Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You (1965-2006) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

One of her most pop-oriented albums, but also one of her best and most consistent. Most of the songs feature dramatic, swinging large-band orchestration, with the accent on the brass and strings. Simone didn't write any of the material, turning to popular European songsmiths Charles Aznavour, Jacques Brel, and Anthony Newley, as well as her husband, Andy Stroud, and her guitarist, Rudy Stevenson, for bluesier fare. There are really fine tunes and interpretations, on which Simone gives an edge to the potentially fey pop songs, taking a sudden (but not uncharacteristic) break for a straight jazz instrumental with "Blues on Purpose." The title track, a jazzy string ballad version of the Screamin' Jay Hawkins classic, gave the Beatles the inspiration for the phrasing on the bridge of "Michelle."  by Richie Unterberger

Tracklist:

1 I Put A Spell On You 2:34

Written-By – Jalacy Hawkins

2 Tomorrow Is My Turn 2:48

Written-By – Charles Aznavour, Marcel Stellman, Yves Stephane

3 Ne Me Quitte Pas 3:34

Written-By – Jacques Brel

4 Marriage Is For Old Folks 3:29

Written-By – Earl Shuman, Leon Carr

5 July Tree 2:41

Written-By – Eve Merrian, Irma Jurist

6 Gimme Some 2:57

Written-By – Andy Stroud

7 Feeling Good 2:53

Written-By – Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse

8 One September Day 2:48

Written-By – Rudy Stevenson

9 Blues On Purpose 3:16

Written-By – Rudy Stevenson

10 Beautiful Land 1:54

Written-By – Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse

11 You've Got To Learn 2:41

Written-By – Charles Aznavour, Marcel Stellman

12 Take Care Of Business 2:03

Written-By – Andy Stroud

Credits:

Arranged By, Conductor – Hal Mooney (tracks: 1, 3 to 5, 7, 8, 10), Horace Ott (tracks: 2, 6, 11, 12)

Guitar – Rudy Stevenson

Piano – Nina Simone

Vocals – Nina Simone (tracks: 1 to 8, 10 to 12)