Description

First issued in 1961 on Columbia s early music venture Colpix, Forbidden Fruit is widely acknowledged as the best of Nina Simone s early releases. Producer Cal Lampley chose to cast her in varied settings, blending a rendition of Oscar Brown s Rags And Old Iron with a unique take of Bessie Smith s Gin House Blues, contrasting with Billie Holiday s No Good Man and I ll Look Around, which Simone shifts to her own image. Her backing trio aim for the understated, the rhythm section leaving ample room for Simone s appealing piano lines, nicely complimented by Al Shackman s guitar. An excellent set from Miss Simone — grab it!