Simone"!
Re: the Platters - probably won't include them in the regular schedule, it's already a little too late for that and they sort of represent a pre-rock era doo-wop vibe that's just a bit outside the covered scope. But if I ever get around once again to systematically writing about some of the pre-1955 singles from various artists, they'll certainly be included.