Pastel Blues
Pastel Blues | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 1, 1965 | |||
Recorded | 1964–1965[1] | |||
Length | 35:02 | |||
Label | Philips | |||
Producer | Hal Mooney | |||
Nina Simone chronology | ||||
|
Pastel Blues is a
The album was recorded in 1964 and 1965 in New York City[1] and peaked at number 139 on the Billboard 200 chart,[2] as well as number 8 on the Hot R&B LPs chart.[3] The album was re-issued in November 2020 by Verve and Universal Music Enterprises as part of their "audiophile-grade" Acoustic Sounds series.[4]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
Pitchfork | 8.7/10[6] |
Record Mirror | [7] |
Tom Hull | B+[8] |
Richie Unterberger of AllMusic gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5 and called it "one of Nina Simone's more subdued mid-'60s LPs, putting the emphasis on her piano rather than band arrangements."[5] He added, "By far the most impressive track is her frantic ten-minute rendition of the traditional 'Sinnerman,' an explosive tour de force that dwarfs everything else on the album."[5]
Joe Muggs of
In 2008, Cokemachineglow included it on the "30 'Other' Albums of the 1960s" list.[10] In 2012, Alicia Keys included it on her "25 Favorite Albums" list.[11] In 2017, Pitchfork placed it at number 21 on the "200 Best Albums of the 1960s" list.[12]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Be My Husband" | Andy Stroud | 3:19 |
2. | " Sinnerman" | Traditional; arranged by Nina Simone | 10:15 |
Total length: | 35:02 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
- Nina Simone – piano, vocals, arrangement
- Al Schackman – guitar, harmonica
- Rudy Stevenson – guitar, flute
- Lisle Atkinson – double bass
- Bobby Hamilton – drums
Charts
Chart (1965) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200[2][13] | 139 |
US | 8 |
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
US | 18 |
References
- ^ a b Pastel Blues (booklet). Nina Simone. Verve Records. 2006. 0602498887004.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "Nina Simone - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ a b "Nina Simone - Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ Helfet, Gabriela (September 27, 2020). "Nina Simone's I Put A Spell On You and Pastel Blues reissued in "audiophile-grade" editions". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ a b c Unterberger, Richie. "Pastel Blues - Nina Simone". AllMusic. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ Wallace, Carvell (July 30, 2016). "Nina Simone: Pastel Blues". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
- ^ Jones, Peter; Jopling, Norman (22 January 1966). "Nina Goes Back To Blues" (PDF). Record Mirror. No. 254. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
- ^ Hull, Tom (n.d.). "Jazz/Pop Vocals (1950s-70s)". tomhull.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- Noisey. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ "30 "Other" Albums of the 1960s (page 1 of 3)". Cokemachineglow. July 5, 2008. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- Complex. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s (page 9 of 10)". Pitchfork. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Nina Simone - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 23, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ "Nina Simone - Jazz Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
External links
- Pastel Blues at Discogs (list of releases)