In 1969, the High Priestess Of Soul, Nina Simone, descended onto the stage of the Philharmonic Hall in New York to record her new live album, Black Gold. Released in 1970, the album was nominated for a Grammy in1971 but suffered a narrow loss to Aretha Franklin. The album features the first recording of civil rights anthem song “To Be Young, Gifted and Black”, a song which, in her words, “Is not addressed to white people primarily. Though it doesn't put you down in any way...it simply ignores you. For my people need all the inspiration and love that they can get.” This song was later released as a studio recording, which became a top 10 hit and was later covered by Aretha, Dionne Warwick, among many others. The album includes bits of stage banter, at times aloof, other times regal, sometimes a bit silly - demonstrating the honest, intimate relationship to her audience that has earned her accolades for decades. Also features two versions of “Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair”, one sung by Nina and a second sung by her guitarist Emile Latimer, in addition to a live reprise of her hit ‘Nuff Said single "Ain't Got No-I Got Life”. This edition is pressed on black and gold marbled colored vinyl and is part of an individually numbered edition of 1500 copies. Recommended.

• 180g gold and black marbled colored vinyl pressing
• limited 50th anniversary edition
• limited to 1500 individually numbered copies
• music label: Music on Vinyl 2020

reviewed by SANDY DENNY 02/2020