Nina Simone - Little Girl Blue (Full album 1958)

“Little Girl Blue” (also known as “Jazz As Played in an Exclusive Side Street Club”) is the debut album by jazz singer, pianist, and songwriter Nina Simone. It was released by Bethlehem Records on 16 September, 1958. At this time, Simone was in her mid-20s and still aspiring to be a classical concert pianist. She immediately sold the rights for the album to Bethlehem for $3,000 (US$26,052 in 2018 dollars). This deal eventually cost her royalty profits of more than a million dollars. Simone was dissatisfied by the lack of effort the record company took in promoting her, and she subsequently formed a long business relationship with Colpix Records. The album “Nina Simone and Her Friends” was released after she had left Bethlehem, without her consent, and comprised songs that were left over from the “Little Girl Blue” recording session. The session was the only one ever recorded for Bethlehem.
The original 1958 album was released in mono, but a second issue the following year, by Bethlehem Records (SBCP-6028), was stereo.
The album was reissued by Bethlehem in 1992 on CD (Bethlehem 30042), with three additional tracks from the same session: "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands", "For All We Know" and "African Mailman". This format was released again in 2002, as “Jazz as Played in an Exclusive Side Street Club” by Charly / Snapper Music (SNAP 216 CD), remastered and with the addition of "My Baby Just Cares for Me (Extended Version)".

“Little Girl Blue” (cunoscut si ca “Jazz As Played in an Exclusive Side Street Club”) este albumul de debut al cantaretei de jazz, pianistei si compozitoarei Nina Simone. A fost lansat de catre Bethlehem Records la 16 septembrie 1958. La acel timp Simone era la mijlocul anilor 20 ai ei, aspirand sa ajunga pianist de concert la muzica clasica. Si-a vandut imediat drepturile pentru album pentru 3000$ (26.052 in valoarea din 2018). Acest targ a costat-o profiturile regale realizate de peste 1 milion de dolari. Simone a fost nesatisfacuta de slabul efort depus de compania de inregistrari in promovarea ei si de aceea, ulterior, a creat o legatura de afaceri de lunga durata cu Colpix Records. Albumul “Nina Somone and Her Friends” a fost lansat ulterior plecarii ei de la Bethlehem, fara a avea consimtamantul ei si a continut cantece lasate dupa sesiunea de inregistrari de la “Little Girl Blue”.
Albumul original din 1958 era mono, dar o a doua lansare in anul urmator, tot la Bethlehem Records (SBCP-6028) a fost stereo. Albumul a fost relansat de Bethlehem in 1992 pe CD (Bethlehem 30042), cu trei piese aditionale din aceeasi sesiune: “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”, “For All We Know” si “African Mailman”. Formatul a fost relansat iarasi in 2002 ca “Jazz as Played in an Exclusive Side Street Club” de catre Charly/Snapper Music (SNAP 216 CD), reimbunatatit si cu extrapiesa “My Baby Just Cares for Me (Extended Version)”.

List of tracks

"Mood Indigo" – (Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard, Irving Mills)

"Don't Smoke in Bed" – (Willard Robison)

"He Needs Me" – (Arthur Hamilton)

"Little Girl Blue" – (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart)

"Love Me or Leave Me" – (Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn)

"My Baby Just Cares for Me" – (Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn)

"Good Bait" (instrumental) – (Count Basie, Tadd Dameron)

"Plain Gold Ring" – (George Stone (aka Earl Burroughs))

"You'll Never Walk Alone" (instrumental) – (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II)

"I Loves You, Porgy" – (DuBose Heyward, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin)

"Central Park Blues" (instrumental) – (Nina Simone)

Personnel

Nina Simone – vocals, piano, arrangements

Jimmy Bond – double bass

Albert "Tootie" Heath – drums

Joseph Muranyi – liner notes