In Nina Simoneīs autobiography I Put A Spell On You she is telling a violent story from her life involving her former lover CC Dennis. During the military coup-de-tet in Liberia 1980, President Tolbert was shot to death in Monrovia. Afterwards the military forced all the presidents friends and associates to walk naked on the streets of Monrovia.

Ten of them were selected and shot to death on the beach. The other was forced to watch, and there was nothing they could do to help their friends. One person who was forced to watch this execution was CC Dennis. His son was one of the men who were executed. Dennis died two weeks later, suffering from the chock of what he had been forced to witness.

Nina Simone has the execution on videotape. A friend, who was on the beach, gave it to her many years later. She forces herself to watch the recording, and is filled with despair and contempt. But she is claiming that it is the only way to keep the memory of her murdered friends alive. Nina Simone will never forgive or forget.

Nina Simone hasnīt recorded in a few years and performs only sporadically Europe. In the record store it is easy too find as many as twenty albums on CD, releases from Philips, Verve and Colpix. Her material from the seven years with RCA has been more difficult to find until now when this flawless compilation of her RCA recordings is finally being re-released.

There are many highlights on this compilation. The strongest moments are the three tracks from her live album Nuff Said, recorded the day after the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King. The tribute to Dr King is rounded off with a sad and angry Nina Simone stating: "I ainīt about being non-violent, honey".

Bob Dylanīs Just Like Tom Thumbīs Blues is just outstanding. The mid tempo arrangement and tender singing by Nina Simone gives the song an edge like as if it was originally written for her. The same actually goes for all her interpretations on the set. Randy Newmanīs I Think Itīs Going To Rain, Jimmy Webbīs Do What You Gonna Do and Aaron Nevilleīs Tell It Like It Is.

Nina Simone is gifted with a remarkably voice and she is an excellent piano player with a unique sense of timing.

On Sugar In My Bowl we get two hours of music that is more than jazz, soul or rock. It represents the music of Nina Simone and her music is larger than the ordinary borders of each genre.