NINA SIMONE - Little Girl Blue - LP - 180g Vinyl [APR 11]

LP - Limited Edition 180g Black Vinyl. The complete album + 3 bonus tracks.

Little Girl Blue, released in 1957, marked Nina Simone's debut studio recording. Originally issued on the Bethlehem label, the album features Simone on piano and vocals, accompanied by bassist Jimmy Bond and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath. Many tracks from this LP went on to become timeless classics, including her iconic renditions of I Loves You, Porgy and My Baby Just Cares for Me.

At the time, Nina Simone had originally aspired to be a concert pianist, performing works by Bach and Mozart in front of silent, attentive audiences. However, circumstances led her down a different path—one that would ultimately revolutionize popular music in America. Initially reluctant to sing, she only began doing so when a nightclub owner informed her that her job depended on it. Thus, Eunice Waymon became Nina Simone, and in the process, an unwitting star was born. Though Little Girl Blue was far from her original ambitions, it remains a landmark recording—original, powerful, and the start of something extraordinary.

Brian Morton of BBC Radio describes the album as "a key work of the times, original and powerful, and the start of something remarkable." Similarly, Thom Jurek of AllMusic praises it, noting that Simone’s ballad voice exudes "mystery and sensuality," while her uptempo jazz performances demonstrate "authority and an enigmatic down-home feel that is nonetheless elegant." He also highlights the album as the introduction of a remarkable jazz pianist, showcasing Simone’s extraordinary musical range and talent.

Tracklist: 

1. Mood Indigo  
2. Don’t Smoke In Bed  
3. He Needs Me  
4. Little Girl Blue  
5. Love Me Or Leave Me  
6. My Baby Just Cares For Me  
7. He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands  
8. For All We Know  
9. Good Bait [Instrumental]  
10. Plain Gold Ring  
11. You’ll Never Walk Alone  
12. I Loves You, Porgy  
13. Central Park Blues [Instrumental]  
14. African Mailman