"Pastel Blues" is a studio album by American singer and pianist, Nina Simone. Released in 1965 by Philips Records, it features some of Simone's most stirring performances, spotlighting her versatile and powerful voice. The album is famous for incorporating a diverse blend of musical styles, including jazz, blues, folk, and soul.
Famous for its socio-political engagement, the album's distinct songs often touch deep feelings of melancholy and despair. The most notable tracks includes "Sinnerman," a traditional African American spiritual which Simone takes to soaring heights, and "Strange Fruit," a poignant song originally performed by Billie Holiday, dealing with the terrifying reality of racial lynching in America.
Simone also adds her own flavour to popular hits such as "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" by Jimmy Cox and "Tell Me More and More and Then Some" by Billie Holiday. Nina herself wrote the song titled "Be My Husband," which was later covered by Jeff Buckley as "Be Your Husband."
"Pastel Blues" is considered one of Simone's top-tier works and is beloved not just for its musicality, but also for its historically significant portrayal of African American society in the 1960s.
