Live At Berkeley/Gifted & Black

Digitally remastered release containing a pair of albums from the Jazz diva on one CD: Live At Berkeley (1970) and Gifted & Black (1971). Both albums were originally released on her then husband/producer/mentor's Stroud label in the early '70s, at a time when she was at the peak of her considerable powers. Recorded in studios in California, Gifted & Black comprises eight songs, four of which are hard-to-come-by original recordings. The other four are fascinating re-workings of songs Simone had recorded in earlier years including 'Black Is The Colour', 'The Thrill Is Gone' and her first hit 'I Loves You, Porgy'. Live At Berkeley was recorded at the University of California in Berkeley, October, 1969 and features versions of six classic Simone tracks including 'To Be Young, Gifted And Black', 'Backlash Blues' and 'Ain't Got No/I Got Life'.