Baltimore

by

Nina Simone

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Of all my Nina recordings, Baltimore remains my favorite. However, it joins the ranks of Teena Marie's "Emerald City", Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Illuminations" and Joni Mitchell's "Mingus" for controversy. There is no middle ground here. Fans either love or hate these albums. Unlike these other albums, where the artists had total control, Nina evidently had none for Baltimore and apparently does not like the album. Despite the circumstances, she unwittingly created another classic. This is the album that made me enough of a fan to buy 60 other Nina recordings, so I DO know what she is capable of.

I was hooked for life upon hearing the title track on the radio about 20 years ago. I was certainly not disappointed when I got the whole album. The recording here of Everything Must Change (though recorded by half the singers in the recording business) has only been equalled by the likes of Randy Crawford. The touching Judy Collins testimonial "My Father" is heartwrenching in Nina's hands. Hall & Oates' "Rich Girl" can be forgiven, or at least skipped. "Balm in Gilead" is a fine arrangement that she continued to use in concerts for years.

I really hope that Ms. Simone knows how she has touched people with this album. For those that just don't "get it" with "Baltimore", there are dozens of others to choose from. I don't think she lost any fans with this one the way the bulimic white girls abandoned Joni over "Mingus", and the hippies and moldy figs freaked over Buffy's "Illuminations" and even Teena herself disowned her own "Emerald City" fusion of Funk, Soul, Metal and World Beat.

Simply put, "Baltimore" is good music. It is among my prize possessions.

In the liner notes of this CD, the writer tells you that Nina Simone was not pleased with what was recorded finally to become "Baltimore," and that he disagreed with her opinion that this was inferior work. But I have to agree with Ms. Simone.

I am a HUGE fan of her music, and would like to steer potential fans to greater albums like "Wild is the Wind" or "High Priestess of Soul." Or if you're looking for a collection, "The Best of Nina Simone" (a live recording) is a seminal work with a most amazing rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" on it. Or even the Nina Simone collection in the Sony Walkman Jazz series is a good intro to the eclectic song-styling, singing, arranging and piano playing of Ms. Simone.

When you listen to these other albums you will see why Nina Simone knew she could do better than "Baltimore." Definitely do not judge her artistry by this album.