Search - Nina Simone :: Essential Nina Simone 2

Worth the Price of Purchase

Peter | East of Los Angeles | 04/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No Nina Simone CD is ever a disappointment. Even so, I took a chance with this one since the Volume 2 songs aren't as commercial as her earlier version on RCA. I was curious too because this CD has more covers of songs made famous by their originators, especially seeing what Simone does with "My Way", a song long identified with Frank Sinatra, who isn't exactly a stylistic match for Nina. Well, she doesn't disappoint. It's always interesting what Simone does with a cover song made famous by someone else. The arrangement and moods Nina brings to these songs are refreshing and as good, maybe even better, than the original versions. Hands down, the standout track here is her cover of Bob Dylan's "Just Like a Woman"----Wow!! The intensity, tenderness and sorrow spilled forth by Nina on this track are breathtaking and a 5-hanky tearjerker. Characteristically, Simone achieves this without any sentimentality. These songs were recorded by Nina during a turbulent time in U.S. history, the time of Vietnam and protests of every kind. I feel the central theme in this collection is compassion and human understanding, and some of the songs selected for this collection reflects that. Whether it's "Oooh Child" "Peace of Mind" or "Human Touch", Simone's voice reflects hope, love and understanding of the human condition. Definitely worth the price of admission. This is a 5-star rating. "Just Like A Woman" alone is worth it!"

High Priestess for a reason...

jonofoz | 07/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes. This is an excellent album. Everything Dr. Simone does is wonderful, but this is the most emotional album I've ever heard. "Here Comes the Sun" is, thanks to POINT OF NO RETURN, quite popular (and quite good, too). Nina singing Dylan is always remarkable, and "Just Like a Woman" is even better than "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" and "I Shall Be Released" from Volume One. In "The Human Touch" we get to hear a calm, melodic Simone... Her voice is perfectly-- PERFECTLY-- suited for singing Jacques Brel's songs. "Ne Me Quitte Pas" is powerful, but "The Desperate Ones" is even more emotionally (and artistically) extreme. AMAZING! Of course, "My Way" is terriffic. Imagine Nina Simone doing anything her way. Much better than the Sinatra version. MARVELOUS ALBUM. BUY IT!"

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!

Wishnu Kameshwara | Indonesia | 03/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this volume II from Nina Simone along with her volume I from her essential. We have so many divas but there's only one I can recommend you to devote with. And she must be Miss Nina Simone through this collection with (specially( her two massive songs, (late)George Harrison's composition'Here Comes The Sun' and Paul Anka's composition 'My Way'. She also incredibly sang Terry Kirkman's 'Cherish' for us. Don't miss her 'Oo-h Child'. What more can I say? SHE IS GODDESS WITH HER ENCHANTED FLAME!!!!!!"