Nina Simone - Baltimore (1978 Japanese CTI Vinyl LP Gatefold)

Vinyl: EX
Sleeve: VG+
Obi: EX

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Nina Simone - Baltimore Vinyl LP - Japanese CTI Gatefold with Obi and Insert

One of Nina Simone's most intimate and spiritually powerful recordings, Baltimore captures the legendary singer and pianist in Brussels during January 1978, performing a deeply personal programme that ranges from reggae-inflected social commentary to gospel affirmation. Produced by Creed Taylor for CTI Records and released in Japan in a handsome gatefold edition with obi strip and Japanese/English lyric insert, this album showcases Simone at a crucial moment in her career, living in self-imposed European exile yet creating music of undiminished power and conviction.

The album opens with the title track "Baltimore", a searing indictment of urban decay and racial injustice that demonstrates Simone's unwavering commitment to using her art as social commentary. Arranger David Matthews provides a reggae-influenced setting that was contemporary for 1978 yet honours Simone's jazz roots. Her voice, weathered and deepened by experience, carries the weight of lived truth rather than mere performance.

"Everything Must Change" reveals Simone's gift for finding profound meaning in popular material, transforming what could be a simple ballad into a meditation on impermanence and acceptance. "The Family" and "My Father", both arranged by Simone herself, showcase her ability to craft intimate narratives that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable. Her piano playing throughout demonstrates the classical training that underpinned all her work, even as her phrasing and approach remained rooted in jazz and gospel traditions.

Side two continues with "Music For Lovers", another Simone arrangement, before launching into Hall & Oates' "Rich Girl", which Simone transforms from a pop hit into a vehicle for social observation about materialism and values. "That's All I Want From You" receives a tender reading, while "Forget" explores the pain of moving past relationships and trauma.

The album's final two tracks embrace gospel explicitly. "Balm In Gilead", the traditional spiritual, receives a powerful reading featuring backing vocalists including Ray Simpson (who would later join the Village People) and a full choir. Simone's delivery is both celebratory and searching, her voice and piano creating a sacred space. "If You Pray Right" closes the album with an affirmation of faith that transcends religious boundaries, Simone's conviction making the message universal.

David Matthews' string arrangements add lushness without overwhelming Simone's essential directness. The rhythm section of Gary King on bass, Eric Gale on guitar, and Jim Madison on drums provides contemporary grooves while remaining sensitive to Simone's dynamic range and unpredictable phrasing. Percussionist Nicky Marrero adds colour, while the extensive string section brings orchestral depth to Matthews' sophisticated charts.

Producer Creed Taylor's liner notes (included in the insert) describe attending Simone's December 1977 London concert and being unprepared for the intensity she brought to the recording studio a month later in Brussels. His observation that Simone "turns everything - even the most simple, mundane phrase or lyric - into a radiant, poetic message" perfectly captures what makes this album special. Mixed at Electric Lady Studios using the then-innovative Aphex Aural Exciter, the recording captures both the intimacy of Simone's voice and piano and the warmth of the orchestral elements.

This Japanese pressing, manufactured and distributed by King Record Co. Ltd., represents CTI's commitment to superior vinyl quality. The gatefold packaging, obi strip, and bilingual insert make this an attractive edition for Simone collectors and CTI enthusiasts alike.