Maps of Music

High Priestess of Soul (1967)

Where the lyrics of High Priestess of Soul take you, and where it was really made.

The title was an attempt by management to broaden her appeal, yet Nina Simone rejected the label she was later called by.

Key places

Recorded in New York City (1967)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — The album was recorded in a studio session in New York City between 1965 and 1966. The source names only the city, so the exact studio is not given here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• High Priestess of Soul: studio album by singer, pianist and songwriter Nina Simone
• Released in 1967 (Italian Wikipedia)
• Label: Philips, 1967; catalog PHS 600-219 / PHM 200-219 (Discogs)
• Large band directed and arranged by Hal Mooney
• Contains pop songs such as Don't You Pay Them No Mind
• Gospel and folk-related songs written by Simone herself, such as Take Me to the Water and Come Ye
• Side A runs 18:56 and side B runs 16:09 (track list)

Background

• Title suggested by management executives to broaden her appeal
• After the title, Simone was sometimes called the high priestess of soul
• She completely rejected the title because it placed a label on her as an artist
• Her daughter Lisa said she never hated the moniker

Recording

• Recording session held in New York City, 1965-1966 (Discogs)
• Hal Mooney credited as arranger and producer
• Jack McMahon credited for editing
• Del Shields wrote the liner notes

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon on February 21, 1933, in Tryon, North Carolina; the sixth of eight children.
• Began playing piano at age three or four and gave a classical debut recital at age 12.
• Failed to gain admission to the Curtis Institute of Music, which she attributed to racism.
• Played piano at a nightclub in Atlantic City and adopted the stage name "Nina Simone" in 1954, after which she began singing as well.

Career

• Debut album Little Girl Blue (1958) included "I Loves You, Porgy", her only Billboard top 20 single in the US.
• Recorded more than 40 albums up to 1974; her 1960s protest songs such as "Mississippi Goddam" tied her to the civil rights movement.
• Left the US in 1970 and settled in Europe, later living in Liberia, Barbados, the Netherlands, and France.
• Autobiography I Put a Spell on You was published in 1991; she continued performing until her death on April 21, 2003.
• Known as the "High Priestess of Soul"; Rolling Stone ranked her No. 21 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Members

• Solo artist; she was accompanied by percussionist Leopoldo Fleming and guitarist Al Schackman throughout most of her career.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released on the Philips label in 1967 (Discogs)
• Catalog numbers PHS 600-219 and PHM 200-219
• Nina Simone credited for vocals, piano and arrangements
• Hal Mooney credited for arrangement and production
• Jack McMahon credited for editing
• Del Shields credited for liner notes
• Twelve tracks across two sides: seven on side A, five on side B
• Pop songs and Simone's own gospel and folk-related songs sit side by side on the album

Records

• Reissued under different titles and covers over time (Discogs)
• Discogs lists a modified edition under the reference r1944050

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Trivia

• The songs I Hold No Grudge and He Ain't Comin' Home No More were co-written by Andy Badale, the pseudonym of Angelo Badalamenti, who later became known as the composer of the soundtracks for the films of David Lynch.
• Work Song, the soul-jazz hit by Nat Adderley and Oscar Brown Jr., had an earlier recording on Forbidden Fruit, and the same track was also featured on Nina's Choice.
• The last track, I Love My Baby, is a composition by Andy Stroud, to whom Simone was married from 1960 until 1970.
• The album has been reissued under different titles and covers.
• Simone rejected the high priestess title because it placed a label on her as an artist, though her daughter Lisa said she never hated the moniker.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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