Nina Simone: “Little Girl Blue” (1959/2021) CD Review

In June, Nina Simone’s The Montreux Years was released. That two-disc set captured live performances from 1968 to 1990, including renditions of a few songs from her debut album, 1959’s Little Girl Blue. Now that first album has been re-issued, with new liner notes by Daphne A. Brooks (also included are the original liner notes by Joseph Muranyi). It was mastered by Michael Graves at Osiris Studio in Los Angeles. The songs here are mostly covers, with just one original composition. But the way Nina Simone delivers them, it feels like every one of these songs is hers. Backing her are Jimmy Bond on bass, and Albert “Tootie” Heath on drums.

The album opens with a delightful rendition of Duke Ellington’s “Mood Indigo,” which moves at a good clip. When we think of Nina Simone, we usually think of her voice, but here she also reminds us what a talented pianist she was. It is nearly a minute and a half before she begins singing. And what a voice. I love the way she holds onto certain syllables. Even at this early stage in her career, she had that special something, and there is a natural flow that is all her own, and a confidence in every note. It must have been exciting in the late 1950s and early 1960s to come across this album when it was new. It is exciting even now, and of course this re-issue is the perfect starting place for anyone unfamiliar with her work and her style. She commands our attention at the beginning of “Don’t Smoke In Bed” with that brief introduction on piano, and then has us completely in her hands with her captivating vocal performance. This is one of the songs that is included on The Montreux Years, from a concert in 1990. As on that recording, this song is performed solo here. Nina Simone also released both “Mood Indigo” and “Don’t Smoke In Bed” as singles, and they were included on the 2018 compilation Mood Indigo: The Complete Bethlehem Singles.

Nina Simone's band members join her again for “He Needs Me,” a song written by Arthur Hamilton. In each song she delivers, there are certain words or lines that are striking because of the personal touches she adds. Here, for example, I love the way she delivers “or his lover” in the line “And I’m going to be his friend or his lover.” You can hear in her voice just exactly what she wants and what she plans. There are other moments that are more impressive, but sometimes it is just those little touches that really make the song something special. That’s followed by “Little Girl Blue,” the album’s title track, which begins with an instrumental nod to “Good King Wencelas,” a theme she returns to at other moments throughout the track. This is another song that was included on The Montreux Years, this song from a 1976 concert. The performance here is wonderful. This whole album is excellent, but this track is certainly a highlight.

Then Nina Simone starts swinging with her rendition of “Love Me Or Leave Me,” a song I used to see The Peak Show dip into on “O’Day.” This track is a lot of fun, and I love the way she delivers the lines “There’ll be no one unless that someone is you/I intend to be independently blue.” She also gives us some bright work on piano. And there is a cool bass line, which helps to make this track stand out. That extended instrumental section in the middle is fantastic. That’s followed by another totally fun track, “My Baby Just Cares For Me,” which was also included on The Montreux Years, from the 1990 show. What a delight this one is. She just completely owns this song. If it fails to put a smile on your face, it’s time to see a doctor.

“Good Bait” is the first of the album’s three instrumental tracks. It begins with some pretty work on piano. Then, approximately a minute and forty-five seconds in, the track takes a turn as the other musicians come in, and things get seriously cool.  It then returns to the piano solo before its conclusion. That’s followed by “Plain Gold Ring,” which Nina Simone begins a cappella. She takes us on a haunting ride here, the music swelling at times, then becoming wonderfully intimate at other moments, her voice coming from some other place, some other land that we’d love to step into if we had the nerve. She then delivers an instrumental rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” that is moving and gorgeous right from its first moments, and shows what a fantastic pianist she was. That’s followed by an excellent rendition of “I Loves You, Porgy.” I’ve said it many times, but you can never go wrong with Gershwin. Nina Simone’s vocal performance pulls you closer and closer. The album concludes with its only original composition, a totally cool instrumental titled “Central Park Blues.” The bass is in command at the start, and remains a strong presence throughout. And Nina Simone’s playing is both sexy and joyful. In the second half she starts to rock that piano at one point, before quickly changing directions again, keeping us engaged and excited.

CD Track List

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. Good Bait
8. Plain Gold Ring
9. You’ll Never Walk Alone
10. I Loves You, Porgy
11. Central Park Blues

This re-issue of Little Girl Blue was released on CD on August 13, 2021. It was also released on vinyl, both blue and black.