Nina Simone’s troubles were highlighted in the recent gripping documentary by Liz Garbus, What Happened, Miss Simone? Though Simone had her fair share of challenges, it was her incredibly resonant voice and musical genius that contributed to the gradual accumulation of legends surrounding her. These talents are bursting from the seams of “Gin House Blues,” Miss Simone’s version of the Bessie Smith song, “Me and My Gin” (which British rockers The Animals covered as well, to great success). Here, it is abundantly clear that Nina Simone has that mysterious quality that we can only call ‘soul.’
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