Pastel Blues

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Nina Simone chronology
Pastel Blues

Studio album by Nina Simone
Released	1965
Recorded	New York, March 21 April 1 & 6 1964 May 19 & 20 1965
Genre	Blues Soul Jazz Folk
Label	Philips Records
I Put a Spell on You (1965)	Pastel Blues (1965)	Let It All Out (1966)

Pastel Blues is a studio album by singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone (1933-2003). It was recorded in 1964 and 1965 in New York City and released in 1965 by Philips Records. The name Pastel Blues is somewhat deceiving because the songs on the album incorporate different musical styles besides the blues, such as jazz, soul and folk music. Simone's performance of the songs is far from 'pastel'.

[edit] Information about songs on this album

"Be My Husband" was written by Andrew Stroud, Simone's husband and manager at the time. She sings it a cappella with her handclapping as her only accompaniment. The song was later retitled as "Be Your Husband" and covered by Jeff Buckley on Live at Sin-é (Legacy Edition) (2004).
"Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" was originally sung by Bessie Smith. She was a blues singer in the 1920's/1930's and her songs had a great influence on Simone.
"Tell Me More and More and Then Some" and "Strange Fruit" were originally sung by Billie Holiday.
"Sinnerman" is one of Simone's most famous songs. Simone learned the lyrics of this 9 minute song when it was used on revival meetings by her mother to help people confess their sins. An earlier version of this song exists, recorded live at The Village Gate, but was never used on the Colpix album Nina at the Village Gate (1962). "Sinnerman" has been featured in various films, commercials and remixes, including The Thomas Crown Affair, Cellular, the Absinthe Films snowboarding video Futureproof, an episode of the TV show Scrubs, the video game Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, remixes by Hip-hop producer Kanye West, and Felix da Housecat (for Verve Record's Verve Remixed series). Bob Marley & The Wailers also recorded a slightly different version in 1966.