Little Girl Blue is the debut album by jazz singer, pianist, and songwriter Nina Simone. It was released by Bethlehem Records in February 1959. At this time, Simone was in her mid-20s and still aspiring to be a classical concert pianist. She immediately sold the rights for the album to Bethlehem for $3,000. This deal eventually cost her royalty profits of more than a million dollars. Simone was dissatisfied by the lack of effort the record company took in promoting her, and she subsequently formed a long business relationship with Colpix Records. The albumNina Simone and Her Friends was released after she had left Bethlehem, without her consent, and comprised songs that were left over from the Little Girl Blue recording session. The session was the only one ever recorded for Bethlehem. The album was reissued by Bethlehem in 1992 on CD, with three additional tracks from the same session: "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands", "For All We Know" and "African Mailman". This format was released again in 2002, as Jazz as Played in an Exclusive Side Street Club by Charly / Snapper Music, remastered and with the addition of "My Baby Just Cares for Me ".
Song information
"I Loves You, Porgy" is from George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess. This was the song that started Simone's career. The single became her only Billboardtop 20 hit in the United States.
"Mood Indigo" is also featured on Let It All Out.
"Love Me or Leave Me" is also featured on the soundtrack of Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss and Let It All Out. The song is also famous for the middle instrumental section in the style of a Bach Invention.
"My Baby Just Cares for Me" was Simone's biggest hit. It was one of the last songs she recorded during the session, because the record label wanted an uptempo song to finish with. The fairly obscure song became a hit when it was re-released in 1987, after it had featured in a UK commercial for the Chanel No. 5 perfume.
"Central Park Blues" was created and recorded in a single take. The record company needed another song, so Simone drew inspiration from a photo shoot earlier in the day at Central Park.
"Little Girl Blue" is a modern example of a quodlibet. In this case Simone combined the Rodgers and Hart melody and lyrics with the melody of the popular carol "Good King Wenceslas".
"Don't Smoke in Bed" is a jazz song written and originally recorded by Willard Robison.
