Wild Is The Wind

Beautiful voice

Pure alchemy, converting a bunch of music into pure emotions. Boy can she interpret a song. 4*

Wow. 5 "An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times." - Nina Simone

Was Nina Simone the first literary artist to come out of the jazz, soul, rock 'n' roll circuit? I mean, where the hell does a song like 'Four Women' come from? 'I'm awfully bitter these days / 'Cause my parents were slaves.' It's all part of a tradition, as all experimental art is, but one almost forgets just how explosively avant-garde Nina is, & that's following in the footsteps of a plethora of unorthodox black artists, from Armstrong thru Sun Ra. I don't think I've ever been in love with her music, but in a sense I'm always falling in love w/ it, b/c whenever I put on her best moments I wonder where she had been all these years, & that's on me. She sings not as if every word is her last, but as if each is her first, & she's reinventing language on the fly.

Nice album

Baby's first jazz album. It's good but it takes absolutely 0 risks.

In the words of Hozier, Nina cried power.

Thought this would have been better.a few good. some not so good tracks.

One of those albums that will dominate your attention the whole time.

Meh

Muy aburrido. Lo escucho un domingo y me pego un corchazo en las bolas. Entiendo que dentro de su estilo debe ser bueno porque mala musica no es pero a mi no gusta todo en disco asi. *What mor can i say es un gran tema.

Lively, classic

Nada muito a se dizer.. disco bom mas acredito que não seja um dos melhores da artista.

Far too dated for me

Phenomenal. What a range.

Gorgeous

Good

OMG. This is just great. Cohesive front to back, it is hard for me to believe that this was cobbled together from leftovers from previous sessions. She is mostly accompanied by small combos, and often just her piano and a bass. Her amazing voice shines through, breathing life into these songs. Just an amazing performance.

🤮

crazy vocals

Favorite track(s): Four Women, What More Can I Say, Lilac Wine, That's All I Ask, Break Down and Let It All Out, Wild Is the Wind, Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair An album that wrenches the need to sing out of you. But don't try to match her, you'll make a fool of yourself. Heard before Previous rating: 8/10

9/10

Bonito.

Phenomenal voice

Filled with soul

Her voice is so incredible and unique

Her voice is so mournful and so joyful at the same time. God damn. I didn't know a single one of these songs (though I enjoyed the Black Is the Color remix) but I was entranced by every one.

Jeg sitter litt på gjerdet her. På en side er det en suveren prestasjon av et enestående talent; på den andre er det ganske mange låter som er bummer. Nå skal ikke jeg sitte her og påstå at Simone skulle skrevet mer feelgood musikk, men jeg synes det funker bedre når det er et snev av håp og optimisme tilstede -- feks. som på siste låta. Why Keep On Breaking My Heart funker heller ikke for meg. Hun ligger i feil register og plutselig tror bandet vi befinner oss på Honolulu. Til gjengeld er Four Women så bra at jeg kan tilgi en stinker. Og kan noen fortelle meg hvor Pastel Blues er? Vi har tre ganger så mye Emmylou Harris som Nina Simone? What the fuck...!

Nina Simone er stor, det er ikke tvil om det. Men føler ikke dette albumet er representativt for den storheten. Aller mest låter det som en blanding jazzstandarder (som jeg aldri har fått sansen for) ispedd noen mer poppa 60-tallslåter. Alt utført med herlig særegen stemme såklart, men det er ikke nok.

viiiiibes

certainly a vibe she has so much depth in that voice it makes you travel in time

Four Women was super interesting

Didn't finish. Absolutely unique vocals, but they don't always work well. Some songs are amazing, and some are just howling.

Nice, Lilac Wine, masterpiece.

Nice voice, nice music, but I did not enjoy this enough, at least not in the context of breakfast music.

repeat album but i will happily listen 100000 times

Probably a cliche to say at this point, but it's a very eclectic mix of jazz, blues, soul, and a lot of songs that walk the line between each. And some songs that don't fit into any category. I went in expecting almost jazzy background music, but I had to listen to it a second time because I needed to give it more attention. Probably not an every day album, but a powerful one when you're in the right mood.

Just because of lilac wine

5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Four Women hits pretty hard.

I really liked Track 1 and the rest of the Songs were good, but I dont think I would really listen to them. Some of the Songs (eG Track 2) I didnt really enjoy. Especially because the rhythm and melody stay consistent.

Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Misogyny Anthem.

A master at work, with the band locked right in. Effortless but still clear how skilled she is

Decent

The highs on this album are very, very high. Four Women is incredible, and Lilac Wine made Jeff Buckleys version feel hollow - Buckley performed it but Simone LIVES it.

beautiful

Not the usual type of music I like but I tried to be open minded. Still not one of my favorites, even though it really stayed on theme i feel like I was always waiting for something more.

Abbastanza moscio.

i love nina simone. soully jazz with her characteristic voice. i loved the album

Very good album by Nina. Love everything done by her, actually. One of the greatest artists ever.

Wow this was good! "Four Women" hits like a truck and "Lilac Wine" is also great. "Break Down And Let It All Out" and "Either Way I Lose" were standouts as well. I did like her version of "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair" but I do think I prefer Tia Blake's version maybe a smidge more

no es mi estilo

yh it’s alr for a really tired or a calm mood, just to relax and focus on good melody

Undeniably one of the best albums ever. Nina Simone is a gem in about every single way an artist can be a gem - expressive vocals, intimate and heart-tugging piano playing, and song-writing that's striking, evocative, and haunting. And this album really is haunting - there's something so un-easing about the stark contrast between the poppy, catchy opener 'I Love Your Lovin' Ways' and the slow, tragic 'Four Women', a testament to Nina's writing ability. The song contains the realistic, ugly depictions of early 20th-century racism of a song like 'Strange Fruit' that Nina has covered before, but it's treated with so much elegance, like being performed in a small lounge, backed against purple curtains. It's a strange contrast, and the swelling, emotional final chorus remains one of the most powerful moments in pretty much any song I've ever heard. After this, the album continues to dish out some of the best singer-songwriter tracks of the '60s, proving that Nina was operating at a level that no other artist of her time was. There's a lightness to the playing and singing here; the whole thing feels so delicate and fragile, and again, haunting and cold in some of these songs. 'Lilac Wine' is one of those songs that starts cold and bitter, but very gently warms up as the rhythm is established and the chorus hovers in. Just such an elegant and beautifully paced ballad, never doing too much, just existing in such a perfect space. The title track is another one of these precarious songs, a tightrope walk between romance and desperation. This is maybe the closest song on this album to traditional vocal jazz; there's just so much going on with the intense piano playing, and it's another piece that crescendos perfectly. The journey this title-track takes me on every single time is indescribable; my soul feels so whole by the end of it. 'Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair' has maybe my favorite piano playing here; it's so empty and spacious and has an almost ambient feel to it. Every single chord here is enough to break me, and the nature of the playing really allows Nina's vocals to soar. 'What More Can I Say?' and 'That's All I Ask' are on the complete opposite side of the spectrum when compared to the tracks I just mentioned; they break into these amazing big band bits about halfway through, like the love Nina is feeling in these songs is too strong to be left caged in a slower piano ballad. 'Break Down And Let It All Out' I've always thought was super underrated. It's such a change in pace instrumentally with these horn leads and a more prominent drum-kit-driven beat. It's ruthlessly catchy and has some of Nina's most punchy depictions of heartbreak. And "Why do you toy with my dreams? They're depending on you to come true" on 'Why Keep On Breaking My Heart' is such an amazing line on this wall-of-sound-styled pop-song that I also think is super underrated. An album you can weep to because of just how much emotion is radiating from every single song and note. So much talent on display, so much warmth in the vocals and playing. An album I'd live in if I could, but I can't; I'm stuck out here 60 years later in this cold, ugly future. Oh well.

I have never listened to Nina Simone besides her hit songs. She is SO GOOD. The first two songs in this album are gems (I Love Your Lovin’ Ways and Four Women) that made me want to straighten my spine and go out into the world and cause trouble. I felt so empowered! I’m so pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this and how comforted I felt by it.

Nina Simone – Wild Is the Wind (1966) This was a decent listen and a decent LP overall. She possesses an incredibly hypnotic, deep voice that blends absolutely beautifully with the piano arrangements, just wow. The vocal and instrumental fusion creates a truly captivating atmosphere throughout. Looking at the highlights, "Four Women" stands out significantly, a track I originally knew mostly because of the iconic sample used on Jay-Z's "The Story of O.J." from his 4:44 album; it was incredibly refreshing to revisit the original piece in the context of this full LP. Other major standouts that hit the mark include "I Love Your Lovin' Ways," "What More Can I Say?," "Lilac Wine," "That's All I Ask," "Wild Is The Wind," "If I Should Lose You" (listed as "If I Should Lose You" on the tracklist), and the closing track "Either Way I Lose." The cohesive, hypnotic quality of the entire project carries it all the way to the top. 5/5

Today I learnt that Bowie's Wild is the Wind was a Nina Simone cover!

5 de 5 Grandiosa pieza de jazz y soul que, aunque es una compilación de anteriores sesiones, encuentra coherencia y se mantiene cohesionado por la gran interpretación de Simone y esa voz que es brillante como desgarradora a la vez, acompañada por un minimalismo instrumental muy efectivo y preciso. Un trabajo aclamado por su autenticidad, profundidad emocional y la capacidad de Simone para transmitir vulnerabilidad y poder al mismo tiempo.

Me gustó la vibra, es el estilo que quiero mantener por ahora

Simone is one of a kind. She’s so disarming in a way I can’t help but admire.

so much emotion in this record. musically, it's great but not a style I would listen to were it not for Nina Simone who carries such raw strength. Each syllable has something going on. Four Women is a powerhouse of a song. 8 / 10 Best track/s: Break Down And Let It All Out, Four Women, Lilac Wine

It is probably down to me, but I expected a lot more from this. I was quite quickly somewhat bored with it. Of course Nina Simone isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination but it just fell a bit flat. 2/5

emmm not my fv but chill

On the whole an enjoyable album. I did prefer Johnny Mathis version of, "Wild Is The Wind" though. I didn't like the extra, and what I considered unnecessary, vocalization that Nina used in the song. Listening to this album reminded me of how much I love piano music.

felt like a conversation in a way.

I like nina simone and jazz in general but this i like things that are harder

four women--damn. Damn. the arrangement is impeccably sparse. only exactly what it needs. what more can i say--i mean... what more can i say? lilac wine-- that's all i ask-- why keep on breaking my heart--love the vibrato; almost operatic. the transition from wild is the wind into black is the color of my true love's hair----flawless either way i lose--the a cappella bass is exceedingly '60s. the only thing this whole album that i don't love. i am left speechless. 5/5. 6/5, really. she keeps it real.

PEACHES

Nina all day long not my favorite album but always

Beautiful with a distinct mood but ultimately song writing doesn’t click with me as much as I’d please

С каждым годом только лучше.

Some extremely unique vocals that were quite different track to track. Historically I’m sure very important but I have a hard time revisiting this when more modern music is available. Not bad per se but likely won’t visit again.

Soulful, powerful and full of storytelling, poetry and raw emotion. While it's not my favourite project, I respect the skill that Nina brings throughout this album.

pleasant enough, kinda passed me by

loved it

Był fajny

Just an absolute powerhouse of a singer. I wouldn't count her as having a "great" voice, but the gravitas through which she sings is something that remarkably few people have. Such a strong, confident sound that is infectious.

...

An absolutely amazing record and to think that these are like B sides… She’s probably one of the best singers ever. I was almost crying to most of these songs while walking. She’s just amazing at portraying a feeling and just giving it to you. She wouldnt even have to sing words. Amazed, and honored to have been able to listen to this one.

A jazz vocalist who belongs in the same conversation as Ella and Billie.

Not for me.

Such a true artist! I love Nina's sensitivity to the small musical decisions. I love her mastery of how the tension builds. A couple of the ballads here are some of the absolute finest (for me) of their particular kind of ballads. I'm not crazy for compilations in general and I do feel like this is a tiny bit disparate in approach and the sequencing doesn't quite flow. But track for track there is so much beauty.

Not my usually place to be, but my what a beautiful time I had. In the right headspace, I'd lean closer to 5.

Dramatic and magnificent. Dodgy opening track explained by this being a collection of leftovers but some incredible performances and a 5*.

Aivan ihania hitaita jazz ballaadeja. Todella kauniita. Suorastaan sulan Nina Simonen äänelle.

Generally not my style, but Nina Simone is obviously a great singer

Wonderful

Can't help but feel I'm being gaslit here. I'm seeing so many people describe her as one of the most powerful vocalists of her time, but the best I can say for her is that she's expressive and has a unique voice. Personally I don't care for her voice either. What *IS* genuinely excellent is the arrangement quality. There is a lot of good in that respect. Tons of unique stylings and pairings of instrument/vocals. Easily the best part of the album. But the main item on display isn't half as good as people are suggesting it is.

Enjoyed listening to this album and learning more about the songs, artist, and influence.

Wow this is the kind of album this project is for. I don't think I had ever listened to her before, but she has a beautiful voice and the album as a whole is a winner, great piano.

You might be the sweetest, juiciest peach in the world. But at the end of the day, some prime just don’t like peaches… Dolly Parton, talking about my affinity for jazz

What a voice! Flex those golden pipes Nina!

Awesome album. Live song was incredible. Favorite song was ‘Either Way I Lose’.

na

she really did cry power. the kind of voice that makes you believe in god (female)!

I don't usually listen to albums this. Usually more into jazz albums more focused on instruments. I recognize the talent that went into it and think that the album is pretty special. However, I don't see myself re-visiting soon unless there's a real certain occasion that it would make for some perfect background music. My issue with that is that it's a lot more than background music. I really do think it's a great album but from a more casual-listening perspective, I can't give it 5 stars. 7/10 Favorite song: I Love Your Lovin' Ways

Frankly, that was beautiful. Love Nina Simone's voice and style of cadence. She's also killing on keys, fits right in with, well, her own quartet. While a lot of the songs (all but one) aren't written by her, the interpretations are very nice. Sometimes airy like on What More Can I Say and Wild is the Wind, sometimes groovy like on Why Keep On Breaking My Heart. Pretty easy 4.

Nina Simone innit

Nina Simone, from "I Love You Porgy", made me think that she and her music were the next evolutionary step up from Billie Holliday, and for that alone, I really appreciated it. Her voice blends perfectly with her piano playing, to which I understand she became a virtuoso and got her start playing by ear aged 3 and up. Huge respect. Also a shoutout to Ella Fitzgerald for her gorgeous performance on "My Funny Valentine", too. Despite this praise, the album was a little long in the tooth and variation was lacking enough to lose my interest in places; when I am checking 'how many tracks am I from the end' it's never a good sign. Favourite tracks were: "My Baby Just Cares For Me", "I Love You Porgy", "Good Bait", "Love Me or Leave Me", "Plain Gold Ring", "Summertime", "My Funny Valentine", "Mood Indigo", "Exactly Like You" and "He Needs Me"

I didn’t expect to like it so much jazz is not my usual. Calming I’d like to sample

Wow. Both great, classic Motown sounds (first track)), as well as some haunting, emotional tracks (Lilac Wine and Four Women are top notch). And Nina’s voice is so cool.

Very good blues album from a legendary artist. However, for my personal taste it doesn't do too much for me. Jeff Buckely's Lilac Wine being a cover by Nina was new too me, so that was neat to learn.

4/5 ✱✱✱✱ I love your lovin' ways - Four women - perfeita (jay-z usou sample em 4:44), com ativismo e retrato social what more can i say? - profundidade e melancolia com a banda fazendo a ambiencia Lilac Wine - Letra de James Shelton - melancolia Break down and let it all out - força, grandiosidade - percussão ditando o ritmo Why keep on breaking my heart - voz e guitarra Bennie Benjamin - com uma introdução baixa porém poderosa, que cresce com a percussão, com um violino contraponto o ritmo. Wild is the wind - força e ritmo do piano, com pratos ditando o ritmo e a voz potente na primeira metade da música. Bateria e teclado encerram com perfeição. Either Way I Lose - percussão e trombone trazem a atmosfera para a musica.

Great! Preferred the first half to second half. Lilac Wine and I Love Your Lovin' Ways both standouts.

Lo amé. Revelador e íntimo.

4.5/5

Didn’t quite make it through it.

All the songs were so nice, they are so good

60's big do wop first track. A song for the ages "Four Women". Slides into a sultry following track. Another love forlorn - "Lilac Wine". Break Down and Let it All Out is a nice surprise. Nina has a really unique vibratto which is heard throughout. It's raw and raspy. I can hear the Billie Holiday influence. Tortured songs of lament.

I have listened to Nina Simone before and didn't understand her. I still don't but now it's in a different sense. She encaptures love in it's very essence. However what she did best was enlighten me about her struggles. I will never be able to comprehend the hardships she experienced but her portrayal of them in this album convey what kind of injustice she had to go though in a very deep way.

4.5. Nina may not have the largest range, but she has the rawness, the honesty, and emotion to elevate these songs.

fav songs: four women why keep on breaking my heart wild is the wind black is the color of my true love's hair intimate, elegant, soulful 80/100

Absolut fantastisk album!!! Jeg hørte dette album for første gang for nogle måneder siden, og bliver ved med at vende tilbage til det. Albummet er rå emotion og er dybt bevægende. trilogien af What Mor Can I Say, Lilac Wine og That's All I Ask er absurd smuk. Har anbefalet dette album til flere venner allerede, og tænker ikke jeg stopper!

Unable to listen today due to being on holiday with very poor reception, but home tomorrow so I will listen then as I'm sure this is excellent.

What a powerhouse singer. Incredible voice.

Not a bad album, not for me

Nina Simone is a beast. There are some monster tracks on here like “Four Women” but the record doesn’t flow as effortlessly for me

straight gas

Kinda serious - Good, but serious

Tried it while studying, it was nice.

Nina Simone is a pleasure to listen to even if you only know her through being sampled all over the place. She makes you feel the struggles and torment of black Americans through this album. She didn’t have a bad track; her vocal performance was outstanding. The Soul, Jazz vibe was so fun and it's clear why artists use her work, the most famous being Jay-Z using the beat and vocals from ‘Four Women’. 4⭐️

Nina Simone is a force.

While the voice is clearly exceptional, many of the songs are either weak or just annoying I think there were better Nina Simone albums that could have made it to this list

3.5/5

This is why you do this project. To find gems you didn’t know existed

Nina Simone est un nom que je connais depuis longtemps et si j'ai eu l'occasion d'écouter quelques titres çà et là, je ne m'étais jamais penché sur un de ses albums dans sa globalité. Et pour une fois, Robert Dimery fait bien les choses, puisqu'il m'offre enfin une occasion de le faire. Et je dois dire que c'était une très bonne écoute. Nina Simone a une voix très profonde, elle a une interprétation toujours très intense. Les accompagnements étaient très divers, sans doute du fait qu'il s'agit de différents enregistrements qui n'étaient pas censés sortir à la base. Et évidemment, difficile de ne pas parler de Four Women, aux paroles qui évoquent le destin de 4 femmes afro-américaines et le poids du racisme et de la misogynie dans la société. Le texte est puissant, marquant, porté par Nina Simone qui vit son texte. Vraiment, un très bon album que je suis très content d'avoir entendu. Pas forcément le type de musique que j'écouterais personnellement tous les jours, mais c'était vraiment quelque chose. J'hésite encore entre le 4 et le 5, mais il est probable que je me dirige vers ce dernier.

Not really my kind of jam but like the talent. 2.5/5

7/10

Really like this one

Very, very nice. Beautiful voice. Very chill.

HOLY CANNOLI SHE DOES NOT MISS MY GOAT 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🐐🐐

Slow and soulful

Amazing

First time ever listening to Nina Simone. Great voice and her piano playing was impressive too

Soulful. Engaging. Heartfelt.

Amazing no notes

Paar klassiekers. Fijne achtergrondmuziek.

This is who Amy Winehouse wished she was.

Quite the talent.

My initial reaction is confusion that Nina Simone gets one album on this list but Elvis Costello gets 6, Bob Dylan gets 7 and David Bowie gets 9. I then remembered the book states its intended to bring attention to gifted songwriters so that partially explains the bias but I Put a Spell on You and Pastel Blues could easily have made this list too and could be argued ahead on this one. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.

блин ну вот это ОНО. чистый кайф. После постоянного ебучего британского рока как сказка. как же она чувствовала

Beautiful voice, really enchanting album for someone who doesnt listen to this genre often

This feels very Chet baker-ish. Excited to give this a listen on a Sunday evening during a long cook or something.

в целом хороший альбом 1 и 6 песни заводный 2 жемчужина этого альбома 3 я похожа на летний ночной легкий дождик 9 трагичная и приятная 11 шикарный сэмпл 5я интересная но уже менее цепляющая 7-я чуть интереснее и повеселее но в целом тоже норм остальное в рамках альбома звучит органично Альбом хороший, но не то что бы я часто переслуштвал

Sublime. What a freaking voice.

I mean this is a good album but nothing that really excites me. Nina's voice is classic and amazing but none of the songs really grab me.

Great voice. Kinda unrelatable songs for me...

There are times when I love Nina's soulful bluesy voice, but others where it just doesn't land. Favorite track: Four Women

"Four women" är vrålstark, "Black is the colour...“ och 'Wild is the wind" bra även om jag föredrar Bowie. Men resten är aptrist och spretigt. Menlös orkesterjazz tillräckligt standard för Café Norrköping, nån rhythm blues hon inte alls behärskar och gospelig dussinsoul som inte sticker ut nånstans. Att det är en samling förklarar en del men ursäktar det inte. Nina är på tok för ojämn åt alla håll. Nedre tvåa

Man kan plocka upp vilken Nina Simone-skiva som helst och den är bra. Det här är inget undantag. Hon smälter ihop jazz, blues, soul, gospel på ett självklart sätt. Få kan leverera med den uppriktiga och kompromisslösa känslan som Simone. Det man kan ha emot att just det här albumet väljs ut till boken är att det inte är inspelat som ett album, utan är en samling låtar från olika inspelningar och som till stor del redan hade släppts i olika versioner.

Nina är bra. Men tycker nog att det finns andra av hennes album jag hellre haft med. Extra cred till Lilac wine och Wilde is the wind.

Det märks att det är en samling av låtar från olika inspelningssessioner, från inledande rythm ’n’ blues-rökaren I Love Your Lovin’ Ways via det betydlig mer återhållsamma soundet i Four Women till full orkestrering i That’s All I Ask. Det är oavsett en samling riktigt starka låtar med en fantastiks röst. Jag håller nog faktiskt titelspåret som det svagaste kortet. Det talar för kvalitén på albumet. Starkast avtrycket gör Simones text till Four Women.

Fav- Wild is the wind 4/5

Her voice is the instrument on display here, and it shines, but there's some incredible songwriting on display as well. Lots of politically charged lyrics. But of course -- this list disappoints me, again.. this is the **only** Nina Simone album on this list. She's a woman of color, so her discography and 20+ year career barely gets a mention.. I should probably be surprised she's even on the list. Sure, this might be her most popular (arguably) album, but there is SO much left off the table. Her album "Pastel Blues" has her iconic and haunting cover of "Strange Fruit" and famous protest song, "Sinnerman", for instance. I recall enjoying her first album, "Little Girl Blue", long ago. To be crystal clear, I'm not complaining on this album, however, as "Four Women" (wow, this one is charged up!!), "Wild is the Wind", "Black is the Color..",."Either Way I Lose", & "If I Should Lose You" (that crescendo at the end is so good off of her sustained and pained voice...) are legends. But, why JUST this one record?? Normally, this would be a high '4' from me (a very high 4), as it's not everyday listening, but in protest of the lack of breadth of this list (how much electronica/dance do we **really** need to hear before we die?) this gets a (5/5) in the hopes that future lists will include more of this (and the god-damned SUPREMES!!), rather than some more lanky, disshelved English dudes who want to bang on a guitar or a synth for an afternoon...

I'd been vaguely aware of Nina Simone, but never exposed to the point that I'd sat down to listen to a full album. Boy, was I missing out. The range, the depth, the POWER of her voice is simply intoxicating, and paired with some of the most lovely and understated jazz piano arrangements that I imagine 1966 had to offer, this album was an emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions. Standout tracks were "Four Women," the titele track "Wild is the Wind," and perhaps my personal favorite, "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair," brought tears to the eyes, but every track here had more than enough to keep me on the edge of myseat. Easiest blind 5/5 that I'm likely to have on this list.

Variety: 3 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 4 Emotionality: 5 = 4.4 rounded down to 4 "So I'm gonna break down and let it all out/ Break down and let it all out" Despite being familiar with Nina Simone, I've never heard this one all the way through before. One of the all time great original voices, so I'm expecting some solid stuff. Also a period where a TON of people were putting out their best stuff, so here's hoping... THE TRACKS "I Love Your Lovin' Ways" - Right away, it bears repeating how iconic Simone's voice is. No one sounds like her, and she can take even middle of the road material, polish it up and make it something special. This is no different. "Four Women" - A piano some rudimentary percussion and some flute. Basic as it can get, and yet this one runs deeper than most in the storytelling. Wow. After listening back, this might be my favorite instrumental-wise. What an arrangement. Really wish we could have gotten some more Simone originals on this. "What More Can I Say" - Material that would come across as sappy and overblown by another hand gets the classy treatment here. "Lilac Wine" - A bit dark and creepy to start. Seems like a number from a theatrical production ( looked this up and BAM! - was a broadway tune) with kind of nonstandard, very sparse arrangement. Simone kills it. "That's All I Ask" - We're transported into a smoky, jazz club for a sultry torch song, and Simone does not fail to deliver. I can imagine this might have been a popular wedding dance song at one point. "Break Down and Let It All Out" - The vibrato comes out in full force here, and Simone goes full Grace Slick. I much prefer Simone in the subdued, jazzy numbers though. "Why Keep On Breaking My Heart" - A slight little Latin-infused little number brings to mind some latter day Roy Orbison stuff. Simone elevates the material once again. "Wild Is the Wind" - I have heard this many times before, but I still am WAY more familiar with the David Bowie version. And pretty sure I've never heard the Johnny Mathis original. This is some god-level stuff here. While not as sad and melancholy as something like Billie Holiday's ( or her own interpretation of) "Strange Fruit", it plays in the same territory musically. One's a tragic and despairing protest song and the other a romantic love ballad, but then why does the latter feel so sad? Beautiful and worth the price of admission. I can even forgive the Liberace classical piano stylings which I normally don't care for. "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair" - Damn. Two in a row. Mournful and as emotive as the ocean is deep. Maybe it's her delivery ( it's definitely her delivery) but I read this as the inner monologue of a woman waiting to die and join her lover, as opposed to just missing them. I really wish there was a whole album of Simone reinterpreting old English murder ballads and such now. **shivers** "If I Should Lose You" - A solid closer. The piano dances on the edge of being out of control with all the classical flourishes, but it stays just on the side of enjoyable even when it swells at the end. Besides, Simone once again fully delivers and overcomes any instrumental deficiencies. "Either Way I Lose" - Doo-wop and jazz blend together with a bit of western instrumentation for a very strange, yet compelling mix. In some alternate universe where James Bond was also a cowboy, this would have made a fine opening credits song. HIGHLIGHTS - "I Love Your Lovin' Ways" - "Four Women" - "Lilac Wine" - "That's All I Ask" - "Wild Is the Wind" - "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair" - "If I Should Lose You" - "Either Way I Lose" MIDLIGHTS - "What More Can I Say" - "Break Down and Let It All Out" - "Why Keep On Breaking My Heart" LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS Glad I finally got to hear this whole thing. While I think Simone is great, she's definitely more of an acquired taste as far as the great vocalists go. She's also not someone whose stuff I would just randomly decide to throw on. Her sad stuff is her best stuff to me, and she'll always be a rainy day, feeling sorry for myself kind of pick. If there's anything to knock this album for it's that the material doesn't always keep up with Simone. That piano was a bit much at times. Simone is up there with the best idiosyncratic crooners and balladeers of the period like Scott Walker as far as being iconic voices, and of the big three women of the era in my mind ( Nina, Aretha, Etta) - she has my favorite voice, but not always my favorite material. To make a wholly uncalled for basketball analogy, Aretha is Jordan ( the forceful 5-tool star who can do no wrong), Etta is Pippen (versatile and underrated), and Nina is Rodman ( an elite, bold innovator, but kind of weird and full of surprises). PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Even the middle of the road stuff is interesting enough to keep around FURTHER LISTENING - First Take by Roberta Flack - Lady in Satin by Billie Holiday - Here's to Life by Shirley Horn - Soft and Beautiful by Aretha Franklin

Nina Simone is one of those names that looms large. She is a name I have often heard but have never spent much time with listening to her music. Once again I’m in need of some schoolin’. Her’s is one of those legacy voices that truthfully you need to experience yourself. Well her command and presence came through my ear buds as masterful as anything this list has offered so far this morning. I've been thinking about this album all day. There is such life in these vocals. She refuses to sand down the rough textures that appear. This woman has capital “P” - Power in her voice. The opening track “I Love Your Lovin’ Ways” is a bluesy rocking start to the album. The good times are early and short though because after that there much heartbreak to ponder on this album. “Four Women” knocked me on my ass. “Lilac Wine”, “Breakdown and Let it All Out”, “Wild is the Wind”. She’s singing about harder shit than any metal band out there and complaining less. There is an abundance of heartbreak to ponder on this one but it refuses to fall into mopey-ness. It’s vulnerable and defiant. What a shame this is the only entry we get from Nina Simone.

muy lento para mí gusto, pero la primera canción es espectacular

The title track is one of the best songs I've ever heard.

Instrumentals very nice. Simone has a very powerful voice. This feels like a good album to play when doing work and can tune back in whenever. Imagine making your way to a bar in Arizona, after walking a long and dusty road. The locals all look up at you in a glance, and then return to their dalliances. This album is playing in the bar when this scene happens.

Very powerful album.

4/5 nina soars with strong compositions

Just don't like vocal jazz that much, great version of Lilac Wine tho

It’s amazing how much feeling and emotion Nina can bring out of a simple melody. Vocal power. Unbelievable.

liked it alot very nice lilac wine

Heard this one before, I quite like it

it was nice loved 4 women

It's a very good album. Not really my style though. All songs are solid and the singing is obviously very good. I'm having some doubts between 3 and 4 stars. But, if I'm being honest to my personal taste, this is a perfectly solid 3-star album.

Tone deaf

Good soulful album with stellar singing.

I really lucked out here, because I happen to LOVE her voice! Every single song here has an incredible performance from her. Her vocal runs are fantastic, even when they don't really seem to add to the lyrics. Sometimes she's just showing off. Which is fine by me, because she sounds awesome. While every song has her beautiful voice, most songs here accompany that with a truly astounding instrumental. The piano embellishments are just as pretty, and if it's not a subtle ballad like her Black Is The Color rendition, then those are replaced with epic crescendos like the one at the end of What More Can I Say? Not everything here is immediately arresting, but I strongly enjoyed this record. I had recently listened to one of the Aretha Franklin albums on this list, and was expecting something in that vein. But what we get here, despite the bright pink cover, is something really poignant and desperate. She's really screaming on this, even when it's a happy song. I'll have to get into more of her hits...

I’ve heard this before. First of all, Nina Simone is great. There is a good mix of jazz, r&b, and folk here and the album is well constructed, so it was surprising to learn these were all tracks from a few previous sessions that didn’t make it into her earlier albums. The performances are strong and themes of love, heartbreak, and the black experience interplay really well, especially “Four Women” which is an amazing and powerful song. I dig it.

I prefer rock but the Soul, jazz blues R&B is just beautiful. This person is a master pianist

Geweldig album. Soul en emotie, veel themas uit die tijd. 6 uit 5 sterren

Hmm, I appreciate this is classy but not really my thing.

That isn't really my sound. That said, I miss when real art was made from real emotion. Obviously this is masterful.

This album is an exceptional! "Black is the color of my true Love's Hair" is just a chef-d’oeuvre!!

Great vocals, awesome record

Well balanced and diverse, full of feeling and soul

Fire asf, very 60s indeed

7/10 Buen album, escucharlo yendo a la facu medio dormido no fue lo mejor capaz, me durmió un poco pero sin aburrirme, fue mas que me relajo, cuestión bueno, sirve para estar tranquilo

Absolutely beautiful and conscious album, Ninas voice is as always so beautiful and the songwriting here is ahead of its time 8/10 Favourite: Four Women Least Favourite: If I Should Lose You

great albums with some great songs. Nina Simone will always have a special place in my heart, such a unique and lovely voice and lyrics.

absolutely amazing album. classic. my favourite tracks are wild is the wind, either way i lose, that’s all i ask, lilac wine, four women, and i love your loving ways. (so half the album but i’m sorry i couldn’t pick!) in my opinion, wild is the wind is the best track on here and maybe in the world. my mom used to sing it to me. i’m sure as i continue to listen to this album my favourites will change but one thing i know for sure is that it’ll always be on my roster.

Slow and melancholic. Enjoyable but it didn't really sit with me.

Loved the range of sound and emotion in this album! Favourite track: Lilac Wine

5/5 for Wild is the Wind, Lilac Wine, and Black is the Color. The other tracks leave less of an impression and Simone overindulges her vibrato throughout. Four Women is a minor masterpiece, but I never really feel like listening to it.

words could never do justice to my grande dame…

Phenomenal voice and vibes

Side B leans a little heavy on the ballads for my liking, and I know I prefer at least a couple other albums of hers, but the best stuff is undeniably great. 4/5

Snooze…2

Damn some of these songs were powerful. Really enjoyed this album and her voice Fave songs: Four Women, If I Should Lose you 4/5

4 stars A beautiful, emotive album. It has some of the best songs Miss Simone ever made. There are also more generic moments, but none of it is dull or bad.

4/24/26. One of the more unique voices I've heard; soulful and haunting, but endearing. I need to check out more Nina Simone!

Absolutely fantastic record. Lyrically, this perhaps does get a bit stale as it goes on with most of the songs here being about love or heartbreak (with one very notable exception), but that's literally the only complaint I have about this honestly. Instrumentally, this is quite sparse but that's by design as it allows for more focus on Nina and her incredible voice. There are few vocalists who I find to be as commanding of a presence as Nina and she provides some absolutely incredible performances all across this album but especially on tracks like Four Women and Wild Is The Wind. It crazy to think that this is as good as it is when it's mostly just made up of random leftovers from previous recording sessions. If that's not an indicator of just how immensely talented Nina Simone was then I don't know what is. This is an incredible album and now I can't wait to check out more of Nina's music. Favs: Wild Is The Wind, Four Women, What More Can I Say?, That's All I Ask Least Fav: If I Should Lose You (still a great song) 9.6/10

Four Women is pretty epic. It was the inspiration for Peaches taking that stage name.

Not really my thing. Great voice.

Nina is one of The Vocalists for me, someone who seems so intimately familiar with the nooks and crannies of her own voice that every line feels like a gift. it's because of that affinity for her voice that this isn't my favorite record of hers - i prefer her sparer, more unaccompanied, more naked. it's very hard to argue with her in ballad-mode though, particularly the steady, spacey pulse of Lilac Wine, one of the places i find her band to be really special rather than a bit distracting. Black Is The Color..... is also stunning, though it's hard to think of that song as anyone's but Patty Waters'. still though, nothing short of a rich and unending pleasure to listen to Nina sing, and i hope Little Girl Blue is on this list so i can really gush

3.3 переслушаю приятный, короткий, есть хиты не надоел

Wild.

Really lovely voice and thoroughly enjoyable album.

This one just wasn't doing it for me. Some of it would catch my attention, but it never held it. 2.5 Stars

Me gusto pero hay que estar en el animo correcto para escucharlo

Es excelente, pero no sé si me caló tan profundamente.

I love your loving ways was such a great start to this album! I thought it was super fun and had a great swing to it. Four women was a beautiful piece of music. The story, the calm instrumental, and the focus on the vocals. What more can I saw was also gorgeous. That building piano was lovely. When it moves into lilac wine and goes for the more melancholy tone, it was perfect. That pulsating piano behind the vocals really added to it. That’s all I ask, break down and let it all out, good tracks! Break down in particular had such a cool melody to it. Why keep on breaking my heart was another great track, and the title track itself, well, it was a mix of everything I liked from the previous tracks. Black is the colour of my true loves hair, I did find harder to listen to. It was just a bit slow for me. I had similar feelings about If I should lose you. Either way I lose was a great closer! Bringing in those horns was awesome. 4/5 ⭐️ 111/1089

It's the HOV sample!

Нину Симон очень люблю, добавила пару песен, но у нее есть работы гораздо сильнее и выразительнее

No me gustó, no lo volvería a escuchar por mi cuenta. 3/10

I liked this mixture of styles on this album, and yet at the same time, this isn't the kind of album that I'd yearn to listen to again. Fine in passing. 2.8/5.

1966, singing the truth, and foreshadowing other female voices to come, including Roberta Flack and Carly Simon.

I really liked the first half and I thought all of her lyrics were excellent. The second half though dragged and felt like a different album. But that includes some live songs which maybe weren’t in the original? So I’ll be generous and go light 4.

I was surprised by how upbeat the first song was. Really liked that one. The rest of the album, not so much. Depressing and sad songs. No doubt her singing is heartfelt, but too much "chanteuse" for me.

Nina Simone is a unique talent, but this isn’t an album I’d listen to again. Like “strange fruit” or “to pimp a butterfly” it is powerful art about race and in America but not really something I’d actively choose to put on. (Even Kendrick provides some upbeat tracks and fun on his album”) The whole thing is just morose and heavy with lots of similar arrangements throughout. PI totally get why, and get that as a white guy in 2026 I’m not the intended audience for this, and that’s ok. I’m glad I heard this, but a little joy or hope would be nice too.

I love her voice

Total surprise for me but listened to it more than once already

Simone’s voice is unique and powerful. This stands up well with other works from the era but probably only doesn’t have staying power for me for anything other than lack of familiarity. More of her works are surely worth a listen but it’s not the highest on my list.

Nina's voice is haunting and moving. The lyrics of Four Women were powerful. Would not be surprised if Amy Winehouse listened to Nina at some point, or at the very least they share very similar vocal qualities. Great album front to back, and I'd love to hear more from her.

Ihan kiva työpäivän taustalla

Ei tällästä

Hyvää shittiä jos on nukahtamisvaikeuksia.

Ihan kivaa.

Kovaa laulantaa ja ihan ok biisejä, mutta ei mitään semmoista että välttämättä palaisin tähän uudestaan.

Really good! 4/5

Started strong, finished meh. 3/5

OMG! This album is phenomenal. Coming into it I wasn’t excited, and the first track was very ok but not engaging enough to me. But then “Four Women” started playing and it almost felt like a different album. The mood changed, the production was simple but evoked a lot of emotions and the writing and Nina’s performance is nothing short of perfect. Let’s just say I was touched by this song. THE rest of the album is just as good. The piano! How can I forget it? This tracklist is filled with some of the most gorgeous piano playing I’ve ever heard. The production is simple but you can’t help not getting invested. Nina’s voice is the cherry on top. It’s magical, she can literally sing about anything and I would still get emotional. I cried from pretty much every song here. What a beautiful album.

Heel eerlijk. Eerste keer dat ik dit album luister, maar had stiekem al score ingevuld van tevoren.

I feel bad not giving it five stars but I feel like, absent “Four Women,” it just doesn’t rise to the level of its timeless contemporaries. That, or, it’s just too slow for me.

Gorgeous is the word that comes to mind. This is an album to make love to. An album to cry to. An album to reflect to. An album to feel alive to! It's hard to believe this album was compiled from several recordings that were left over from sessions for previous albums. It sounds so thought out and unified.

Four women is a smooth but heavy song, i love it!

A powerful listen

I love your lovin' ways - 4 Four women - 4 What more can I say? - 3 Lilac wine - 3 That's all I ask - 3 Break down and let it all out - 4 Why keep on breaking my heart - 4 Wild is the wind - 3 Black is the color of my true love's hair - 3 If I should lose you - 3 Either way I lose - 4

Mega lame

great voice, some very nice songs. the majority of the album is her lounge singer act which I really don't like. Again a few nice songs which made me more interested but still not enough of that, rating it a 2

I new I liked Nina Simone but This album blew me out of the water. Nina Simone's voice and delivery demands attention Slow , jazzy, moving .

Very social album. Nina has been a blues goddess but this takes the cake for some of her best work. Aside from Nina Simone Sings the Blues, this might be her best work.

Damn she got a deep voice 7/10 I have listened to this before and it was a pleasant revisit

A three-leaning-four-star album.

Nice. Good.

Krásne...

Epic voice. Very emotional. Great variety of jazz.

Me gusta el rollito chill, algunas son muy lentas aunque ese también es el punto que me gusta y una voz bonita.

Уважаем, но слушать не будем

So, I first discovered Nina Simone at the end of Before Sunset, with Celine dancing in her apartment, telling Jesse he was going to miss his plane. Anyway, I dove into her catalog from there, but had never heard this particular album. Love it.

Muy buen son Melodías y voz Algunas me recordaron en in the mood for love.

Nina is one of my favorite artists ever. Her voice and creativity was only bound by her personal limitations, but you can always peak into her power with every song she recorded. I like how this album reflects the middle of her peak artistic form. I was familiar with the Bowie and Buckley versions of Lilac Wine and Wild is the Wind, but the originals are so much better. There will never be another artist like her.

This appears to be the only Nina Simone album on this list which is crazy. There are probably three other Nina Simone albums which are better and more essential than at least 900 of the albums on this list.

This album has such incredible range. Some songs make me want to cry, some make me want to dance, some make me want to sing along, others just make me want to be still and silent. They come in different textures and colors yet they are all carved from the same stone. The sequence of “What More Can I Say?” > “Lilac Wine” > “That’s All I Ask” in particular is impeccable.

Started off as expected; beautiful voice, poppy and boppy…and then…”What More Can I Say?” Oh my oh my, this is why I love Nina Simone. The percussion arrangement on “Break Down And Let It All Out” is interesting. Seems pretty 60s to me. The album continues, the piano on “If I Should Lose You” flutters and I expect the album to end….yet some doo-wop begins and I learn I’m not done yet. There is more heartbreak to experience…. The great Nina Simone…I think she brings out the most in anyone she works with and it shows with the performance of the studio musicians on this one.

Nice

The last song was nice.

Overall rating: 7.3/10 (3.65/5 stars) Favorite song: "I Love Your Lovin' Ways" Least favorite song: "Either Way I Lose" a. I Love Your Lovin' Ways - 9.5/10; I like the beginning a lot. I like how different it is from the rest of the album. It has a very different feel to it, and I love that. I think this is a very good first track for an album like this. b. Four Women - 6/10; I like the flute parts but I thought the ending was alright. c. What More Can I Say? - 9/10; I love the variety of instruments in this song and all of the harmonies. The vocals are amazing in this song and I did really like the crescendos. d. Lilac Wine - 5.8/10; I thought it had the same kind of vibe as "Four Women." It was alright overall with no very major standouts in this song. e. That's All I Ask - 7.6/10; I liked the vibe of this song mostly. I liked how the instruments sounded as well. f. Break Down And Let It All Out - 7/10; I loved the saxophone!!! I didn't really like how much the song title was repeated. I don't typically like repetition like that. g. Why Keep On Breaking My Heart? - 8/10; Really the same comments as "Lilac Wine." I liked the vibe and there wasn't many major standouts, but still a good song. h. Wild Is The Wind - 9/10; I love the piano in this song the most. I also love how the vocals match the piano perfectly. I wasn't a huge fan of the riff a little after the middle of the song, but it did match the song. I think the vocals are very pretty in this song regardless. i. Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair - 7.8/10; At this point in the album, I feel like most of the songs are having the same sound to it. Which is expected, it being that they're all in the same album. And it's a good sound. But I don't like repetition, and I think I was getting bored. There's not many major standouts in this song, but the song sounded pretty. j. If I Should Lose You - 8.8/10; I like the piano at the start. I also like the vocals a lot. I mostly like when the vocals get lower a little in this song. I like the piano a lot later in the song as well. Nothing I really hated in this song. k. Either Way I Lose - 4.5/10; The vocals in the back get very distracting, especially since they carry throughout the whole song. I do like the instruments in this song too. When the vocals in the back fade out a little at the end, the song gets very enjoyable because all the instruments are playing together and I think it sounds very beautiful.

Music.

Wild Is The Wind is so hauntingly beautiful! My favorite. What More Can I Say? is pleading in a lovely/not desperate way. Reminds me of Hanif talking about songs where the protagonist is pleading, except he was writing about toxic men and Nina Simone is perfect. Either Way I Lose is a banger. I will be adding it to my soul/jazz playlist.

loved. lilac wine maybe my fave? want to listen to it under a tree in the sun.

A MULHER DO BLUES, A MULHER DO SOUL Ela tem uma voz muito característica, uma interpretação que te leva a algum bar nessa década categórica de 60, enquanto todos estão bebericando seu whiskey barato, ela está lá, sendo tão formosa e melódica quanto sempre foi. HIGHLIGHTS: FOUR WOMEN, WHAT MORE CAN I SAY, Lilac Wine, 10/10

9/10 Favorites: Four Women What More Can I Say? Lilac Wine

Nothing in this album really drew me in. She’s got a strong voice. I’ll give her that and she’s pretty damn good on piano so two out of five but probably should be at one cause I didn’t save any songs.

Wow! Exceptional voice! This listen was beautiful. Definitely revisiting!

Shake on me for not listening to much nina simone. I know the covers by Jeff Buckley and the czars but these originals are gorgeous as well. Beautifully sparse, incredible voice, and you can feel the smoky jazz bar she's singing in. Wish I could have been there!

Amazing voice, I need to dig deeper I think. Awesome to hear the original version of Lilac Wine, and also reinforces my respect for Jeff Buckley, who as it turns out did a super authentic version of it.

You could be listening to a lot worse back in the late 60s

a maioral

Overall not bad. Not really my kind of thing, but definitely not a terrible record. I’d rate it a 3/5 personally. No songs really stand out. Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it.

it was fine. did'nt get the hye if im being honest. only 2 tracks were worth listening.

fav: four women, lilac wine, that's all i ask, why keep on breaking my heart, wild is the wind four women is visceralll

Pues

oh so romantic and passionate. half the songs went into my "dimmed bar" playlist!!! best listened to with a bottle of wine!

Got stoned and fell half asleep while listening to it. Everything about it sound so relaxing. Love the emotions that she puts into her voice <3

Soul classic, what a voice!

Really enjoyed this, great music from a even better person

Nina Simone est dans une classe à part. Avoir autant d'authenticité que de puissance c'est une recette hors du commun. Personne peut rester indifférent.

Could’ve been released today, thought it sounded current. Powerful passionate vocals. First time I’ve listened in full to a Nina album. Enjoyed it and it has a replayability element. My benchmark, I would purchase the vinyl but not a 5/5. More like a 4.3/5.

I like it. Old school blues.

I enjoyed this. She has a great voice.

Legendary jams, unique and beautiful

Primera mitad floja, segunda exquisita

Loved this. I get the criticism regarding the flow due to how it was compiled, but honestly minor to me. The positives eclipse it tenfold.

Топовий альбом. Чудові пісні, чудові виконання. Four Women - феноменальна.

Альбомам Ніни Сімоне менше 4 ставити не можу.

I went into listeting to this album with no idea who Nina Simon was to now being obsessed with this album. I first listend to the song That's All I Ask and loved it I listend to that over and over again before actually listening to the whole album. After listening I was amazed that I have never heard of Nina before with her very unique vocals that I had a rough time getting into but now love. This album is incredible with all the emotion she puts into the songs. The song What More Can I Say is just gorgeous the build up around the end is just incedible and so beautiful. I give this 5 stars amazing listening experience would definitely recommend Best Tracks What More Can I Say? Why Keep On Breaking My Heart Lilac Wine Thats All I Ask

Stopped me in my tracks???? Are you joking???

This is a style of music that I would love to hear make a come back. I mean it kind of did with Amy Winehouse, but the Jazz singer sound is so great and Nina Simone does it better than most.

Not in love with Nina's voice, but this album was interesting. I like it, but don't quite love it.

Gorgeous, will absolutely get played again. It’s not cohesive but it’s an incredible overview of her range.

Great music. Especially loved Four Women. Nina’s voice has so much emotion.

Great record. Huge vibes, classic

3.5⭐️/5 04.03.2026

He voice bro... it moves me. The music, her emotion. It is very good.

Wow I'm genuinely left with no words. This was my first ever Nina Simone listen and she did not disappoint. Her lyricism is insane and her voice was so raw and emotional and it just got me feeling a lot of things at once. Good album. Great even.

Medio country cooll

Garten, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Nette Scheibe.

Beautiful

I was not expecting that. I haven't listened to many jazz albums, but from the ones I have listened to, they tend to drone on. Wild is The Wind keeps a punchy instrumental that feels like it is just getting more and more grand.

- The vocals on this album are beautiful, as well as the lyricsism was amazing - The first song already started really great, and it provided a strong introduction for the rest of the album. - no skips were needed - I will definitely be coming back to this album

nustebau, cia juk jay-z arba jo ten prodiuseris koks nors samplino "Four Women" i jo daina story of oj, damnn. Ok siaip albumas geras tikrai prie nieko negaliu prisikabint, klausyciau antra karta, kad suprast apie ka dainuoja, nes dabar buvau pasileides tik, kad grotu fone. 4/5 kadangi tai nera mano go-to muzika.

She has really impressive piano chops!

I didn’t get to this one until late last night, but I feel that only added to the magic of Nina. It’s past time I listen to a full project from her and I’m so glad I finally did. The impact and boundary-pushing nature of what she’s doing here is immediately evident, along with it’s immortality. One of the most enjoyable moments for me when listening to music is catching a sample of a modern track I love or vice versa. Here it happened twice, with the iconic The Story of O.J. (Jay-Z), sampling Four Women, demonstrating Nina’s influence pushing all the way into the 2010’s and then, even further, one of my favorite recent The Weeknd tracks, Given Up On Me, beautifully sampling the title track just last year. This shines a lens into the lasting influence of her music, while listening to the album itself makes it clear how strongly it stands on it’s own, even today. Emotional, experimental, and brilliantly executed, this makes Nina sound like a godmother of soul itself. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Four Women, Wild is the Wind

Expectation: -> No expectations. After listening: -> Took a couple playthroughs to warm up to this one. Voice/vocals took some getting used to. If you're in the right setting and get into the right mind space, this is quite good. 3 pushing 4. Track ranking: What more Lilac Ask Break down Wild Love Four Why keep Either way If I Black

Really not my style. I can respect it and she's very talented but I will likely never listen to it again

Collection of Jazz and Blues from one of the greatest voices of all time. Her magnificent voice carries the album accompanied by sparse instrumentation. Nina effortlessly goes from loud and powerful to quiet and delicate, inducing tears on a number of tracks. Album is named after the eponymous film and I thought it would have more to do with that but it seems to be just thematic allusion. I can see why this album is on this list but most of the songs aren't very interesting to me as a whole. I wouldn't come back to this to listen front to back. Instead, I would cherry pick the standout moments here which for me were Four Women, Wild is the Wind, and Black is the Color of my True Love's Hair.

A great example of Nina Simone's music world.