Brand-new Nina Simone and Etta James live albums to be released
New live albums by Nina Simone and Etta James, taken from performances at Montreux Jazz Festival, are to be released
Last updated 2nd Jun 2021
It has been announced that new live albums from Nina Simone and Etta James performances are to be released, forming part of "The Montreux Years" series.
The live albums - Nina SImone: The Montreux Years and Etta James: The Montreux Years - feature sublime collections of the musical icon’s finest Montreux Jazz Festival performances, including previously unreleased material, all restored to their full glory and more. The releases will be available on LP, CD and digitally.
Simone and James’ albums are the first releases of Montreux Jazz Festival and BMG’s brand-new collection series “The Montreux Years”. The collections will uncover legendary performances by the world’s most iconic artists alongside rare and never-before-released recordings from the festival’s rich 55-year history, with mastering performed by Tony Cousins at London’s iconic Metropolis Studios, incorporating MQA to capture the original sound of these special live performances. Each collection will be accompanied by exclusive liner notes and previously unseen photography.
Nina Simone’s story from the late sixties to the nineties can be told through her legendary performances in Montreux. Taking to the Montreux stage for the first time on 16 June 1968 for the festival’s second edition, Simone built a lasting relationship with Montreux Jazz Festival and its Creator and Director Claude Nobs.
Nina Simone: The Montreux Years traces Nina’s glorious and emotional 1968 performance to her fiery and unpredictable concert in 1976, one of the festival’s most remarkable performances ever witnessed, the collection includes recordings from all of her five legendary Montreux concerts – 1968, 1976, 1981, 1987 and 1990.
Etta James: The Montreux Years is a treasure trove of timeless classics, powerful and electrifying performances and raw, soaring vocals by one of the greatest ever female vocalists. The collection, featuring recordings from James’ live at Montreux concerts in 1977, 1978, 1989 1990 and 1993, encapsulates and reflects Etta’s dynamic artistry and long-lasting impact. The album offers a deeply personal and intimate snapshots into James’ acclaimed musical journey, highlights and her phenomenal career.
Thierry Amsallem, Claude Nobs’ Universal Legatee, Chair/CEO of Montreux Sounds and Chair of Claude Nobs Foundation, says: “The Montreux Jazz Festival has always been a leading showcase for the international music scene, as well as a meeting place for musicians and music lovers. The magic of Montreux lay in the encounters between musicians. There were unique events that will never be repeated. The idea was to allow artists to get off the beaten track and avoid replaying their usual repertoire. But here, we treated them like royalty and offered them the best conditions in the world, in terms of sound quality and audio-visual recording technology.”
When will Nina Simone: The Montreux Years & Etta James: The Montreux Years be released?
Nina Simone: The Montreux Years and Etta James: The Montreux Years will be released on 25 June 2021 via Montreux Jazz Festival / BMG, having originally been set for a May release.
The albums are the first releases of Montreux Jazz Festival and BMG’s upcoming multi-format live album collection series, with further "The Montreux Years” releases soon to be announced.
Nina Simone: The Montreux Years LP tracklisting
SIDE A
Someone To Watch Over Me (Intro) °
Backlash Blues †
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free †
See-Line Woman *
SIDE B
Little Girl Blue (Pt 1 and 2) †
Don’t Smoke In The Bed *
Stars †
What Little Moonlight Can Do *
SIDE C
African Mailman †
Just In Time **
Four Women *
No Woman No Cry *
SIDE D
Liberian Calypso *
Ne Me Quitte Pas *
Montreux Blues ‡
My Baby Just Cares For Me *
† Recorded live at Casino Montreux 3 July 1976
‡ Recorded live at Casino Montreux 19 July 1981
° Recorded live at Casino Montreux 10 July 1987
** Recorded live at Casino Kursaal 16 June 1968
Etta James: The Montreux Years LP tracklisting
SIDE A
Breakin’ Up Somebody’s Home *
I Got The Will •
I’d Rather Go Blind ‡
A Lover Is Forever †
SIDE B
Damn Your Eyes •
Tell Mama ‡
Running And Hiding Blues *
Something’s Got A Hold On Me •
SIDE C
Beware †
Come To Mama *
Medley: At Last / Trust In Me / Sunday Holiday Kind Of Love •
SIDE D
I Sing The Blues For You †
Baby What You Wany Me To Do (Encore) °
• Recorded live at Casino Montreux 12 July 1989
† Recorded live at Auditorium Stravinski 15 July 1993
‡ Recorded live at Casino Montreux 9 July 1977
° Recorded live at Casino Montreux 8 July 1978
What is Montreux Jazz Festival?
Montreux Jazz Festival is a renowned music festival created by Claude Nobs and held annually in Montreux, Switzerland across two weeks in July. Now in its 55th year, the festival draws 250,000 music lovers from all across the world to the Lake Geneva shoreline. Montreux Jazz Festival celebrates the industry’s emerging and contemporary acts, whilst paying homage to music’s legendary acts. Originally a pure jazz festival since inception in 1967, Montreux began showcasing other styles of music throughout the decades and today presents artists from across every genre imaginable. Artists that have graced the stage of Montreux include Etta James, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Ms Lauren Hill, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, James Brown, Kendrick Lamar, Leonard Cohen, Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis, Nina Simone and many more.