The Essential Nina Simone

~ Release by Nina Simone (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Annotation

This Release is packaged in a variant of a jewel case which has a 2-CD carrier hinged between the front cover and back cover, with no inside back cover. Thus the case is only as thick as a standard one-CD jewel case.

Annotation last modified on 2025-10-04 05:23 UTC.

Tracklist

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1▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1The Other Woman
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1959-10)
producer:
Bob Blake (co-producer of Nina Simone's live 1959 album "At Town Hall") and Jack Gold
bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1959-10)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1959-10)
piano:
Nina Simone (in 1959-10)
vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1959-10)
recorded at:
The Town Hall in Theater District, New York, New York, United States (on 1959-09-15)
cover recording of:
The Other Woman (in 1959-10)
lyricist and composer:
Jessie Mae Robinson
publisher:
Thandewye Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
4.52:58
2Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair
producer:
Hal Mooney
piano:
Nina Simone
vocals:
Nina Simone
arranger:
Nina Simone
cover recording of:
Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair (Arranged by Nina Simone) (on 1964-04-06)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
arranger:
Nina Simone
publisher:
Sam Fox Publishing Company (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
arrangement of:
Black Is the Colour (of My True Love’s Hair)
3.53:35
3Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out
producer:
Hal Mooney
arranger:
Stu Phillips (US TV/film composer, conductor & producer)
cover recording of:
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out (from 1965-05-19 until 1965-05-20)
lyricist and composer:
Jimmy Cox
publisher:
B. Feldman & Co. Ltd. (publisher est. 1946), EMI Music Ltd., Help, I’m a Publisher and MCA Music (not for release label use! this is a music publisher, ASCAP-affiliated)
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, Volume I)
3.52:41
4Trouble in Mind
recorded in:
Newport, Rhode Island, United States (on 1960-06-30)
bass:
Chris White (jazz bassist) (on 1960-06-30)
drums (drum set):
Bobby Hamilton (percussionist, keyboards, vocals) (on 1960-06-30)
guitar:
Al Schackman (on 1960-06-30)
piano:
Nina Simone (on 1960-06-30)
vocals:
Nina Simone (on 1960-06-30)
recorded at:
Newport Jazz Festival (1960-06-30 – 1960-07-04)
live cover recording of:
Trouble in Mind (on 1960-06-30)
lyricist and composer:
Richard M. Jones (US jazz pianist)
publisher:
State Street Music Publ. Co. Inc., Universal Studios, Inc. (formerly known as MCA Inc.) and Universal‐MCA Music Publishing (US)
5:30
5Mississippi Goddam
double bass:
Lisle Atkinson (on 1964-04-04)
drums (drum set) and membranophone:
Bobby Hamilton (percussionist, keyboards, vocals) (on 1964-04-04)
guitar:
Rudy Stevenson (on 1964-04-04)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (on 1964-04-04)
background vocals:
Lisle Atkinson (on 1964-04-04), Bobby Hamilton (percussionist, keyboards, vocals) (on 1964-04-04) and Rudy Stevenson (on 1964-04-04)
arranger:
Nina Simone
recorded at:
Carnegie Hall in Midtown Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (on 1964-04-04)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 172)
live recording of:
Mississippi Goddam (on 1964-04-04)
lyricist and composer:
Nina Simone
publisher:
Sam Fox Publishing Co. (LDN) Ltd. and Sam Fox Publishing Company (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
part of:
Martin Luther King Suite
4.54:54
6See-Line Woman
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1964)
producer:
Hal Mooney
piano:
Nina Simone (in 1964)
vocals and conductor:
Nina Simone (in 1964)
arranger:
Nina Simone
recorded at:
Carnegie Hall in Midtown Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (on 1964-03-21)
cover recording of:
See‐Line Woman (on 1964-03-21)
writer:
George Bass and Nina Simone
is based on:
Sea Lion Woman
2.652:36
7Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1964-06)
piano:
Nina Simone (in 1964-06)
vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1964-06)
orchestra:
Horace Ott's Orchestra (in 1964-06)
conductor:
Horace Ott (in 1964-06)
arranger:
Horace Ott
recording of:
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (in 1964-06)
writer:
Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell, Sol Marcus and Horace Ott
publisher:
Bennie Benjamin Music Inc., Carlin Music Corporation, Chris-n-Jen Music, WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) and Unichappell Music, Inc. (in 1981)
4.052:45
8I Put a Spell on You
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1965-01-15)
producer:
Hal Mooney
guitar:
Rudy Stevenson (on 1965-01-15)
piano:
Nina Simone (on 1965-01-15)
vocals:
Nina Simone (on 1965-01-15)
conductor:
Hal Mooney (on 1965-01-15)
arranger:
Hal Mooney
cover recording of:
I Put a Spell on You (on 1965-01-15)
lyricist and composer:
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), SBK Unart Catalog Inc., EMI Unart Catalog Inc. (in 1956) and EMI United Partnership Ltd. (in 1956)
4.32:35
9Ne me quitte pas
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1965-01)
producer:
Hal Mooney
guitar:
Rudy Stevenson (in 1965-01)
piano:
Nina Simone (in 1965-01)
vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1965-01)
conductor:
Hal Mooney (in 1965-01)
arranger:
Hal Mooney
cover recording of:
Ne me quitte pas (original French version) (in 1965-01)
lyricist and composer:
Jacques Brel
publisher:
Éditions Jacques Brel, Pouchenel Éditions Musicales and Warner Chappell Music France
43:37
10Strange Fruit
producer:
Hal Mooney
cover recording of:
Strange Fruit (from 1965-05-19 until 1965-05-20)
lyricist and composer:
Lewis Allan
publisher:
Basart Editions, Carlin Music Corporation, Edward B. Marks Music Co. (founded originally as J. Stern & Co. in 1894, renamed in 1919) and Music Sales Corporation (American copyright holder in both popular and classical music)
version of:
Bitter Fruit
4.53:31
11Four Women
producer:
Hal Mooney
bass guitar, double bass and percussion:
Lisle Atkinson
drums (drum set):
Bobby Hamilton (percussionist, keyboards, vocals)
flute and guitar:
Rudy Stevenson
harmonica:
Al Schackman
piano:
Nina Simone
vocals:
Nina Simone
recording of:
Four Women (on 1965-09-30)
lyricist and composer:
Nina Simone
publisher:
EMI Tunes Ltd
3.54:26
12Sinnerman
producer:
Hal Mooney
cover recording of:
Sinnerman (from 1965-05-19 until 1965-05-20)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
is based on:
Oh Sinner Man (Bob Gibson's version)
4.8510:21
13Do I Move You?
recording engineer:
Mickey Crofford (on 1966-12-19) and Ray Hall (engineer) (on 1966-12-19)
producer:
Danny Davis (country music band leader, trumpeter, singer, producer, and best known as the founder and leader of the Nashville Brass)
recorded at:
RCA Studio B (New York) in New York, New York, United States (on 1966-12-19)
recording of:
Do I Move You? (on 1966-12-19)
lyricist and composer:
Nina Simone
4.652:44
2▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl
recording engineer:
Mickey Crofford (on 1967-01-05) and Ray Hall (engineer) (on 1967-01-05)
producer:
Danny Davis (country music band leader, trumpeter, singer, producer, and best known as the founder and leader of the Nashville Brass)
performer:
Sam Ellis (House DJ)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
BMG Music (in 1967)
recorded at:
RCA Studio B (New York) in New York, New York, United States (on 1967-01-05)
recording of:
I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl (Nina Simone's version) (on 1967-01-05)
writer:
James “Tim” Brymn, Nina Simone, Dally Small and Clarence Williams (US jazz pianist, composer, singer and bandleader)
arranger:
Nina Simone
publisher:
Sam Fox Publishing Co. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
version of:
Need a Little Sugar in My Bowl (Bessie Smith's version)
4.42:30
2I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free
producer:
Danny Davis (country music band leader, trumpeter, singer, producer, and best known as the founder and leader of the Nashville Brass)
mixer:
Mark Hartry
vocals:
Nina Simone
conductor:
Sammy Lowe
arranger:
Sammy Lowe
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
BMG Music (in 1967)
recorded at:
RCA Studio B (New York) in New York, New York, United States (on 1967-06-15)
part of:
CBC Music: 10 Songs That Have Changed the World
cover recording of:
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free (on 1967-06-15)
writer:
Billy Taylor (jazz/bop pianist) and Richard Lamb
publisher:
Duane Music Inc. and Westminster Music Ltd.
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, Volume I)
4.353:07
3The Glory of Love
recording of:
The Glory of Love
lyricist and composer:
Billy Hill (US songwriter)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships)
22:08
4To Love Somebody
recording engineer:
Ray Hall (engineer) and Mike Moran (American engineer, associated with RCA)
producer:
Danny Davis (country music band leader, trumpeter, singer, producer, and best known as the founder and leader of the Nashville Brass)
drums (drum set):
Don Alias (in 1967)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1967)
conductor:
Jimmy Wisner
arranger:
Jimmy Wisner
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
BMG Music (in 1969)
produced for:
Stroud Productions & Enterprises Inc. (Nina Simone's husband)
recorded at:
RCA Studio B (New York) in New York, New York, United States (on 1967-12-20)
cover recording of:
To Love Somebody (on 1967-12-20)
written in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1967)
writer:
Barry Gibb (in 1967) and Robin Gibb (in 1967)
publisher:
Abigail Music, BMG Music, BMG Music Publishing (NYC‐based headquarters, with national subsidiaries under it), BMG Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Publishing Ltd., Careers Music, Inc., Careers–BMG Music Publishing, Inc., Crompton Songs, Gibb Brothers Music, Nemperor, Songs of Universal, Inc. (BMI) and Universal Music Careers
part of:
50/50
42:38
5Do What You Gotta Do
recording engineer:
Ray Hall (engineer) (on 1968-06-24)
artist & repertoire support:
Tom Berman
producer:
Joe René
drums (drum set) and timpani:
Bernard “Pretty” Purdie
electric bass guitar:
Jerry Jemmott (on 1968-06-24)
guitar:
Eric Gale (on 1968-06-24), Carl Lynch (on 1968-06-24) and Henry Young (Chinese-Ukrainian guitarist from Vancouver, B.C.; toured with Nina Simone) (on 1968-06-24)
organ:
Ernest Hayes (American pianist, organist and arranger) (on 1968-06-24)
percussion, tambourine and vibraphone:
Specs Powell (on 1968-06-24)
piano:
Paul Griffin (American pianist, session musician) (on 1968-06-24) and Nina Simone (on 1968-06-24)
trombone:
Garnett Brown (on 1968-06-24)
trumpet:
Wilbur "Dud" Bascomb (Sr., jazz trumpeter) (on 1968-06-24), Harold Johnson (US jazz trumpeter aka "Money") (on 1968-06-24) and Joe Shepley (on 1968-06-24)
lead vocals:
Nina Simone (on 1968-06-24)
conductor:
Horace Ott (on 1968-06-24)
arranger:
Horace Ott
produced for:
Stroud Productions & Enterprises Inc. (Nina Simone's husband)
recorded at:
RCA Studio B (New York) in New York, New York, United States (on 1968-06-24)
edit of:
Do What You Gotta Do (1968 version, full length) by Nina Simone
cover recording of:
Do What You Gotta Do (on 1968-06-24)
lyricist and composer:
Jimmy Webb (US songwriter, composer, producer, pianist & singer)
publisher:
EMI Songs Ltd., Jonathan Three Music Co., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC (1995–2020) and Sosahamu Music Inc. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
3.52:58
6Ain’t Got No, I Got Life
recording engineer:
Ed Begley (sound engineer in RCA Victor) (on 1968-05-13)
producer:
Joe René
drums (drum set):
Buck Clarke (on 1968-05-13)
electric bass guitar:
Gene Taylor (US jazz bassist) (on 1968-05-13)
electric guitar:
Rudy Stevenson (on 1968-05-13)
organ:
Sam Waymon (on 1968-05-13)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (on 1968-05-13)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
BMG Ariola (company mostly named as distributor in Europe) (in 1968) and BMG Music (in 1968)
produced for:
Stroud Productions & Enterprises Inc. (Nina Simone's husband)
recorded at:
RCA Studio B (New York) in New York, New York, United States (on 1968-05-13)
edit of:
Ain’t Got No / I Got Life (’Nuff Said’ version without overdubs and with studio banter at the end (“It’s groovy”)) by Nina Simone
cover recording of:
Ain’t Got No, I Got Life (on 1968-05-13)
lyricist:
James Rado (US actor, playwright, director, writer & composer) and Gerome Ragni
composer:
Galt MacDermot (Canadian composer, pianist and writer of musical theatre)
publisher:
EMI U Catalog (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and EMI United Partnership Ltd.
medley of:
I Got Life (from “Hair”)
medley of:
Ain’t Got No (from “Hair”)
42:08
7Why? (The King of Love Is Dead)
recording engineer:
Ed Begley (sound engineer in RCA Victor) (on 1968-04-07)
producer:
Joe René
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (on 1968-04-07)
produced for:
Stroud Productions & Enterprises Inc. (Nina Simone's husband)
recorded at:
Westbury Music Fair in Westbury, New York, United States (on 1968-04-07)
edit of:
Why? (The King of Love Is Dead) (live, 1968‐04‐07: Westbury Music Fair, Long Island, NY, USA, unabridged version) by Nina Simone
live recording of:
Why? (The King of Love Is Dead) (on 1968-04-07)
lyricist and composer:
Gene Taylor (US jazz bassist)
dedicated to:
Dr. Martin Luther King (group)
part of:
Martin Luther King Suite
55:45
8Everyone’s Gone to the Moon
recording engineer:
Ray Hall (engineer)
piano:
Nina Simone (on 1968-09-16)
vocals:
Nina Simone (on 1968-09-16)
arranger:
Nina Simone
produced for:
Stroud Productions & Enterprises Inc. (Nina Simone's husband)
recorded at:
RCA Studio B (New York) in New York, New York, United States (on 1968-09-16)
cover recording of:
Everyone’s Gone to the Moon (on 1968-09-16)
lyricist and composer:
Jonathan King (in 1965)
53:06
9Revolution
drums (drum set):
Don Alias (in 1969-01) and Bernard “Pretty” Purdie (in 1969-01)
electric bass guitar:
Gene A Perla (in 1969-01)
guitar:
Ernest Calabria (in 1969-01), Eric Gale (in 1969-01), Al Schackman (in 1969-01) and Stuart Scharf (in 1969-01)
percussion:
Don Alias (in 1969-01)
recorded at:
RCA Studio B (New York) in New York, New York, United States (in 1969-01)
compilation of:
Revolution, Part 1 by Nina Simone and Revolution, Part 2 by Nina Simone
recording of:
Revolution (Nina Simone song) (in 1969-01)
writer:
Weldon Irvine and Nina Simone
is based on:
Revolution (Beatles song)
44:39
10To Be Young, Gifted and Black
engineer:
Ray Hall (engineer) (from 1969-08-25 until 1969-08-26)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
BMG Music (in 1969)
recorded at:
RCA Studios (New York, later noted as RCA Recording Studios) in New York, New York, United States (from 1969-08-25 until 1969-08-26)
recording of:
To Be Young, Gifted and Black (from 1969-08-25 until 1969-08-26)
lyricist:
Weldon Irvine
composer:
Nina Simone
32:47
11Who Knows Where the Time Goes
recording engineer:
Ed Begley (sound engineer in RCA Victor)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone
arranger:
Nina Simone
produced for:
Stroud Productions & Enterprises Inc. (Nina Simone's husband)
recorded at:
Philharmonic Hall (Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts) in Upper West Side, New York, New York, United States (on 1969-10-26)
live cover recording of:
Who Knows Where the Time Goes? (on 1969-10-26)
lyricist and composer:
Sandy Denny
publisher:
Irving Music (BMI), Strawberry Music (Strawbs) and Winckler Musikforlag
38:11
12Here Comes the Sun
recording engineer:
Ed Begley (sound engineer in RCA Victor) (on 1971-02-17)
producer:
Nat Shapiro and Harold Wheeler
lead vocals:
Nina Simone
conductor:
Harold Wheeler
arranger:
Nina Simone and Harold Wheeler
recorded at:
RCA Studios (New York, later noted as RCA Recording Studios) in New York, New York, United States (on 1971-02-17)
edit of:
Here Comes the Sun by Nina Simone
cover recording of:
Here Comes the Sun
lyricist and composer:
George Harrison (The Beatles)
publisher:
Harrisongs Ltd. and Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd. (Australian subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group)
part of:
Reprise
4.43:33
13Just Like a Woman
recording engineer:
Ed Begley (sound engineer in RCA Victor) (on 1971-02-12)
producer:
Nat Shapiro and Harold Wheeler
conductor:
Harold Wheeler
arranger:
Nina Simone and Harold Wheeler
recorded at:
RCA Studios (New York, later noted as RCA Recording Studios) in New York, New York, United States (on 1971-02-12)
cover recording of:
Just Like a Woman
lyricist and composer:
Bob Dylan (on 1965-11-25)
publisher:
B. Feldman & Co. Ltd. (publisher est. 1946), M. Witmark & Sons and Dwarf Music (from 1966 to present)
54:50
14Funkier Than a Mosquito’s Tweeter
recording engineer:
Ed Begley (sound engineer in RCA Victor) (on 1971-06-24)
executive producer:
Bruce Somerfeld
producer:
Nina Simone
bass:
Gene A Perla (on 1971-06-24)
guitar:
David Spinozza (on 1971-06-24)
other instruments [Guinee Kuna], other instruments [Madagascar harp], other instruments [Mama-Likembi] and other instruments [Tal Viha]:
Nadi Qamar (American jazz pianist and ethnomusicologist.) (on 1971-06-24)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (on 1971-06-24)
arranger:
Nina Simone
produced for:
Stroud Productions & Enterprises Inc. (Nina Simone's husband)
recorded at:
RCA Studios (New York, later noted as RCA Recording Studios) in New York, New York, United States (on 1971-06-24)
edit of:
Funkier Than a Mosquito’s Tweeter (‘It Is Finished’ recording without the added applause) by Nina Simone
cover recording of:
Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter (on 1971-06-24)
lyricist and composer:
Aillene Bullock
publisher:
United Artists Musikverlag (publisher) (in 1970)
2.655:15
15Rich Girl
drums (drum set):
Andy Newmark
electric bass guitar:
Will Lee (US jazz/rock bassist)
solo electric guitar:
Jerry Friedman (guitar, session musician)
cover recording of:
Rich Girl
lyricist and composer:
Daryl Hall (in 1976)
publisher:
Unichappell Music, Inc. and Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music)
43:13
16A Single Woman
cover recording of:
A Single Woman
lyricist and composer:
Rod McKuen
43:32