Reviews (page 3 of 13)
Awesome!
Oh, Nina is so fucking fantastic. Her voice conveys so much emotion that you can feel what the song is about without even listening to the lyrics. Is this Nina’s best album? Honestly I have no idea, but she deserves her place on the list, and this is fantastic.
Brilliant, I love it. I've heard of her but never listened knowingly. Very cool.
always, yes, to Nina Simone
speechless
Nina Simone has a lot of albums and I won't pretend I've listened to all of them nor will I pretend to know if this is the best one. But this encapsulates Nina Simone's ability to make really compelling music across a wide range of styles and has some of her best/most notable songs, so how could I not give it a 5?
What a wonderful voice, so much character and so unique. Great album, I had only hear Bowie’s cover of wild is the wind prior to this and I definitely prefer Nina’s version. Four women is great and Lilac wine is haunting.
Very powerful songs. Four Women (focused on the cover) might be one of the weakest songs, it sounds like something out of a musical, and it does show a lot of range but as a piece to listen to it's not giving very much.
A beautifully understated and jazzy record, with a mood that’s intense and deeply genuine from start to finish. Nina Simone’s vocal is extreme, raw, vulnerable, and utterly captivating. Every track feels like an open soul. Highlights include “Wild Is the Wind” and “Four Women,” both powerful and unforgettable. 5/5
After 2 Brit bias picks worth of suffering, I get a reprieve with a Nina Simone classic! This was such a refreshing breath of fresh air this morning from the challenge. An all-time great artist here.
This album hit me on an emotional level I didn’t expect. Nina Simone’s voice feels like a private conversation. Intimate, soulful, and full of quiet storms. There’s something weightless and eternal in how she delivers the songs. I’ll return to this album when I need something soulful.
Soulful. Jazzy. Chill and good AF. Excellent.
I love Nina Simone so much and oddly had never listened to this album all the way through. It's fantastic. Four women is obviously such an important song and I love the way it's intentionally slow -- almost uncomfortably slow -- to make us stop and think about what she is singing about. It's made to make us feel uncomfortable and that's why Nina Simone is so great. I also really enjoyed more the jazzy love tunes on this album.
Holy cats, this is amazing! Her voice and piano playing, it's just.....wow.
Already listened - already love it.
"My name is..... PEACHES!!!!!!" Listened to B4? No Tracks Already Saved on Spotify: 0 Standout Tracks: I Love Your Lovin' Ways, Four Women, What More Can I Say?, Lilac Wine, Why You Keep Breaking My Heart, Wild is the Wind (92/100)
Amazing! Rösten, låtarna, texterna! Dynamiskt och berörande. Förflyttar en till en rökig bar och släpper inte taget. Sången och fraseringarna är mästerliga, men blir aldrig duktiga. Gåshud och nära till tårar vid flera tillfällen. Begriplig legendarstatus. Kommer lyssna igen: Ja! Bästa spår: Four women och What more can I say Betyg: Daniel 9 av 10 Dawid 10 av 10
oh nowwwww we're talking, this is such a masterpiece
Powerful, soulful, blues-jazz. What a voice. Sublime musicianship, true poetic lyricism. Beautifully crafted music.
Mellow
Untouchable masterpiece. Deeply human, sensual but not vulgar (just like the Canticle of Canticles), denounces real-life problems with real class. Nothing bad can be said about it for me. --- Obra-prima intocável. Profundamente humano, sensual mas não vulgar (como os Cânticos dos Cânticos), denuncia problemas da vida real com uma classe real. Nada de mau pode ser dito sobre ele para mim. 10/10
This album was phenomenal great songs great singing
truly good
wenardo
Four Women, superb songwriting vocals that interrupted what I was doing. A pleasure. The crescendo and the end was incredible. Break Down and Let It All Out seems a bit underrated. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Incredible voice from Nina Simone, with a great band behind her. Highlights: Four Women, Lilac Wine, Break Down and Let It All Out
My only exposure to Nina Simone prior to this is that video of her talking about trying to shoot a record executive dead in front of a restaurant. That sort of stunning and brave action would warrant an extra star even if the album was dogshit but thankfully it’s really good.
The vocal delivery on this is insane. The build ups are crazy. Early on i found myself questioning whether all the tracks were going to be this magnificent and they were. Its crazy how influential this is, you can see its DNA all over the place from contemporary folk, to metal and experimental. 10/10
Reading about Nina Simone, I came across a quote by Maya Angelou regarding Ms Simone that sums up my feelings better than I ever could: "few who have met her music or glimpsed her soul react with moderation." Simone's vocals and the instrumentation here could draw blood from a stone. Simone's control over her vocals is something to be in awe of, she takes lines and elevates them in a way that just floors me. I was reading the titles of each track before a listen and thought What More Can I Say? would be the same song as performed by the Notations, was a little disappointed when it wasn't but oh my days this song absolutely floored me. There are no skips on here and the highlights absolutely levelled me, what a joy. Highlights: What More Can I Say?, That's All I Ask, Break Down and Let It All Out, Wild Is the Wind
always in the mood for Nina Simone
my god, her voice!!! my queen, I could listen to her recite a shopping list and would not get bored and on top of that I would get emotional. love her, forever an icon!
One of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard. I'm on the verge of tears.
She was an incredible piano player. A person who loved Bach. A brilliant woman.
Most of the songs don't even do that much for me, but I find Lilac Wine and Wild is the Wind so incredibly beautiful that I want to give it 5. Her voice is so unique and fitting to all her songs, wow.
Jaw-dropping.
Her voice gives each word such depth, it really adds to the emotional weight of this album. Perfect for a heavy heart, regardless of what it is heavy with.
Just an incredible voice and enjoyed this album more than some of the past compilations I've listened too
Just a powerful album - singing, songwriting, playing
Timeless and essential. Simone’s voice is so powerful even down through the years and over a recording - anytime I listen to this album I think how incredibly spellbinding it must have been to hear her live. Easy easy five stars.
Et bah écoute, c’était vraiment une belle surprise. C’est beau, touchant et on se fait pas chier.
This. This is what I want. A jazz record that gives you a spiritual experience just from listening. The kind of record to make you stop in your tracks and marvel at its beauty.
Great album!!
firmly in the top 10 albums ever
Incredible. One of my favorite styles of music. I know a lot of Nina Simone’s more popular music and enjoy it but this album was new for me, and just as good as the stuff I already know and like. Very easy listen and so good.
Discazo. Pelea por ser el segundo mejor álbum de Nina Simone (Pastel Blues siempre será insuperable). Más reflexivo que los dos anteriores, necesita escucharse bien para apreciarlo ya que quizá, de primeras, no entra tan fácil como Pastel Blues y I put a spell on you. Todo lo que hizo Nina entre mediados y finales de los 60...es para escucharlo una, y otra, y otra vez. La mejor cantante de todos los tiempos.
i am loving this. what a powerful voice! it’s quite funny this album popped up today as i am in the middle of a david bowie discography run through and he does the most amazing cover of “wild is the wind” which tops anything anyone else has ever made. so it was quite fun to see this album being named after that song, and has that cover here as well. “four women” what a strong and beautiful and gut wrenching song. “break down and let it all out” is amazing vocal wise. so cool. “lilac wine” is a wonderful cover. 5/5
It's good.
Just thumpingly solid blues.
Nina Simone is the GOAT
A very easy 5 stars. If I had to pick my favorite voice in all of recorded music, I'd probably pick Nina Simone. She has such a powerful intensity like she could make someone stop dead in their track, to sit down and listen. And she marries this equally powerful lyrics. This album features a few of her very best songs. The bold depiction of "Four Women" fighting to be seen as people beyond their stereotypes. The hauntingly sorrowful "Lilac Wine". The dizzyingly sparse and draw out title track. And the stripped down, raw beauty of "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair." My only complaint about Nina Simone is that of the many collections of her songs that are out there, few perfectly capture her talent as well as she deserves. To my mind, Simone always performed songs, and didn't necessarily make great albums per se. I haven't explored her very extenstive discography enough to verify that. Up until now, the best collection I'd found that the 2022 compilation "Feeling Good: Her Greatest Hits and Remixes", which is amazing. "Wild is the Wind" truly rivals that collection. It's staggering to think that these were just leftover tracks from previous sessions and yet they made just an incredible album when brought together.
Beautiful
love me some Nina Simone, this will be an easy rate. i've only heard Lilac Wine prior to today I Love Your Lovin' Ways - 3/5 Four Women - 5/5 What More Can I Say? - 5/5 Lilac Wine - 5/5 (my fav version of this song) That's All I Ask - 5/5 Break Down And Let It All Out - 4/5 Why Keep On Breaking My Heart - 3/5 Wild Is The Wind - 5/5 Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair - 5/5 If I Should Lose You - 5/5 Either Way I Lose - 5/5 Average score: 4.6/5 (rounding up) wow. i've already known Nina Simone was a badass vocalist and pianist, so i had a good feeling i'd enjoy this. i figured Lilac Wine would be the best track here, but i was completely taken aback by Wild Is The Wind. that was a tear jerker i was not ready for. her singing is like a key that unlocks the deepest emotions within me. very few artists have hit me like her voice did is it a perfect or cohesive release? of course not. i think that's to be expected of an album comprising of leftover recordings. but her performance on the majority of these tracks makes up for that fact tenfold *this* is a must-listen album, period.
Potent and emotionally resonant, Wild Is the Wind lays bare a powerful artistry while remaining eminently listenable. Nina Simone is unforgettable.
Excellent album. I hope there's more Nina Simone on the list. I'll probably revisit this album in it's entirety. Only song that I didn't think was a 5/5 was the opener. Overall still a 5/5 album
Knallbra album, rett og slett. 10/10.
Nina, es muy especial en mis preferencias y es porque trasciende el canto puramente musical, cala en los huesos.
This was a beautiful album. She has such a beautiful voice and the piano is phenomenal. 4.5/5 - > 5/5
When even the leftover tracks are this good, you can be sure that the artist is a master of their craft. Nina's voice is unique and powerful, and that's not even talking about the excellent music that backs her up! Favorite track: on this listen, "Break Down and Let It All Out"
Four women,!
LOVED THIS 10/10 first time listening to Nina and the music is so good
There is also much to love about Nina Simone and this has some of her best, most classic tracks.
I've been quite conflicted about what score to give this album. Today, I finally made the decision to give it 5 stars rather than 4, and it comes down to the fact that Nina's voice is extremely powerful and does and excelent job in trasmiting emotions. There's some weakers tracks compare to the best ones, but I'll be damned if I call them bad songs, because they're not. Truly one of the best singers ever.
Trying to get back into my album a day so it was a huge relief to get this powerhouse of an artist/album. Particularly enjoyed Four Women. Lilac Wine and Wild is the Wind.
For a list that is dominated by heavy Rock, it is always good when an album like this comes up. Nina Simone's voice is beautiful as it is powerful. There is a strength to her songs that resonates and moves the soul.
Simone's voice is haunting, dark and uncompromising. what an absolute badass.
Surprising and beautiful.
Swooningly romantic and heartbreakingly poetic in equal measure. That voice....that fire in her delivery. The passion, the tenderness. Every song on here delivers the goods, but "Four Women," what an utter masterpiece. Must-listen #138.
Very enjoyable music, where many songs were immidiatelly added to my favorites on spotify. I loved the voice of Nina Simone.
I mean it’s Nina I couldn’t not really - listened twice through (cuff meh)
Incredible voice, incredible musicians back in my her up.
I haven't really listened to Nina Simone before so this was a revelation. The songs were beautiful and the production innovative. One of the highlights being another version of Lilac Wine. Alternatively romantic and political with each song. This is an album to be savoured.
I’m not crying you’re crying
Don't you know you're life itself?
Makes me feel sophiaticated
A gem like this is why I like this project. Never would have chosen to listen to this otherwise, but what a lovely, soulful journey. 5/5
Excellent. Great instrumentals and vocal work! 'Wild is the Wind' was my fave.
This is great jazz blues, way different from what I have heard before
😭
Album art:2
a truly amazing album. Not Nina's top but still amazing!
This album had a lot of deep lyrics and hearty, low vocals. I think it would be perfect if you were having a dinner party or if you were in your feels. What an amazing singer.
4.5
Such variety and such wonderful righteous drama! Such power, creativity and impact! 5/5
Man, what a voice. FOUR WOMEN absolutely rules. Nina Simone is a stone cold badass
I mean - insane.
One of the greats for good reason. This album is so damn good and if it came out today, people would still go crazy for it. In fact, I'd kill for an album like this to come out today. This was such an easy 5 star for me.
What an incredible record. The songwriting alone is spectacular. It's true, its honest, its soulful, its dark, its lovely. Its kind of everything you would want from an artist. Nina's voice is perfect. Its super unique, its stems from that old crooner jazz style, but its kind of doing its own thing. The music is also varied, where its a bit of jazz, a bit of salsa, a bit of soul. This was a really beautiful album, that I had never listened to (outside of Lilac Wine). This is a perfect addition to the list and the kind of album that gets me stoked on this project.
Could not find the album
Very few can beat Nina.
I Love Your Lovin' Ways is a great R&B song. Four Women is as dramatic a shift in tone and content from I Love Your Lovin' Ways as is possible. What More Can I Say then moves to this jazzy song full of longing. It has the same feel as I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) vibe. She does this so well. I have to relisten to Jeff Buckley's Grace because he covered Lilac Wine on it and I like this version and it feels very memorable and I have no memory of that version. The selection of songs doesn't seem to have a lot of rhyme or reason, no real theme to the album, almost like a greatest hits. Wild is the Wind is amazing, an all-time great song. Her voice has such a sense of yearning in it, you can feel her in the song. Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair is one of her most famous songs, not my favorite. Her piano playing is great as well. It's amazing how some artists can pull off just their voice and an instrument. Either Way I Lose is strange but I like it. An eclectic album from an eclectic personality.
It’s beautiful, the album itself is full of soul and passion. You can feel her heart in this.
This isn't an album full of Billboard Chart Topping hits, but it is an album full of powerful, passionate songs that showcase Nina Simone as an incredible, generational singer
Not as cohesive as some of her other albums, but some absolute killers on here, including the Bowie cover.
Incredibly effecting stuff
Nina. Simple enough.
Immediately recognize the rhythm on Four Women, didnt know it was from Nina Simon. Fuck the next song is smooth as fuck and nice as fuck. Lilac wine is also beautiful. Its rare that i listen to slow songs like this on my own time, but these i for sure will.
Truly an album that deserves its status as an all time great, Simone's vocal performances are unbelievable in how much raw emotion she is able to put into them.
It’s a crime there isn’t MORE Nina on this list, but if we were only gonna put one on the list, this isn’t a bad choice. Nina Simone is a powerhouse singer, unique in every way, gorgeous and seductive and sad all at the same time. “Four Women” is an absolute gut punch, as masterful as “Strange Fruit” and reflective the suffering of black women without match in music to this day. It’s the highlight, but it’s not the only great tune here. “What More Can I Say?”, “Lilac Wine”, “Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair”; Nina travels so many genres, so many styles here and hammers it home. I’m writing this only 3 songs in and it’s a perfect album already. Bless.
youd have to be a genius
Heartbreakingly good.
Incredible
I broke my own rule here, i rated the album before i had finished listening to it
This is the best album I’ve yet heard from the list. Haunting, sorrowful and beautifully idiosyncratic, Nina clearly has been a persistent influence on a wide range of current music. This is one of the most personal feeling albums I’ve heard in a while, with capstone performances that stare directly through you. Rating: 5.0
Increíble voz, increíbles letras, increíble todo. Este disco pega en el corazón.
I love your loving ways yes I do. A beautiful project. Four women is such a powerful song that I already knew before but have learned more about through listening to this album (my name is peaches, wow). It must’ve been amazing live The rendition of these standards like lilac wine is wonderful, I needn’t ask for more or better. The way the lyrics are said in lilac wine is so delicate and romantic. I don’t know when her alcoholism started but this song also reminds me of her and her story. Break down and let it all out really makes me want to do as she says. Juste open up, let it all out. Why keep on breaking my heart is nice. I like how her voice and the way she sings is a bit different from the other songs on the album. Wild is the wind, omg. It’s so beautiful. In addition to it being such a powerful and political album with its lyrics and their delivery, the instrumentals go perfectly with each song which makes for a wonderful listening experience. I really like this one
The first song out the gates is a testament to Nina Simones range. This blues song is clearer, more guttural and beautiful than many of the classic blues songs in history. I Love your Loving Ways! Four Women is simply incredible. A no holds back message to the world around her about the power of women. Omg, I looked up what this song is about and it makes it so sad. It's about the Birmingham bomb that killed four women at the 16th street baptism church. Such an incredible song and performance from Nina Simone. The different viewpoints and her voice crescendoing at the end. Just, it takes your breath away. What more can I say is such a nice song to come next to. This reminds me of my devotion to my wife. I always forget how incredible Nina's voice is. God bless. Break Down sounds almost like a trippy 60s prog rock anthem. Wild is the Wind, this version infinitely better than David Bowie's. I may be biased against him considering his actions in his life that made me not like him. Plus, he doesn't have an ounce of the soul that Nina has. Listening to this album while working is difficult. I want to just do a deep dive on Nina and her life. Maybe another time. Black is the Color of my True loves hair is probably my favorite song from the album. Short album, but powerful. This is something I for sure want to get on vinyl now.
gorgeous incredibly emotional voice such powerful songs the band supports her so well her piano playing is also wonderful love the arrangements
So beautiful. Wish I could sing and play like that!
She has an amazing voice.
Thank you 1001 Albums! I have never listened to a Nina Simone album but I have heard plenty of covers (including on other albums on this list) and I am so grateful that this oversight in my musical education has been corrected. It doesn't matter if Nina is singing her own songs or covers, her voice is powerful. Four Women was a particular punch to the gut.
Outstanding
Gem.
4.5
First two songs alone make this in the upper echelon of albums. It does meander a bit but, powerful songs like the title track, and of course "Four Women", a statement unto itself just dominate the album. 9.8 ★★★★½
Solid
holy. kinda jokainen biisi vitun hyvä. vähänniiku alusta tempaisee mukaan ja kaapii loppuun asti.. sielua... insane in the brain, insane in the membrane on ehk parempi silti. Koskettava ja läheinen soitto joka nostattaa korkealle. korkeuksiin korkeuksiin joo.. mut ehkä ei yhtä korkealle kuin insane in the brain, insane in the membrane. paljon varmaan olisi sanottavaa tästä albumista mutta ei tuu nyt oikeen mieleen. voisi melkeen sanoa että meikäläinen vähän hullu aivoissa, hullu kalvossa. 140 vuotta myöhemmin this album still holds up like a candle in the wild. in the wind. wild is the wind. four women
Goosebump inducing from start to finish. "Four Women" is among most powerful songs released in the later 60's - that's saying something.
Nina Simone consistently shakes the earth with her intentionality, authenticity, and presence. Her life experience and emotional spectrum was so robust and channeled into each song. It seems I've reached an issue where I'm only repeating this album and unable to move onto the next album in this exercise. Nina Simone's voice and aesthetic principles is a world that is easy to want to stay a while in.
Excellent. Still listening to it
An irresistible listening experience. You can hear the pain and struggle of the entire African American community in the quest for civil rights behind Nina's gritty yet astonishingly beautiful singing voice.
This was so damn good. Powerful is a frequently used term to describe this album for a reason. I got chills over and over while listening. Nina rules
NINAAAA
The piano makes me feel melancholy, but that´s the magic of Nina, she has the power to create a beautiful blues without being dramatic, she´s truly poetry.
I was about to give this a 4 but I’m in a good mood and this one just hit the spot. 5 stars
I love this album so much
Great storytelling.
Beautiful
holy crap
Nina Simone is the goat. This album and I Put A Spell On You are the two I’m most familiar with. I loved how NO I.D. sampled “Four Women” for Jay Z’s “The Story Of O.J.” This album captures Nina’s beautifully expressive and heart wrenching emotive vocal performances perfectly. The band lays back and supports her vocal with such care to not ever get in the way of this legend. So many moments in this album pull a couple tears out of me thanks to Nina’s ability to make you hang on every word and note till she hits you over the head with that signature vibrato shaking your soul. Easy 5 for me.
I've only heard Nina Simone on compilation discs friends made me. I was impressed from the start. Those friends were more politically minded, and so the songs they introduced me to from her were in the same vein. They were great and poignant, but it's nice to her sing less pointed songs as well, such as the opener "I Love Your Lovin' Ways." Nina is a treasure, a reflection of the times, and a soulful character who shares her pain and joy through her music. She is a true artist. Many of her slower songs brings me back to the beautiful jazz that filled Dante's Down The Hatch all those years ago, collectively alive and suspended in a moment. New favorites here are "Lilac Wine" and "Break Down and Let It All Out" and "Wild is the Wind," while I knew and still love "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair."
Love Nina Simone and was glad for the push to discover more from her. Her voice is like a force of nature and while it's technically impressive, the thing that really gets me is that she's so incredibly emotionally expressive; at times she seems like a conduit to transport all of these themes of the human experience right into the listener via her singing and playing, conveying these big themes with so much nuance and power. I feel like she must have been emotionally tired after a performance, but the audience was certainly enriched. There's a real gravitas and intelligence that carries through this album.
didn't finish it but wow. heart wrenching and beautiful
Best album so far. Wide range of style but remaining very consistent. Vocals are amazing, mixed and tracked so crispy. The songs range from intimate to epic. Gonna keep this one in the rotation for sure.
Beautiful! 5/5
Masterpiece. Four Women, Lilac Wine, titular Wild is the Wind, and Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair
I just adore Nina Simone - she's one of the best musicians of all time and all she made stands the test of time. This album sounds beautiful, it feels well rounded and there's nothing I can fault it with. Absolute 5 stars
Great
Black is the color!
Lovely voice
Amazing album
An amazing voice singing some great songs. My favorites would probably be Four Women and the title track. To my ears, it’s a 4, but I know this deserves a 5.
Es raro escucharlo al inicio pensando que no te va a gustar porque "no es tu tipo de musica", pero quitando todo eso y hacer el esfuerzo conciente de disfrutar este album vale totalmente la pena, esta bueno, super emocional, mi fav fue lilac wine
amazing jazz/blues voice, and even though this LP is culled from serval years of sessions, it is excellent
Stunning
I came to the realization recently that Sinnerman is my favorite song of all time. This isn't on this album or anything but it should speak to the power of Nina 10/10
27/12/24 This was different, I enjoyed this album.
Ich finde es echt gut. Erstes Stück mir zu bluesig, aber dann wird es immer besser. Am besten gefällt mir der Titelsong. Wurde später von David Bowie gecovert!
Gorgeous early morning listening
Jazz Great. Four Women is such a powerful message. 5/5
Día extrañamente fresco y nublado en San Juan, Argentina. Hoy toca escuchar un disco de una eminencia, de la que he escuchado antes otros álbums y he visto el genialísimo documental "What Happened, Miss Simone?" ¿Qué decir de diferente de esa pasión en forma de cuerdas vocales? Mi experiencia personal, que es la hipnosis, el entrar en un trance con su voz (Four Women), sentir pura emoción (What More Can I Say? y, ni hablar, Wild Is The Wind) y mucha paz (Lilac Wine). ¿Tantas sensaciones nos puede dar una persona que canta? La respuesta los sorprenderá. Hasta mañana.
exceptional.
My name is Peaches!
I had this album in college and I fucking loved it. There is maybe not a sexier song than Wild as the wind. Love this album
Simone's voice feels other worldly, haunting and mesmerizing all at once. We as the listeners are kept hanging on her every word, almost like listening to a great story.
Wild are the emotions wrought by the gale-force of Simone's stirring voice.
What a talent and a fantastic album I'd never listened to before. 97 albums in and this might be the best one I've had so far.
This was not what I was expecting. It completely blew me away, and includes two tracks I thought were originals by Elkie Brookes and David Bowie. The title track made me cry.
Incredible singer sings great songs
Kæmpe 4er! Jeg blev virkelig ikke skuffet! Endnu engang har Dj Brevet prebbet mig til noget. albummet fik jeg hørt 3 gange, og sangen breakdown and let it all out mange flere gange. Hendes stemme er vild nok når den får lov! Okay... en lille 5er.... Men også kun fordi det her album fik mig til at dykke dybt i hendes diskografi. Feeling good har altid været en favorit for mig! Men anede ikke det var hendes sang, og ikke et original Muse nummer.
First listen. Wow!! I have listened to a few Nina records earlier but this might be her best.
heard already but it is great!
Da je samo four women na albumu zaslužio bi peticu a ima ti još klasika
She's my favourite interpreter of songs by I also wish she had written more like Four Women.
Her voice is breath taking.
Fucking tremendous....exactly the record I hope for every time I have to struggle through another The Residents or similar project. Truly breath taking from beginning to end.
Incredible wow
Perfection. I’ve listened to this album a lot over the weekend. At first I thought it was all about the vocals but the instruments - especially piano- are amazing too. The lyrics are incredible too
I like Supergrass, but to go from 'In It For the Money' to 'Wild is the Wind' is quite the shift. Like going from a battered, old manual Vauxhall Corsa with only FM radio to a slick, automatic 2014 reg Skoda Roomster with an aux socket. Proper all-timer this. Magnificent. 5/5, 10/10, 100/100. Just found out that this is the only Nina Simone album on this list. Aerosmith have three.
Dear Nina, I love your loving ways! Thanks, Tim For an album that was compiled from several recordings left over from previous sessions in 1964 and 1965 this feels like a great collection of songs. This was the first album of Nina Simone I have bought and I have played in many many times on dark and moody evenings. Absolutely stunning and I love every single song.
This is a great album! Nina Simone is one the great American singers ever. “(T)he euphoria pulsing through her voice spoke for itself. Simone could channel every facet of lived experience.”1 What a voice! Do yourself a favor, find this record and listen to it and enjoy it. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-wild-is-the-wind-by?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Wonderful. Amazing. Other level.
low 5
Yes, Miss Simone!
This is a great album really caught me off guard the first time I listened
Such a beautiful album. Nina Simone is a legend. Lilac wine is such a beautiful song!
What is there to say? It's Nina Simone. She is everything that is great about humanity. A treasure.
It's the best, full of longing and anger
In college a boyfriend handed me a couple of Nina Simone albums to listen to (not this one). We were at the end of the relationship, I had grown increasingly uncomfortable with him around, so when I played the first album I was subconsciously set against it. I hated it. Never bothered with the second album. Years later, when the idea of him just didn’t matter anymore, I played the album again. I was blown away. The power, energy, anger, and most of all, beauty in Nina Simone’s voice has stayed with me ever since. I come back to her music frequently and there’s always something new to hear in it.
# Playlist track - Lilac Wine # Notes - An absolute delight! - "Lilac Wine" and "Wild is the wind" are both songs that I love and never realized were covers. Super cool to listen to the original versions.
FANTASTIC
Nina Simone's singing and playing is extremely soulful. A lot of great tracks here, can't really go wrong with any of Nina Simone's output from this era.
Sensazionale. Una voce unica, complessa e variopinta, e poi che piano raga
non so cosa dire, sono senza parole. è delicato e potente e melanconico e mille altre cose tutte insieme. ha veramente una voce che pare una carezza della mamma prima di andare a dormire. meraviglioso, mille stelle su cinque.
She's the bomb diggity.
Legend
I didn't even get through the whole album before deciding this was 5 stars. Nina Simone's voice literally gives me goosebumps, true ASMR. It's amazing that these are essentially throw away B sides. I need to explore everything she's ever done now.
Wonderful album. I loved it.
Well, wow. Started pleasantly enough, but eh vocal jazz, maybe boring, but hey, Nina Simone, alright, right? and then Bam, "Four Women" switching gears into calling for my attention and by the time "Lilac Wine" played I was IN. Hit me right between the eyes. Profound, gorgeous, wonderful record. Been playing this all day. Sublime. 20 stars.
This is one sophisticated lady. Glad to learn about this album.
Unbelievable. Will be listening to this over and over again. Her voice is the most vulnerable and delicate, yet moving thing I have ever heard
Cmonnnnn four women goated song
This is a gem. Put the headphones on, close your eyes, and let Nina take you away Although Jeff Buckley still does the best version of Lilac Wine that I've heard
So beautiful. I've listened to this before but it was great to actually sit and focus on the album. Would absolutely listen again.
one of the greatest jazz singers to ever do it. loved the sparse production on this. just nina simone and her piano. no filler, an incredibly solid body of work
Nina left us so much. god bless you, Nina. Literally a force of nature. Not really the sort of artist I think of for albums, but this is beautiful throughout. Such range, and it flows so well. Also one or two great songs I didn't know.
Wer auf liebevoll bis kleinste Detail gestaltete und arrangierte Songs, wird hier bestens bedient. Mit Kopfhörern wird man noch mehr bereichert. Immer erscheint irgendwo ein zusätzliches Instrument, liebevoll und sanft oder fertig und überraschend. Die Stimme von Nina Simone ist derart vielfältig und wandelbar. So schön.
What a geat album. I am really happy that Four Women is now a song in my music library. Really amazing!
Just fucking timeless
Has some powerful and brave songs mixed with some more broadly appealing ones. A good view of Simone’s range and complexity.
Amazing
high priestess of soul for a reason
Gorgeous.
Wow. Just wow. This is why I signed up. I was blown away by Nina Simone’s voice, the emotion and the arrangements. During the first track, I Love Your Lovin’ Ways, I had to stop what I was doing and sit down to deliberately hear this album and soak it in. Give it a listen. You won’t regret it.
This, much like "Lilac Wine", is sweet and heady, and packs a literal punch. Just so overwhelming at times, its just unbelievable that this was leftovers from other sessions for previous albums.
obviously nina simone could sing the phone book and it would be a transformative experience, but extra praise must be given to the various recording lineups here. they create an unassumingly diverse spread of sound that nina effortlessly matches...her chops span so many genres and idioms. and yet somehow this is still so aesthetically cohesive...heartrending and mystical ect ect. im very very sick rn so idk how to string words together but i feel like this is potentially one of the best things ive ever heard
absolute beauty
Makes me feel like Johnathan majors, made me very introspective. This album is filled with soul and feels very mature. Its a more indepth dive into the mind of a developed woman which is a big change from how young women populate the music industry. Feels very raw emotionally . Instrumentation feels like it has a soul of its own and is also speaking to me . Matches the tone of her words well.
Her voice, her heartbreak - just so good. There are very few lulls on this excellent album - 'Why Keep on Breaking My Heart' has a bit of 60s lounge cheesiness to it but every other song has the seeds of every story-teller songwriter to come after her: Tracy Chapman, Bruce Springsteen, Amy Winehouse, and on.
one of those intrinsically perfect things. maybe you could make the argument that there's too many slow solo piano songs in a row or the soul songs are a weird contrast to the jazzier and more serious songs, but it'd be a bad argument and a wrong one too -- i'm disgusted that i even had to make up an argument against Wild is the Wind. "too many slow piano songs" you mean "Lilac Wine"? or "Four Women"? get out. it's an indisputable classic. nina simone was a god among her fellow man and i don't trust anyone who doesn't like her. sorry. actually, no i'm not sorry. if you don't like nina simone, take some time out of your personal life and try to figure out why. pin down a reason or get a doctor's note or something.
I mean come on
Everything she does is elegant and silky-smooth, but with a secret fist hiding behind it, ready to punch you in the face when necessary.
nina simone has the ability to captivate me with her songwriting and keep me hooked for the entirety of her albums. i feel enlightened after listening to her, as if i’ve reached a higher state of being. i love this woman.
Very unique voice that fits this music well. It moved me.
Love Nina Simone. This is a pretty solid album overall, with no real duds. Wild is the Wind and Lilac Wine are both iconic.
I feel like this random algorithm knows more than we think because it’s a rainy ass day, I’m sitting in an Uber staring out the window and this was the perfect album for this moment. This album is beautiful, her voice is beautiful, 5 stars for a legend!
Really lovely while also thought provoking. Perfect rainy day album.
I love Nina’s voice. I could listen to her all day. Every song is lovely
Powerful, emotional, and almost an earthy rawness are the best ways to describe this album. The restraint in the vocal performance really highlights the gravity of each song. And each song has moving and thought-provoking lyrics that really made this an all around excellent listen. Truly profound. Top tracks: Four Women, Lilac Wine, Wild Is The Wind
absolute perfection
Some of the most gorgeous songs ever performed on here, are you kidding!
Amazing
Oh yeah heard this one before. It's funny some of the songs occupy space in my head as this huge band performance when some of them may only be her voice and one instrument, cause she can do so much with just a few elements. I don't know I'm talking shit it's really beautiful ok!!
I do love Nina. This particular album has a mix for me of what I enjoy. By the time I got to “That’s all I ask” I was really into it. The first few songs were my least favorite but the rest was so incredibly good. 4.5
Exquisite
Amazing!
Oh, wow. My first Nina Simone album. As a pianist, I am kicking myself for never listening to any of her work outside of the few songs I was familiar with. Her playing is incredible. Oh, and her voice, the tone, the way she emotes. Four Women left me with tears stinging my eyes; I had to pause and just sit there saying wow over and over and process what I'd just heard. She is the sole songwriter on that one as well. What an incredible artist. I'm going to watch the documentary about her now and explore more of her work.
Nina Simone is so captivating. What a voice. What a story. What a lyricist. What an icon. Some of these make my hairs stand up
Wow, What's not to like? And to think that, for all these years, I wasn't aware that one of my favorite Jeff Buckley songs happens to be a Nina Simone cover: Lilac Wine. Saw a documentary on Netflix about Nina her life, and now listening to this album, I feel her pain, her anger, her sadness, her love. And then there's the cover art! 5*****
I don't like Jazz. I'm not a Blues fan. That said, Nina Simone transcends traditional genres and somehow lands on "legendary." Not my favorite of her albums, but broad enough in range to appeal to anyone.
I’ve somehow managed to miss Nina Simone in the past, despite being a huge Jazz fan and just generally a fan of music from this era and with this political conscious. I’m definitely not gonna make that mistake again. I’ve talked about my dislike of overly bombastic love songs in the past, and That’s All I Ask is the perfect antidote for those, my god I think I’ve fallen completely in love with her because of that song alone. And this is the best version of Lilac Wine I’ve come across. Just masterful
breathtaking all around, Nina is the best vocal performer and the best pianist. A masterpiece
Good album.
Awesome
Never heard of her but I like her music.
Pocos álbumes me han dejado tan boquiabierto como esta entrega clásica de Nina Simone. Su potente voz, sus reflexivas y complejas letras y sus composiciones intricadas hacen de este LP un inmortal que no ha envejecido ni un día desde su entrega y que ha inspirado a artistas tan importantes como David Bowie y Jeff Buckley a hacer covers a pistas como la homónima "Wild Is The Wind" y "Lilac Wine". Probablemente, uno de los mejores trabajos de esta lista.
Great - hard not to love. Thank you Nina
goat
Amazing voice
Wow this is so good. I’ve been underwhelmed with some of the vocal jazz that has been on this list but Nina Simone’s voice is captivating. So much emotion and command. Highlight is Four Women, I love the storytelling here. And I forgot that Lilac Wine was a cover in Jeff Buckley’s album so it’s nice to hear the original here.
Rating of 5++. Nina Simone, a truly singular talent. Such powerful singing with equally powerful messages in her repertoire. The song "Four Women" encapsulates all of this. Her talent is on display throughout this recording including "What More Can I Say" and "Lilac Wine". Such a gifted performer!
Incredible album by a monumental artist. The goosebumps I got during “Four Women” cemented this as a 5-star album early on, and it stayed strong through the end.
Nina Simone has always been one of those artists I knew was great without ever really listening to her stuff Holy hell was I missing out - this is fantastic
YES YESSHH
A goddess among men.
Vocal jazz, soul. I don't know which songs are original and which are not, but they are all sung with the same high quality and performed at the same high quality. I see why Simone is considered one of the greatest performers of all time just based on what I hear in this album. It makes me wish I was there for just one performance. I don't find any flaws in this album, I wish it was longer. Will revisit. 5/5
Day 4 - June 5th Jazz is not my thing, but Nina Simone has a voice of gold. When I die, she better be greeting me at the pearly gates. 5/5
👍 10/10
It’s very cool to like this sort of thing isn’t it. Was a bit worried by the first track but after that it took no convincing. Some really powerful, beautiful stuff on here. Thanks Nina!
Immaculate and inimitable.
She was absolutely great
Great!
I loved this album. From start to finish, it's a masterpiece in storytelling and conveying - and provoking - emotion. I was stunned listening to a few of the songs.
So soulful, music that you don’t hear anymore
Love Simone.
I can’t say enough amazing things about this album. Glorious
Amazing. I love everything about this album. Her voice and style is just spectacular.
A beautiful album. A soft, intense, beautiful voice and nice music that went well with it.
Nina Simone er algjörlega einstök. Textinn og flutningurinn á Four women magnaður. Flutningurinn á wild is the wind er svo eitthvað ekki af þessum heimi. Eftir að hafa hlustað á það nokkrum sinnum get ég bara ekki annað en sett 5 stjörnur á þessa plötu.
Absolutely majestic. the singing, the piano chef’s kiss 9/10
Beautiful
This is an astonishing collection of songs, ranging from light jazz to bluesy love songs and the white hot anger of Four Women - showing different perspectives on the lingering evil of slavery and racism in America. The common thread is Nina Simone’s voice, a husky burr that soars into the stratosphere when it needs to.
God what a voice, how can you not love her. Honestly the only flaw of this album is it feels kinda slapped together, which it is, but who cares when the songs are this good.
beautiful album, some of the best music i've ever heard in my life.
Insanely good, one of the greatest singers of all time, really unimpeachable stuff here
Absolutely lovely listen
obra de arte principalmente a musica final
So very pretty and thoughtful! There is a lot of wit, soul, and heart in this album to me. And the songs are varied enough in overall sound to keep me mostly interested throughout.
So two jazz albums back to back but two very different artists in Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone. Vaughan's vocals are like a bird. Simone's vocals are fierce, which perfectly match her personality and legacy. Read up on her backstory if you don't know anything about her. Simone tickles the ivory too and she's pretty good. Most of the songs are covers but check out Four Women, a Simone original - what an emotional performance with a thunderous ending (and the lyrics are sublime). The next two songs, What More Can I Say? and Lilac Wine, are softer pieces but drip with just as much emotion (and the former has its own thunderous moment). And once those songs got their grip on me, I could not take my ears off the album. Well, except maybe Why Keep on Breaking My Heart - the style didn't seem to fit with the rest of the album. The title track that follows brings it all back though. I think this is the only album we get of hers on the 1,001 list and that is a shame because she is mesmerizing.
niiiiina perfekt zum goya käfig putzen an einem diesigen märz feiertag mit dem besten lied der welt (either way i lose)
Beautiful voice, calm and peaceful music
Heel goed album, Nina is insane
Favourite songs: I Love Your Lovin' Ways, Break Down and Let It All Out, Four Women, Either Way I Lose, Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair Least favourite songs: Wild is the Wind 5/5
Raw, pure. Essential listening for anyone with the simple gift of ears
Hard to believe that this album was made up of leftover tracks from recording sessions for other albums. Great arrangements topped by a wonderful voice.
Immediately feeling it just from the beginning of the first song. So good.
Her voice is unforgettable.
Simply the best
This isn't a perfect album, but what's good is so good that I just don't care. Nina Simone is incredible and this album is a bunch of cuts of her doing her thing. Four Women and Lilac Wine are the biggest standouts to me, but I also loved Break Down And Let It All Out and Either Way I Lose. I keep remembering how much I love old soul music from this list. Just great stuff.
This album truly goes together as one piece. Fantastic performance and Nina truly has her own style.
Well, here we go. Pound for pound, genre for genre, this is the best single voice we've had through 750+ albums; it's not a revelation that Nina Simone is an outstanding singer but fucking hell this is deep, emotional, personal, impassioned, rich, textured, layered and probably thousands of other adjectives too. There isn't a bad song on the record but there are some bloody good ones; Four Women is majestic and dominating, Break Down And Let It All Out is jaunty and ever so familiar while being original by itself, Wild Is The Wind is epic. Gonna give this a 5/5 because, while it's not gonna be a regular listen for me, it commanded my full attention, has depth of quality, and was intoxicating at its best moments.
Amazing album.
Haunting songs with a melodic voice. This album just punched me in the gut! First time listening to Nina Simone. Definitely will listen to more.
This album quickly got intensely emotional... I didn't have bandwidth for this yesterday. Rating it 5 stars even though I couldn't finish it for now.
Masterpiece! It is very relaxing and sad.
Sykt chill som alltid
Amazing. Her voice, her playing, the emotions. Lilac Wine is an absolute highlight. It’s an all-time great and I can’t believe I’m hearing it for the first time. I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard a composition that was as complex. I listened to the album twice in a row. Six stars.
Incredible vocals and emotional jazz piano with poignant and thought-provoking lyrics.
Beautiful vocals. Only passive listened but really enjoyed.
Nina Simone is one of the best jazz voices ever
Felt this in my core. Wonderful album.
There are a lot other album from Nina Simone with *****
I've only gotten into Nina Simone relatively recently, listened to this for the first time about 2 years ago and recently gone through all of her stuff up to the early 70s. this album has become one of my favourite ever things to listen to. its so completely beautiful and powerful and soul affirming and heart breaking and everything together. it feels like it knows me more than i know myself. What More Can I Say
Nina is my Queen. "Black Is The Color Of My True Loves Hair" is beauty itself!!!!
Nina kept me company walking down the beach in Costa Rica. I really enjoyed her voice
The best vocal performance i’ve heard so far on 1001 hands down. ‘Lilac Wine’ and ‘What more can I say?’ are the standouts for me for sure. Even the backing band is quite good as well.
Solid album. Simone is an artist I don't listen to enough.
Legendary
siiindssygt smuk. Sikke en stemme. Gåsehud hele vejen igennem
Beautiful album
That was an beautiful album, I will definitely listen to this again and more from Nina
Fuuuuck man. Nina Simone is in a league of her own. That first, somewhat crowd-pleaser of a pop number out of the way, she gets almost immediately down to business, which is to really hammer home the dark business of slavery, mistreatment, heartbreak of all kinds. She can sing anything, and I not only believe her, but I am just awash in empathy. A voice that can change hearts. I love the clear jazz lineage here. “Lilac Wine” is just so, so freaking beautiful. This record bums me out, and puts me in a Genuine Mood, but it is phenomenal. Hard to look away. Nobody can do Nina, I’m stunned how many of these songs I have heard covered, that’s a very very gutsy thing to do and I honestly can’t imagine covering someone who shone so uniquely on her version. This doesn’t have my favorite Nina songs on it, but as an album it’s kind of dark, moody, orchestrated, and singular. And very live. Very of the moment. I’m spellbound. We should all be thankful we have a recording of this. 5/5