Aural Fixations

NINA SIMONE
Nina Simone Sings the Blue
Silk and Soul
Forever Young, Gifted and Black
(RCA/Legacy)
The late Nina Simone was, unfortunately, little more than a cult figure by the time she died in 2003, known more for her strong political stances and expatriate status than for her music. But since her death, reissues have become to creep out to remind us why she was considered a major artist in the first place. Legacy accidentally sabotaged this effort a couple of years ago with the release of Baltimore, the misguided disco diva album recorded for schlockmeister Creed Taylor's CTI label. But now the company is doing right by Simone's history with remastered reissues of two of Simone's classics and a thematic compilation. (more)

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Gloryland: 30 Bluegrass Gospel Classics
(Time Life)
Gospel Music
(Hyena)
It's a common theme among most observers of American society that, under President Bush, this country now suffers from an unprecedented and rancorous political divide between its Left and Right. They typically cast it as an epic struggle between the nation's Red and Blue States. However, this divide cuts deeper than mere politics. Religion in America also faces a contentious battle between liberal and conservative believers. Most assume that evangelical Christians represent the right side of that conflict, the praying arm of the Republican Party. However, a deep division between Left and Right also slices through Evangelical Protestantism. Not every Baptist votes a straight G.O.P. ticket. (more)

VARIOUS ARTISTS
What's Shakin'
Great Lost Elektra Singles Volume 1
(Collector's Choice)
Elektra Records has become known as one of the 60s' most innovative record companies, bringing cracker electric blues to the American masses before Clapton was God and taking chances on innovative acts like Love and the Doors. But it wasn't always thus. By the mid-60s, Elektra was known mainly for folk music, with Judy Collins as its major star. But the Paul Butterfield Blues Band put the company on the map as an advocate of electric rock, and the label wasted no time in reinforcing its presence with 1966's What's Shakin', which was put together out of tracks either lying unreleased in Elektra's vaults or offered to universally respected label head Jac Holzman. (more)