Celebrating Francoise Hardy's indelible mark on the history of modern music. • Comprehensive collection of Francois Hardy's English-language studio recordings. Francoise Hardy's Vogue years have left a mark on the history of French and international music. Even today, the 5 years between 1962-67 remain an exceptional moment in her career, the ones when she exploded in the eyes of a generation that was born during or just after the World War II, the generation that would be part of the May 1968 Paris protests. Hardy exploded not only in France alongside her fellow "Yeyes," but also internationally, where she became the symbol of French elegance, talent and charm. The United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain-no one could resist Francoise, who recorded most of her hits in English, Italian, and German. In English collects her English-language studio recordings. All tracks have been fully remastered.
Double vinyl LP pressing. The definitive version of the iconic artist's final studio album. • CD and double-LP contain 11 bonus tracks (4 previously unissued). • Packaging contains new liner notes from the British Ambassador of Soul, David Nathan. Nina Simone burst into the world with 1959's Little Girl Blue, and music would never be the same. For over five decades, Nina entertained, enthralled, and educated listeners across her extraordinary recording and performance career. After a triumphant concert at New York's Carnegie Hall in 1992, Nina was approached by Elektra A&R executive Michael Alago (whose previous work at the label included Tracy Chapman and Metallica). When asked if Nina was ready to record again, she replied, "Get me the money... then we can talk!" Modeled around two of Simone's favorites, Frank Sinatra's A Man Alone (The Words And Music Of Rod McKuen) and Billie Holidays' Lady In Satin-with the common element that both were recorded with full orchestral accompaniment, the sessions began. Backed by a 50-piece orchestra, Simone recorded the material that would comprise A Single Woman with producer Andre Fischer (Natalie Cole's then-husband and former drummer for the band Rufus.) The ten tracks chosen from the sessions were revelatory, weaving songs about love in the style only Nina Simone could conceive and deliver. Simone recorded more material during the sessions, including covers of Bob Dylan, Prince, The Beatles, and Bob Marley, pointing to a potential follow up, but-sadly, A Single Woman would be her final studio album before her passing in 2003. A Single Woman was reissued in 2006, adding seven of those performances left behind. Now, four more previously unissued recordings from those sessions have been added to create A Single Woman: The Complete Elektra Recordings-21 tracks on CD and double-LP. Newly remastered, this collection also contains new liner notes from the British Ambassador of Soul, David Nathan, outlining both the recording of the album, but also recounting his nearly three-decade relationship with Dr. Simone-beginning when he formed the UK Nina Simone Appreciation Society in 1965. Experience this icon's final studio recordings in the most comprehensive way with A Single Woman: The Complete Elektra Rcordings.
In the late 1980s, Maynard Ferguson took a break from his highly successful fusion band, High Voltage, and returned to an all-star assemblage of horn players for his 60th Birthday Big Band Tour. Never one to rest on his laurels, MF and band entered the state of the art Sound Design Studios in Santa Barbara, California, throughout 1989, to record a new record. Big Bop Nouveau appeared at the end of that year, with a title coined by producer Jim Exon, whose love of art nouveau was taken in that direction to describe Maynard's new band. With 5 tracks recorded "as live as possible" to 48 track (24 track analog and 24 track digital) and "The Maynard Ferguson Hit Medley" (48 track analog during the 60th Birthday Big Band Tour in the fall of 1988 at WJCT studios at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival in Jacksonville, Florida), Big Bop Nouveau was an immediate favorite with fans old and new. With the original being out of print, and collecting top dollar in collectors circles, this reissue eclipses that version with new liner notes from MF alumnus and multiple Grammy® nominee Steve Wiest, as well as a previously unissued studio version of Wiest's composition, "Compared To You."
