Nina Simone - A Single Woman

Long-awaited expanded reissue of Nina Simone's final studio album containing seven previously unreleased bonus tracks including her interpretations of Prince's 'Sign Of The Times', Bob Marley's 'No Woman No Cry' and more. Originally released in 1993, A Single Woman marked her return to a major American label after years of small label releases and exile in Europe. Not the most prolific of artists through the '70s and '80s, A Single Woman was a release that proved to be well worth the wait. Unfortunately, her health declined after it's release and she passed away a decade later. Features 17 tracks including 'Lonesome Cities', 'Love's Been Good To Me', 'If I Should Lose You' and more. WCJ. Album Description

At long last the complete Elektra recordings are available!

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. June 17, 2008

Surrounded by too many men.

This is Nina in the role of stand-up singer, supported by the arranging talents of imaginative young writers like John Clayton. The orchestrations are lush and encompassing and Nina is in strong voice, yet the textures frequently tend to compete with her voice, occasionally even upstaging and threatening to overwhelm it. As syrupy as were Ray Ellis' arrangements for Billie Holiday on "Lady in Satin," you don't miss a word, the smooth, smarmy settings serving as a foil to the naked emotions of the admittedly disturbing, even painful sound of the voice. Perhaps the engineers who mixed this session are the primary problem, but Nina Simone is always at her best as the complete package--a pianist as well as singer, doing a widely varied repertoire and preferably recorded before an audience. October 3, 2007

BRAVO TO THE GREAT DIVA MS NINA SIMONE 10 out 10

This cd is truly a tour de force in vocals from DR NINA SIMONE. Unfortunatly when it was released it never received the acolades it truly deserves. The wonderful production and backing matched by the awsome voice that is Ms Simone's and Ms Simones's alone.

One of the true greats to the very last release that she recorded which is this wonderful cd. Please do yourself a favour and enjoy Nina Simone THE HIGHEST PRIESTESS OF SOUL...MAY THE GODS BLESS YOU NINA. April 16, 2007

Incomparable!

An untouchable final recording by the High Priestess of Soul. She manages to harness the fear of loneliness and the sagely wisdom of one who has experienced love and will have it again, into a beautiful almost overly produced recording. The title track, "Single Woman" rivals Billie Holiday's "The End of A Love Affair" as one of those prophetic songs that will go on haunting you forever. If you need a good cry, take this CD out, make some tea and sit back. A warning, though, this is for Nina fans. I can't imagine beginning here and coming away as happy as I have. You need to know the arc of her work, though tunes like "Marry Me", "The More I See You", "Just Say I Love Him" will go over well with everyone. If you are a fan, you MUST own this CD!!! February 1, 2006

I love this CD

The whole CD is terrific. It is Nina Simone in a later stage of her life. Her voice is still deep but very rich with emotion. It already has 5 stars and it is deserved. March 7, 2003

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