Sunday was the 77th anniversary of the birth of Eunice Kathleen Waymon, aka Nina Simone.  To celebrate, Feldie will be playing Nina Simone's debut album, Little Girl Blue, in its entirety.  Recorded in 1957 when Nina was 24 (with Jimmy Bond on bass and Albert "Tootie" Heath on drums), the album is a remarkable accomplishment--even though it was recorded in just 14 hours and, at the time, Nina still had no interest in being a popular singer; her goal was still to be a classical concert pianist, a role she'd been training for since she was a young child.  From the song selection to the vocal interpretations to the incredible piano playing, Nina's style seems fully formed on this album. 

The 2nd half of today's Lucky Old Souls will feature party music to keep your spirits up on this grey winter day.  Expect tracks from Amos Milburn, Ruth Brown, John Lee Hooker, and more.

Full playlist here, as it unfolds:

Nina Simone: Little Girl Blue

Mood Indigo

Don't Smoke In Bed

He Needs Me

Little Girl Blue

Love Me Or Leave Me

My Baby Just Cares For Me

Good Bait

Plain Gold Ring

You'll Never Walk Alone

I Loves You, Porgy

Central Park Blues

He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

For All We Know

African Mailman

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Dave "Baby" Cortez - Big Little Organ (Dave "Baby" Cortez And Jerry's House Rockers)

Ruth Brown - As Long As I'm Moving (Miss Rhythm: Greatest Hits & More)

The "5" Royales - Think (Dedicated To You)

Sugar Pie DeSanto - Can't Let You Go (Go Go Power: The Complete Chess Singles, 1961-1966)

Yvonne Fair - Say Yeah Yeah (James Brown's Original Funky Divas)

Good Time Charlie - Whoop It On Me (Midnite Blues Party)

Big Al T - Twenty-Five Miles (The Philly Sound Get Down: Funky Philly Instrumentals)

John Lee Hooker - Shake It Baby (The Best Of John Lee Hooker: 1965-1974)

Beale Street Gang - Fat Stuff Boogie (Stompin' At The Savoy: Red Hot Blues, 1948-1951)

Brenton Wood - Oogum Boogum (Brenton Wood's 18 Best)

Archie Bell & The Drells - Tighten Up, Pt. 1 (Tighten Up)

Betty Harris - Ride Your Pony (The Lost Soul Queen)

Eldridge Holmes - Beverly (Deep Southern Soul)

Nina Simone - Love's Been Good To Me (A Single Woman)