High Priestess of Soul is a studio album by jazz singer, pianist and songwriter Nina Simone. The songs are accompanied by a large band directed and arranged by Hal Mooney. The album contains pop songs (such as "Don't You Pay Them No Mind") and African American gospel and folk related songs written by Simone herself (such as "Take Me to the Water" and "Come Ye"). After this album title –an attempt to broaden her appeal by management execs– Nina Simone was sometimes titled “the high priestess of soul”, although she completely rejected the title herself because it placed a label on her as an artist. However, according to her daughter, Lisa, she never hated that moniker.[4]
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High Priestess of Soul | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1967 | |||
Recorded | New York, 1965–1966 | |||
Genre | Jazz, blues, folk, R&B | |||
Length | 35:51 | |||
Label | Philips | |||
Producer | Hal Mooney | |||
Nina Simone chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 9.2/10[3] |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Don't You Pay Them No Mind" | Richard Ahlert, Bobby Scott | 3:05 |
2. | "I'm Gonna Leave You" | Rudy Stevenson | 2:15 |
3. | "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" | Chuck Berry | 2:02 |
4. | "Keeper of the Flame" | Charles Derringer | 3:21 |
5. | "The Gal from Joe's" | Duke Ellington, Irving Mills | 2:43 |
6. | "Take Me to the Water" | Nina Simone | 2:49 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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7. | "I'm Going Back Home" | Stevenson | 2:47 |
8. | "I Hold No Grudge" | Angelo Badalamenti, John Clifford | 2:17 |
9. | "Come Ye" | Simone | 3:34 |
10. | "He Ain't Comin' Home No More" | Andy Badale, Clifford | 3:06 |
11. | "Work Song" | Nat Adderley, Oscar Brown | 3:03 |
12. | "I Love My Baby" | Andy Stroud | 4:00 |
Chart 1967 | Peak position |
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Hot R&B LPs | 29[5] |
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