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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
First, about the stars. The 4 comes from the less-than-informative packaging and the absence of the extended version of My Baby Just Cares For Me. Everyone knows that Nina's first album, best known as "Little Girl Blue," is 5-star and then some, being one of the finest debuts ever recorded. It features two of her biggest hits, My Baby... and I Loves You Porgy, as well as other gems like Plain Gold Ring, Mood Indigo, and the gorgeous, melancholy title track (for me, her finest moment) that so remarkably interpolates Good King Wenceslas. However, these songs have been reissued in so many formats, some rather shoddy, that people have a right to wary about how they buy them now. Happily, the Metro double disc gives you really good value for money.
Released just before Nina's death (judging from the content of the liner notes), its mastering is crisp and virtually indistinguishable from the 2006 reissue on Fuel/Varese Sarabande. The sequence may disappoint some, as Metro has stayed with the better known playing order that puts My Baby... at the start and Little Girl Blue at the end, whereas Fuel at least went back and shifted tracks around to recreate the album's original release as Jazz Played In An Exclusive Side Street Club, with the tracks from Nina Simone and Her Friends added at the end. However, Bethlehem Records reissued that early version back in the 90s (minus the extra tracks), and you can always program that sequence as follows: 4 2 5 14 7 1 9 13 12 8 11 3 10 6.
The loss of the hit version of My Baby... is a pity, but the original shorter take is more than enough for me and the other version's absence is amply compensated for by the second disc, a Best Of compiled from (I believe) her various live albums. Decent sound quality overall and no duplication of material from the first disc, with some fine performances, especially in The Other Woman, a lovely twin to He Needs Me or Don't Smoke In Bed. The booklet could do more, though; Paolo Hewitt's essay is enthusiastic and provides some biographical titbits, but he gives little details of the actual recording sessions and no information whatsoever on the live set, while the tray liner merely advertises other releases on the Metro label. But the cover photo is Nina at her most beautiful. All in all, if you're not picky about the absence of such information, this is a great way to get Nina's superb debut with a substantial bonus set on the side.
Note: the track listing published here is clearly incorrect. The first disc is only Little Girl Blue (14 tracks). All the other 11 tracks listed comprise the second disc.
Released just before Nina's death (judging from the content of the liner notes), its mastering is crisp and virtually indistinguishable from the 2006 reissue on Fuel/Varese Sarabande. The sequence may disappoint some, as Metro has stayed with the better known playing order that puts My Baby... at the start and Little Girl Blue at the end, whereas Fuel at least went back and shifted tracks around to recreate the album's original release as Jazz Played In An Exclusive Side Street Club, with the tracks from Nina Simone and Her Friends added at the end. However, Bethlehem Records reissued that early version back in the 90s (minus the extra tracks), and you can always program that sequence as follows: 4 2 5 14 7 1 9 13 12 8 11 3 10 6.
The loss of the hit version of My Baby... is a pity, but the original shorter take is more than enough for me and the other version's absence is amply compensated for by the second disc, a Best Of compiled from (I believe) her various live albums. Decent sound quality overall and no duplication of material from the first disc, with some fine performances, especially in The Other Woman, a lovely twin to He Needs Me or Don't Smoke In Bed. The booklet could do more, though; Paolo Hewitt's essay is enthusiastic and provides some biographical titbits, but he gives little details of the actual recording sessions and no information whatsoever on the live set, while the tray liner merely advertises other releases on the Metro label. But the cover photo is Nina at her most beautiful. All in all, if you're not picky about the absence of such information, this is a great way to get Nina's superb debut with a substantial bonus set on the side.
Note: the track listing published here is clearly incorrect. The first disc is only Little Girl Blue (14 tracks). All the other 11 tracks listed comprise the second disc.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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2 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Great Deal on COMPLETE 1st 4 albums
12 May 2007
Format:Audio CD
For those who have familiarized themselves with these four albums, this is one of the best deals ever! I almost wish I had waited to buy this collection before buying these 4 albums individually - of course, that would have meant going all this time without being able to enjoy listening to them. Bob James created one of the most unique blends of musical influences I've ever found - funk, smooth, acoustic, electric, brass arrangements, string arrangements, and all arranged in often surprising and unique ways. Bob James' talent as an ARRANGER is often overlooked; it is certainly at the top of his considerable and enviable many talents. And within the context of these 4 recordings BJ had incredible talent to work with embodied in the incredible line-up of studio musicians that played on these recordings. This truly great music!
This particular set does, in fact, contain the complete listing from the ORIGINAL 4 recordings, despite the claim by another reviewer that one song is missing - "... lacking the track "Solace" from BJ's "One" album" - that song referenced by that individual did NOT appear on BJ's "One" album, nor did it appear on any of these 4 albums. I can only imagine that reviewer is confusing a different album with the original Bob James' "One". This is an incredible buy for those looking to own these 4 albums in their entirety.
This particular set does, in fact, contain the complete listing from the ORIGINAL 4 recordings, despite the claim by another reviewer that one song is missing - "... lacking the track "Solace" from BJ's "One" album" - that song referenced by that individual did NOT appear on BJ's "One" album, nor did it appear on any of these 4 albums. I can only imagine that reviewer is confusing a different album with the original Bob James' "One". This is an incredible buy for those looking to own these 4 albums in their entirety.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Missing Track(s)!
11 Sep 2006
Format:Audio CD
I won't bother reiterating what everyone already knows about Bob James and his music (it's superb!), but I just wanted to point out that this 2-CD "collection" is lacking the track "Solace" from BJ's "One" album, so it, in fact, is not a complete catalog of the tunes from all four of BJs "numbered" CDs. It would have been extra nice if this package also contained the track "Spring Has Come" from the Japanese version of BJ's "Four" album. It is an exclusive (apparently) to that import disc.
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