Nina Simone Sings the Blues

Nina Simone Sings the Blues is an album by singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone. This was Simone's first album for RCA Victor after previously recording for Colpix Records and Philips Records. The album was also reissued in 2006 with bonus tracks, and reissued in 1991 by RCA/Novus as a 17-track compilation under the title The Blues.

Song information

• "My Man's Gone Now," from the opera Porgy & Bess by George Gershwin.
• "Backlash Blues," one of Simone's civil rights songs. The lyrics were written by her friend and poet Langston Hughes.
• "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl," based on a song by Simone's great example, Bessie Smith, but with somewhat different lyrics.
• "The House of the Rising Sun" was previously recorded live by Simone in 1962 on Nina at the Village Gate. After its cover by The Animals became a hit, she recorded it in studio. The fast-paced version on this album is very different from the slow, intimate version on Nina at the Village Gate.

Legacy

Musicians Beth Orton, Marissa Nadler, and Tanita Tikaram have named Blues among their favorite albums.^[1][2][3] In 2017, Blues placed #28 on NPR Music's list "The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women".^[4]

Personnel

Tracks 1–12

• Nina Simone - vocals, piano
• Eric Gale - guitar
• Rudy Stevenson - guitar
• Ernie Hayes - organ
• Bob Bushnell - bass
• Bernard Purdie - drums, timpani
• Buddy Lucas - harmonica, tenor saxophone

Track 13

• Nina Simone - vocals, piano
• Eric Gale - guitar
• Everett Barksdale - guitar
• Weldon Irvine - organ
• Richard Tee - organ
• Jerry Jemmott - bass
• probably Bernard Purdie - drums
• Specs Powell - vibes, percussion
• Montego Joe - percussion
• George Devens - percussion
• Joe Shepley, Jimmy Nottingham, Harold Johnson, Wilbur Bascomb - trumpets
• Jimmy Cleveland, Richard Harris - trombones
• Seldon Powell, George Coleman, Norris Turney, Haywood Henry - saxophones
• Ralph H. Fields, Eileen Gilbert, Jerome Graff, Milt Grayson, Hilda Harris, Noah Hopkins, Maeretha Stewart, Barbara Webb - vocals
• Arranged and conducted by Weldon Irvine

Charts

Notes

1. ^ Some sources date the release to it releasing sometime in June, 1967, because it was in 1967 that Simone was signed to RCA Victor. Many Nina Simone discographies and biographies also do often cite June as its release month based on archival research and record company documents

References

1. ^ Tuffrey, Laurie (October 23, 2012). "Beautiful, Beautiful Music: Beth Orton's Favourite Albums | Page 10 of 14". The Quietus. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
2. ^ Clarke, Patrick (December 5, 2018). "Extracted Essence: Marissa Nadler's 13 Favourite Albums | Page 4 of 14". The Quietus. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
3. ^ Turner, Luke (November 5, 2025). "Good Tradition: Tanita Tikaram's Favourite Albums | Page 4 of 14". The Quietus. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
4. ^ NPR Music (July 24, 2017). "Turning The Tables: The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women : NPR". NPR Music. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
5. ^ "Nina Simone - Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
6. ^ "Nina Simone - Chart History (Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2021.