Black Gold (album)
Encyclopedia
Black Gold is a live album by Jazz singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone
recorded in 1969 at the Philharmonic Hall
, New York
.
The album is especially notable because it features the civil rights
anthem song "To Be Young Gifted And Black". The performance that night also included a calypso version of Leonard Cohen
's "Suzanne
" (which Simone had recorded on To Love Somebody
), but there was no room for it on the album.
With the release of the album also came an LP called An Evening with Nina Simone. It was a recorded interview about the album. The questions were provided in written form, so that radio DJ's could ask the questions and play Simone's recorded answers, as if she were in the studio.
Simone introduces the song by saying:
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
recorded in 1969 at the Philharmonic Hall
Avery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall is a concert hall, in New York City and is part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex. It is the home of the New York Philharmonic, with a capacity of 2,738 seats.-History:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
The album is especially notable because it features the civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
anthem song "To Be Young Gifted And Black". The performance that night also included a calypso version of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's "Suzanne
Suzanne (Leonard Cohen song)
"Suzanne" is a song written by Canadian poet and musician Leonard Cohen in the 1960s, and often heard in a recording by Judy Collins. It has become one of the most-covered songs in Cohen's catalogue....
" (which Simone had recorded on To Love Somebody
To Love Somebody (Nina Simone album)
To Love Somebody is an album by singer-songwriter/pianist Nina Simone. It was released as quickly as possible to prolong the unexpected success of Nuff Said! The title is taken from the Bee Gees song "To Love Somebody", her cover of the song became her second British hit single after "Ain't Got...
), but there was no room for it on the album.
With the release of the album also came an LP called An Evening with Nina Simone. It was a recorded interview about the album. The questions were provided in written form, so that radio DJ's could ask the questions and play Simone's recorded answers, as if she were in the studio.
Information about songs on this album
- "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair", the album features two versions of the song, the first sung by Nina, the second sung in a modified version by her guitarist, Emile Latimer.
- "Ain't Got No-I Got Life", a live reprise of the hitsingle from Nuff Said (1969).
- "Westwind", a song Simone learned from her friend, the African singer Miriam MakebaMiriam MakebaMiriam Makeba , nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award winning South African singer and civil rights activist....
. - "To Be Young Gifted And Black", Nina wrote this song, with lyrics by Weldon IrvineWeldon IrvineWeldon Jonathan Irvine, Jr. , also known Master Wel, was an American composer, playwright, poet, pianist and organist.-Biography:...
in memory of her late friend Lorraine HansberryLorraine HansberryLorraine Hansberry was an African American playwright and author of political speeches, letters, and essays...
, writer of Raisin in the Sun. The song was also released as a studio recording single, which became a top 10 R&B hit. It became a Civil Rights anthemCivil Rights anthemCivil Rights anthems is a relational concept to protest song, but one that is specifically linked to the African-American Civil Rights Movement. The songs were often sung during protests or marches related to the movement...
. Nina is joined by the singing male duo The Swordsmen. It was covered by various artists, among them Aretha FranklinAretha FranklinAretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
(Young, Gifted and BlackYoung, Gifted and BlackYoung, Gifted and Black is a Top 10 Gold-certified album by Aretha Franklin, released in 1972. It takes its title from the Nina Simone song "To Be Young, Gifted and Black", which is the record's title track....
, 1972), Donny HathawayDonny HathawayDonny Edward Hathaway was an American soul singer-songwriter and musician. Hathaway contracted with Atlantic Records in 1969 and with his first single for the Atco label, "The Ghetto, Part I" in early 1970, Rolling Stone magazine "marked him as a major new force in soul music."His collaborations...
, Dionne WarwickDionne WarwickDionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
and Bob & MarciaMarcia GriffithsMarcia Llyneth Griffiths is a successful female singer, also called the "Queen of Reggae". One reviewer described her noting "she is known primarily for her strong, smooth-as-mousse love songs and captivating live performances".Griffiths started her career in 1964...
.
Simone introduces the song by saying:
"It is not addressed to white people primarily. Though it doesn't put you down in any way...it simply ignores you. For my people need all the inspiration and love that they can get."
Track listing
- "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair" (Traditional) - 5:58
- "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair (Latimer)" (Traditional) - 4:00
- "Ain't Got No-I Got Life" (MacDermot, Rado, Ragni) - 5:28
- "Westwind" (Semenya) - 9:30
- "Who Knows Where The Time GoesWho Knows Where the Time Goes"Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" is a song written by the English folk-rock singer and songwriter Sandy Denny. Denny originally recorded the song as a demo in 1967, singing and playing guitar on the track...
" (DennySandy DennySandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
) - 8:09 - "The Assignment Sequence" (Hendin) - 6:57
- "To Be Young, Gifted and BlackTo Be Young, Gifted and Black"To Be Young, Gifted and Black" is a song by Nina Simone with lyrics by Weldon Irvine. It was written in memory of Simone's late friend Lorraine Hansberry, author of the play Raisin in the Sun. The song was originally recorded by Simone for her 1970 album Black Gold; released as a single, it became...
" (IrvineWeldon IrvineWeldon Jonathan Irvine, Jr. , also known Master Wel, was an American composer, playwright, poet, pianist and organist.-Biography:...
, SimoneNina SimoneEunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
) - 9:34