Mastercuts Presents (2006)

About this title: Despite the lack of credibility of the label that released Mastercuts Presents (the British Mastercuts generally sticks to dance music compilations, though it may be hard for American listeners to avoid the discount haircut connotations), the album is actually a pretty good Nina Simone sampler. Perhaps that's because the tracks are the same ones (though the order is switched around) as those from her seminal 1957 debut album, Little Girl Blue. The versions are slightly different, however, "Love Me or Leave Me," for example, not having quite the same punch in the piano or in Simone's voice, ... read more

Tracks:

1. My Baby Just Cares for Me [Kahn/Donaldson]
2. Mood Indigo [Ellington/Mills/Big]
3. He's Got the Whole World in His Hands [Traditional]
4. I Loves You Porgy [Gershwin/Hayward]
5. Plain Gold Ring [Stone]
6. Little Girl Blue [Rodgers/Hart]
7. Central Park Blues [Simone]
8. Don't Smoke in Bed [Robinson]
9. For All We Know [Coots/Lewis]
10. You'll Never Walk Alone [Rodgers/Hammerstein]
11. Good Bait [Dameron/Basier]
12. He Needs Me [Hamilton]
13. African Mailman [Simone]
14. Love Me or Leave Me [Kahn/Donaldson]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.