Nina Simone – I Put A Spell On You

Sounds dope on my Technics SL 1200 MK3 Japanese Custom running a Ortofon Concorde Club MK2 going through a Rane TTM 56 and Focal Studio Monitors.

This thing is awesome.

Didn't have the distortion issues by some others on side 2. Not sure what that's about, but I won't deny those experiences.

Anyway, my only issue is that the inside of the gatefold spine tore itself apart the first time I opened it. I got a replacement and it did the same thing, though less severely. Ended up keeping copy 2 as it seems to have something to do with the construction rather than a one time fluke.

The rest of the gatefold is splendid, fwiw. The record is spectacular. Sounds amazing. Extremely quiet vinyl and the mastering work here is top notch.

I specifically listened to the last 3 tracks of side B since there seems to be a lot of hubbub of those specific tracks having vocal distortion. I didn't encounter a single instance of what I would call distortion whatsoever, it sounds alive and the best I've heard this album.
This hobby lives on subjectivity. I can take my same copy to another collectors turntable setup and this distortion that has been claimed may arise due to the thousands of variables that exist in tonearms, stylus, turntables, speakers, amps and preamps (or lack thereof), etc. Don't not purchase and give it a shot because of other listeners experiences. One persons "sounds terrible" could very well be a "sounds terrific" to another.

great work by Verve Records, great pressing great sound, perfect

I have just got my replacement copy of Variant 2 (with pressed at Quality Records sticker on the front), first one was warped enough to make a thump on the first track, the replacement is only half as warped (so much for "Quality"), can only assume this warping, which is mainly edge located is due to handling of still soft product at the pressing stage, unless the very heavy covers are slightly bending the record edge when sleeved? Anyway both sound great (as does Pastel Blues which was flat bought over a year earlier), played with a Microline & also a Fritz Gyger S, no inner groove distortion to report or no-fill issues, and as others noted this was never an audiophile recording, but gives a really clear vintage sound.

No issues at all with this pressing sounds great.
No regrets about this purchase.
Purchased on 02-12-2020.

purchased 07/2024 off amazon. had some zipping(?) on 2nd half of sideB. After a wet clean, zipping has been removed. I'm not getting really any of the vocal distortion. maybe a negligible amount on B6, but its not even worth noting, even though I just did.....I would confidently buy if your turntable is setup properly! sounds great, & arguably Simone's strongest record!

Maybe this is not the place but I see a number of people complaining about the last songs on this record... Inner groove distortion seems to be really what's going on. I run a shibata stylus on one of the newer Technics 1210 grand class or whatever the hell it is called... It was difficult for me in the United States to get a shibata stylus, I ended up getting a Japanese one that couldn't be shipped to the United States and I had to buy it through a third party vendor via Denmark. Shibata or van den hul stylus shapes on a well set up cartridge/tonearm
minimize IGD...previous set up was Michell TT with Audiomods classic tonearm, and I ran a van den hul 2 stylus shape, so I have some experience with that particular type of stylus. Supposedly a shibata lasts longer and and wears out vinyl less than most other shapes. Can't testify to that... It's kind of a received wisdom (Interwebs info lol). I'm not sure posting this off a review of an Nina Simone album is particularly helpful for anybody but seems like several people have noted that they're seeing distortion on the final songs and I am NOT...the Alice Coltrane and the Nina Simone acoustic sound vinyl is as good as anybody is producing out there... I have five of the acoustic sound series and they really are superbly mastered and pressed.

There seems to be mixed reviews of this 1964 Nina Simone album on Discogs, but I am very much in the pro camp. , this is not an audiophile recording - Nina was shelling out albums fast and had little time to re-record stuff. It was in and out. Chad Kassem has to be congratulated for this release - a stunning, glossy, Stoughton tip-on jacket, a rice paper inner sleeve and a beautiful pressing. Nina mixes up the songs with swing., ballads, acapella and a couple that were fit for a Bond Movie (Dr No). If your stylus distorts on her vocals, check the tracking weight as there is no problem with my copy. -10/10

Sounds amazing to my ears, just like the version of Pastel Blues. Not getting any distortion, crystal clear and gorgeous. Buy with confidence