Label: RCA Victor – 88985317261, RCA Victor – LSP-3789
Series: Vinyl Me, Please. Record Of The Month – Vol. 48
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo, Blue, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: Dec 2016
Genre: Blues

Nina Simone Sings the Blues, issued in 1967, was her RCA label debut, and was a brave departure from the material she had been recording for Phillips. Indeed, her final album for that label, High Priestess of Soul, featured the singer, pianist, and songwriter fronting a virtual orchestra. Here, Simone is backed by a pair of guitarists (Eric Gale and Rudy Stevenson), bassist (Bob Bushnell), drummer (Bernard "Pretty" Purdie), organist (Ernie Hayes), and harmonica player who doubled on saxophone (Buddy Lucas). Simone handled the piano chores. The song selection is key here. Because for all intents and purposes this is perhaps the rawest record Simone ever cut.