Little Girl Blue (album)

Little Girl Blue: Jazz as Played in an Exclusive Side Street Club is the debut album by the jazz pianist and singer Nina Simone. It was released by Bethlehem Records in February 1959. It was recorded in late 1957 but its release was held up by the label. Due to the delay and the lack of any promotional single either immediately before or alongside the album, Simone was dissatisfied with Bethlehem and signed with Colpix Records in April 1959. She recorded the tracks for her second album – what would become The Amazing Nina Simone – the same month. In May, however, Bethlehem finally released a single, "I Loves You, Porgy", and gave Simone her first hit later that year, peaking at number 18 on the pop charts, and number 2 on the R&B charts. Helped by the profile of the single, the album too went on to become a chart success.

In 1987, the track "My Baby Just Cares for Me" became a massive UK and European hit. The album was reissued, now with the title of single, and with a new cover and the tracks in a different order. This release eventually became subject to a legal dispute. Later releases of the album include bonus tracks from the same recording session.