The Best of Nina Simone

~ Release by Nina Simone (see all versions of this release, 2 available)

Annotation

Copyright: Nina Simone

Annotation last modified on 2025-12-29 11:39 UTC.

Tracklist

1▼Digital Media
#TitleRatingLength
1My Baby Just Cares for Me
double bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1957-12)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Bethlehem Records (US jazz label, active 1950s–) (in 1958)
recorded at:
Beltone Studios in New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
edit of:
My Baby Just Cares for Me (special extended version) by Nina Simone
cover recording of:
My Baby Just Cares for Me (in 1957-12)
lyricist and composer:
Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn
publisher:
Anne-Rachel Music Corp., Chappell Music Co. Inc., Donaldson Publishing Co., Donaldson, Douglas & Gumble Inc., EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd., Gus Kahn Music Co., The Songwriters Guild and Tobago Music Co.
3.853:34
2I Loves You Porgy
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
double bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1957-12)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Bethlehem Records (US jazz label, active 1950s–) (in 1958) and WEA International Inc. (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor for the world outside of the US) (in 2005)
recorded at:
Beltone Studios in New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
cover recording of:
I Loves You, Porgy (use this for non-operatic performances) (in 1957-12)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
publisher:
Chappell & Co., New Dawn Music, Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996), Warner/Chappell Music Holland BV, Warner/Chappell North America and Gershwin Publishing Corp (in 1935)
version of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene III. “I loves you, Porgy”
3.54:07
3Nobody Knows 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)
3.52:37
4Black Is the Colour of My True Love’s Hair
3:32
5Love Me or Leave Me
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
double bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1957-12)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Bethlehem Records (US jazz label, active 1950s–) (in 1958)
recorded at:
Beltone Studios in New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
cover recording of:
Love Me or Leave Me (in 1957-12)
lyricist:
Gus Kahn
composer:
Walter Donaldson
publisher:
EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co. Ltd., Keith Prowse Music Publishing Ltd., WB Music Corp. (1929–2019), Donaldson Publishing Co. (in 1928, in 1955) and Gilbert Keyes Music Company (in 1928, in 1955)
4.653:19
6The 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)
4.52:56
7Plain Gold Ring
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1957-12)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
PolyGram Records Inch (not for release label use! US division of PolyGram) (in 1964)
recorded at:
Beltone Studios in New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
cover recording of:
Plain Gold Ring (in 1957-12)
lyricist:
George Stone (composer)
composer:
Blue Sky Black Death (US hip hop production duo), Earl Burroughs and George Stone (composer)
publisher:
Thandewye Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Hank Snow Music (on 1959-09-21)
33:46
8Don’t Smoke in Bed
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1957-12)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Philips (publisher; do NOT use as release label) (in 1964)
recorded at:
Beltone Studios in New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
cover recording of:
Don’t Smoke in Bed (in 1957-12)
lyricist and composer:
Willard Robison
publisher:
MCA Music Ltd. and Oriole Music Corp.
43:09
9He Needs Me
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
double bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1957-12)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Bethlehem Records (US jazz label, active 1950s–) (in 1958)
recorded at:
Beltone Studios in New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
cover recording of:
He Needs Me (in 1957-12)
lyricist and composer:
Arthur Hamilton
publisher:
Warner Chappell North America
52:27
10Little Girl Blue
bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1957-12)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Bethlehem Records (US jazz label, active 1950s–) (in 1958)
recorded at:
Beltone Studios in New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
cover recording of:
Little Girl Blue (in 1957-12)
lyricist:
Lorenz Hart (in 1935)
composer:
Richard Rodgers (composer) (in 1935)
arranger:
Sarah Latto
publisher:
Chappell Music Ltd., Lorenz Hart Publishing Co., T.B. Harms Co., Universal PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. (existed only since ca. 1998), Warner Chappell North America, WC Music Corp., Williamson Music Company, シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label), ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
part of:
Jumbo
44:15
11Just in Time
recorded at:
The Village Gate in Greenwich Village, New York, New York, United States (in 1961-04)
live cover recording of:
Just in Time (Bells Are Ringing) (in 1961-04)
lyricist:
Betty Comden (in 1956) and Adolph Green (in 1956)
composer:
Jule Styne (in 1956)
publisher:
Chappell Music (UK), Stratford Music Corporation and Warner/Chappell North America
sub-publisher:
ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
part of:
Bells Are Ringing (stage musical)
36:35
12Mood Indigo
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1957-12)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Phillips (publisher; do NOT use as release label) (in 1966)
recorded at:
Beltone Studios in New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
cover recording of:
Mood Indigo (1930 jazz composition and song) (in 1957-12)
lyricist:
Irving Mills (in 1930)
composer:
Barney Bigard (in 1930) and Duke Ellington (US composer, pianist & jazz bandleader) (in 1930)
publisher:
Duke Ellington Music, Famous Music Corporation (renamed since 2007‐05 as Sony/ATV Harmony/Melody), Indigo Mood Music, Mills Music, Inc., EMI Mills Music Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated) (in 1930), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) (in 1930) and Lawrence Wright Music Co., Ltd. (in 1930)
sub-publisher:
ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング CMP外国事業部 (sub‐publisher for foreign (non‐Japanese) works) and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label)
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, Volume I)
53:59
13Good Bait
bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1957-12)
piano:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Bethlehem Records (US jazz label, active 1950s–) (in 1958)
recorded at:
Beltone Studios in New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
instrumental cover recording of:
Good Bait (in 1957-12)
lyricist:
Tadd Dameron
composer:
Count Basie (pianist) and Tadd Dameron
publisher:
Redwood Music Ltd. (Carlin) and Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996)
3.655:25
14You’ll Never Walk Alone
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1957-12)
piano:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Records Ltd. (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI‐owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 1998)
recorded at:
Beltone Studios in New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
instrumental cover recording of:
You’ll Never Walk Alone (Carousel) (in 1957-12)
lyricist:
Oscar Hammerstein II (of Rodgers & Hammerstein)
composer:
Richard Rodgers (composer)
publisher:
Chappell Music Ltd., EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), T.B. Harms Company, The Welk Music Group, Williamson Music Company and Williamson Music, Inc.
part of:
Carousel (Rodgers & Hammerstein musical)
53:44
15Wild Is the Wind
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 and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1959-10)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Records Ltd. (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI‐owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 1959)
cover recording of:
Wild Is the Wind (theme song from the Paramount movie “Wild Is the Wind”) (in 1959-10)
lyricist:
Ned Washington
composer:
Dimitri Tiomkin
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd., Carlin Music Corporation, Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc., Universal Music Publishing MGB Ltd., Anne-Rachel Music Corp. (in 1957, in 1985), Catharine Hinen Music (in 1957, in 1985), Chappell & Co., Inc. (USA) (in 1957), Largo Music Inc. (in 1957, in 1985) and Patti Washington Music (in 1957, in 1985)
part of:
The 30th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 2)
3:38
16Cotton Eyed Joe
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)
cover recording of:
Cotton‐Eyed Joe (traditional song) (in 1959-10)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 942)
22:56
17Exactly Like You
producer:
Bob Blake (co-producer of Nina Simone's live 1959 album "At Town Hall") and Jack Gold
bass:
Jimmy Bond (on 1959-09-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (on 1959-09-12)
piano:
Nina Simone (on 1959-09-12)
vocals:
Nina Simone (on 1959-09-12)
recorded at:
The Town Hall in Theater District, New York, New York, United States (on 1959-09-12)
live cover recording of:
Exactly Like You (on 1959-09-12)
lyricist:
Dorothy Fields (American librettist and lyricist) (in 1930)
writer:
Fritz Löhner-Beda (librettist, lyricist, writer)
composer:
Jimmy McHugh (songwriter) (in 1930)
33:08
18African Mailman
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
double bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1957-12)
piano:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Bethlehem Records (US jazz label, active 1950s–) (in 1959)
recording of:
African Mailman (in 1957-12)
composer:
Nina Simone
publisher:
Sam Fox Publishing Co. Ltd.
3:06
19He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1957-12)
piano:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Bethlehem Records (US jazz label, active 1950s–) (in 1959)
cover recording of:
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands (in 1957-12)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
publisher:
Thandewye Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
3:07
20For All We Know
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1957-12)
double bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Albert “Tootie” Heath (in 1957-12)
piano:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1957-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Bethlehem Records (US jazz label, active 1950s–) (in 1959)
cover recording of:
For All We Know (1934 song) (in 1957-12)
lyricist:
Sam M. Lewis (1930s lyricist) (in 1934)
composer:
J. Fred Coots (in 1934)
publisher:
Bienstock Publishing Company (ASCAP affiliated) (ended), Cromwell Music, Inc. (ended), EMI Feist Catalog Inc. (ended), Leo Feist, Inc. (ended), Redwood Music Ltd. (Carlin) (ended), Tro-Cromwell Music, Inc. (ended), John F. Coots Jr. Trust Music, Sis ’n Bro Music Company and Toy Town Tunes, Inc.
3:57
21House of the Rising Sun
bass:
Chris White (jazz bassist) (in 1961)
drums (drum set):
Bobby Hamilton (percussionist, keyboards, vocals) (in 1961)
guitar:
Al Schackman (in 1961)
lead vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1961)
recorded at:
The Village Gate in Greenwich Village, New York, New York, United States (in 1961-04)
live cover recording of:
House of the Rising Sun (in 1961-04)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
publisher:
Beechwood Music Corp., Ole Cantaloupe Music and Sonet Publishing Ltd.
cover recording of:
House of the Rising Sun
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
publisher:
Beechwood Music Corp., Ole Cantaloupe Music and Sonet Publishing Ltd.
54:29
22Forbidden Fruit
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (in 1961)
producer:
Cal Lampley
bass:
Chris White (jazz bassist) (in 1961)
drums (drum set):
Bobby Hamilton (percussionist, keyboards, vocals) (in 1961)
guitar:
Al Schackman (in 1961)
piano and lead vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1961)
recording of:
Forbidden Fruit (in 1961)
writer:
Oscar Brown Jr. (US jazz singer-songwriter from Chicago)
33:44
23Gin House Blues
3:00
24Chilly Winds Don’t Blow
recording engineer:
Rudy van Gelder (in 1959)
producer:
Hecky Krasnow
piano:
Nina Simone (in 1959)
vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1959)
arranger:
Robert Mersey
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
WEA International Inc. (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor for the world outside of the US) (in 1969)
recorded at:
Van Gelder Studio (Hackensack – July 1, 1959) in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States (in 1959)
recording of:
Chilly Winds Don’t Blow (in 1959)
writer:
Hecky Krasnow and Bill Lovelock (songwriter)
is based on:
Chilly Winds (a.k.a. Lonesome Road Blues - catch-all work)
42:44
25Solitaire
recording engineer:
Rudy van Gelder (in 1959)
producer:
Hecky Krasnow
piano:
Nina Simone (in 1959)
vocals:
Nina Simone (in 1959)
arranger:
Robert Mersey
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
WEA International Inc. (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor for the world outside of the US) (in 1969)
recorded at:
Van Gelder Studio (Hackensack – July 1, 1959) in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States (in 1959)
cover recording of:
Solitaire (in 1959)
writer:
Reneé Borek, King Guion (jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist and bass clarinetist) and Carl Nutter
53:22
2▶Digital Media
3▶Digital Media