Nina Simone

Despite the lack of credibility of the label that released Mastercuts Presents (the British Mastercuts generally sticks to dance music compilations, though it may be hard for American listeners to avoid the discount haircut connotations), the album is actually a pretty good Nina Simone sampler. Perhaps that's because the tracks are the same ones (though the order is switched around) as those from her seminal 1957 debut album, Little Girl Blue. The versions are slightly different, however, "Love Me or Leave Me," for example, not having quite the same punch in the piano or in Simone's voice, though nice nonetheless. The artist sounds superb throughout, but that being said, it still makes much more sense to just stick to the original, as Mastercuts Presents doesn't add enough of anything notable to warrant the purchase. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide