Wild Is The Wind

First time listen. Hit absolutely perfect this morning. Great stuff.

Now how is this the only Nina record on this thing. It good but it should be put a spell on you

Nina is a confirmed amazing songwriter. Crazy to think about how many fantastic songs she pushed out in rapid succession. Favs here are Four Women, Lilac Wine and Wild is the Wind

Dä var fett

mäktigt och smäktande!

Beautiful voice, poignant songs, and a definite vibe.

I can definitely see the appeal of this album. She's got a great voice, and the instrumentals nice jazz arrangements. I really liked it but didn't love it enough to give it 5.

Okay I'm not usually into jazz arrangements, but some of the songs on here are beautiful!! This is actually stellar!! All hail Nina Simone for getting me into jazzy arrangements.

A delightful album that rides the back of an incredible voice. It's a warm blanket of an album and deserves a 4/5.

I did not expect to like an album that is essentially a compilation album so much, but most of the tracks on Wild is the Wind fit together very well. "Either Way I Lose" was an odd inclusion and not a great way to end the album, in my opinion.

Love it! 4/5

this album made me feel like i was too underdressed to be listening to it. 4/5

A classic for sure

Emotional, soulful, soaring, elegiac. A beautiful album.

Really enjoyable album. The first two tracks are very danceable amd the second one has interesting lyrics. Wild is the wind though is one of the best songs ive heard(controversially i prefer Bowie's version though but her vocals are killer!). Overall a great combination off jazz and blues.

Exquisite. Iconic. Important.

Excellent leftovers.

wild is the colour of my true love's hair

Lots of passion in these tracks a real gem for sure

Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Four Women, Lilac Wine, Wild Is The Wind I thoroughly enjoyed this. Lovely singing, thought-provoking lyrics, and excellent piano and other instruments. Nice to put on and cook dinner to.

Thank you, after the horrifying experience of yesterday (Meatloaf) gladly an album that has my full appreciation. Not being into vocal jazz, I have always made an exemption for Nina (Simone) and Billie (Holiday), and although I won't rate this album as her best, that would be "Pastel Blues", it's definitely a close call. The power of "Four Women", the tenderness of "What More Can I Say", the intensity of "Wild Is The Wind" and of course the way she plays the piano, this album shows all that Nina Simone was capable of. 4/5

Gorgeous and well produced.

A very good album.

nice to know where music started, she has an incrediblle voice and incredible what she sings about

I'm guessing there will be other Nina Simone on the list. I think it is important that she be on here but I don't know enough to say what albums. This one was alright it's got a bunch of staple covers on it which are probably less important than Old Jim Crow and Mississipi Goddam

Really good album. Her voice is exceptional alone, but in combination with her expressive and skillful piano playing it’s really outstanding.

i wanna be in love 7/10

Haunting and poignant. Nina Simone gives a lesson in both technique and performance. It's an album that's hard to write about, as nothing could even come close to describing what a wonder this album is. This is an album I know I'll keep coming back to.

Great artistic piece, beautiful melodies and haunting vocals. Good for a somber mood and to have on in the background

Nina actually wrote this album after having had dinner at Len Houmous’ house when he served his famous or rather quite infamous Houmous Bean Cassoulet 3.5 6/11 Break Down And Let It All Out

She can be a bit of an acquired taste, but her voice, paired with her piano, brings out highly distinctive emotions in these songs about love and loss.

A few different genres on this one which was nice. Wind is the wind and black is the colour of my true loves hair were my favourites.

mega schöni musig. aber iri stimm gfallt mer nöd ganz: ich find schön dass si pur isch, aber ich find s vibrato mängisch mega weird. s album sehr variabel, am schluss ischs mer chli z ruhig. s letzte lied macht aber wieder en gebührende abschluss;)

Great voice. Great singer! I'd heard the name, but never heard the music. Big miss! The production is, for the most part, better than most from this time. Really solid recording. The first bit I didn't like was "Break Down And Let It All Out" as it's too repetitious and her voice strays into annoying to me, People seem to like the title track, but it's the one that annoys me the most. It's filled with the things singers do to show off their range and tricks - instead of serving the song. (See: Mariah Carey and her ilk) Some of it is nice, lounge-y, but then gets into histrionics. I've heard "Lilac Wine" by Jeff Buckley (quick shoutout to JB. If you haven't listened to him, you should!) Turns out he's pretty faithful to this version. Both are good. Overall, I think this is a great album for people to be exposed to. I will put a couple of these in the rotation for mellow times. Let's call it a 4. Good but not astounding.

Beutifully hartowing at some points

Liked the album, great jazzy songs

Man this album transported me somewhere else. Beautiful voice, and instrumentals. Very close to a 5 but it's not something I could listen to again and again. Great album though. Also Sapphronia is not a name Nina Simone

A nice combination of genres from a woman who sure can sing. Great piano and lyrics come together to make a great setting.

I never understood why everyone is so crazy about Nina Simone. I get it now.

Very good. Jazzy blues with piano. 4.25 stars

Mm, Nina Simone's voice is so haunting. Great voice for soul. I love sad women singing about love. It's very relatable. Oh, also the infamous sample from Jay Z's Story of OJ.

Very slow. A poppy favorite artist.

Vey good.

Beautiful voice. Good lyrics. Music

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1001 ALBUMS- # Wild is Simone 🎤. A collection of throwaway tracks compiled together that most artists wish their ‘A’ game were half as good as. Feeling like a singular, cohesive statement, the album showcases Simone’s unmatched ability to move seamlessly between classical, jazz, blues, folk, and soul, all while maintaining her signature gravity and fierce independence. Simone’s voice is the core of this album — rich, nuanced, sometimes trembling with vulnerability, other times thundering with defiance. Her phrasing is never ordinary. She stretches and compresses time, bends notes, and imbues every line with meaning. Nowhere is this more evident than on the title track. 🎧 Classic Track: Wild Is The Wind 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Either Way I Lose 🎧 Personal Favorite: Four Women 🎧 Memorable Standout: Lilac Wine Simone merges diverse musical traditions in this album: Jazz phrasing and harmonics, Classical piano structure and timing, Folk and blues storytelling with Soulful, gospel-tinged emotional delivery. Each track feels like a world of its own — she doesn’t just perform songs; she inhabits them. The arrangements are mostly sparse, centering her piano and voice, allowing for intimate emotional expression. Simone was a trained classical pianist, and it shows. Her arrangements are sophisticated, often minimalist, and emotionally exacting. Piano lines are meditative or stormy as needed. The instrumentation is often sparse — just bass, guitar, drums — leaving space for her voice and piano to dominate. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Soulful silhouette If you’re looking to understand Nina Simone’s genius, Wild Is the Wind is essential listening. It’s not just an album — it’s an emotional landscape, timeless in its pain, beauty, and resistance.

I love her voice

Day First listen- Wow, I didn't expect it to stir so many emotions. Her voice and the instruments effortlessly touched my heart especially the track wild is the wind. Loveee the piano throughout the album, sublime. (4/5)

I like

Eclectic mix of great tunes. Very chill

A unique voice and moving songwriting.

Beautiful voice. Minimal accompaniment. Old timey good fun. 7.0

I know a little bit about Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam” from a book I read, but I’ve never listened to any of her music before. Jazz and soul albums have been a bit of a mixed bag for me, so I could either love or hate this album. However, seeing these user reviews, I’m leaning more towards this album being right up my alley. I didn’t fall in love with Nina Simone on this album, but I thought Wild is the Wind was really good. The best thing about this album was the vocals, which were absolutely incredible over the course of the album. Nina Simone’s voice managed to convey so many emotions on these songs. Her tone was so serious and stern, but also incredibly beautiful. The instrumentation was mostly pretty sparse on this album, but it didn’t bother me too much, because Nina’s vocals were the best musical element on the album. The only thing I didn’t like about this album was that everything hinged on the vocals. When there were songs where the vocals weren’t as captivating as other songs, I found myself losing interest. Thankfully, that only happened on three or so songs though. On top of that, this just isn’t the type of album I’d naturally gravitate towards, and even though I thought the vocals were really good, I only found a small handful of songs truly captivating. As for the songs that I really enjoyed, “Four Women,” “Lilac Wine,” “What More Can I Say,” and “Break Down and Let It All Out” were the cream of the crop on this album. I loved the way that Nina’s vocals built to a powerful crescendo on “What More Can I Say,” and the vocals on the chorus of “Break Down and Let It All Out” was just full of raw power. The best of these songs though was “Four Women,” and of course it’s the only song on here that Nina wrote. The lyrics are incredibly powerful, and I loved how vivid the figurative imagery in them was. The vocals were top notch, and the piano and percussion sounded great too. Wild is the Wind wasn’t perfect, but it was great to listen to, and it definitely deserves a place on this list.

Nina is a legend and this collection of songs is grand and beautiful

7/10

Very good album, albeit compared to After Hours and some others, i felt like it feels a bit short, thus the 4.

What a good surprise. I like Nina, very much, but have never heard of this album. Very tight, BEAUTIFUL production, especially for the time, and all of which makes her great. Musicality, lyricism, and storytelling, all there. Liked it very much, and will re-listen in the future.

Having never consciously explored her music, this was a real treat. A bit out of my world back in the day. I really enjoyed every song on this LP.

Soulful and melancholy album, but really rather beautiful

Always have heard the name but never sat and listened. Was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this. What an enigmatic and interesting vocal performance. There were times when I went to skip a song but I couldn't bring myself to do it. When I thought a song was not resonating with me, I still couldn't turn it off. Very captivating. Will be adding some Nina Simone to the record collection soon.

Four Women is incredible. LOVE her version of Lilac Wine. Very stripped back and mournful. Love the power of Break Down And Let It All Out. I like the schmaltz of Why Keep On Breaking My Heart. If I Should Lose You is beautifully wistful.

i really really really want to like nina simone's music. i really do. i'm not sure why but a lot of it does not jump out at me. i love her voice and wish i liked the more sultry ballads she does a lot more. it's less her and more the song choice, i think. that being said, i liked this well enough. better than average, but didn't blow me away.

A little uneven, but the highs really hit, with beautiful piano chords and unbelievably dynamic vocal performances

Beginning of album and end are excellent, the middle lost me a bit. Four Women was my favourite.

Very chilled, good album

Very close to a five, just a few weak songs here and there. Nina Simone is such a powerful voice and storyteller in her music. Great experience.

Striking. I don’t know if I would intentionally seek this out, but it was impressive.

Beautiful, anything Nina is worth checking out.

Classic, but not an album you could listen to everyday.

Some of the truest vocals I’ve ever heard

nina simone macht rock n roll uuh ye. so e spezielli stimm. sehr fragil. four women isch seeehr cool vier verschiedeni fraueporträts. booooh de schlussss. yeeess. super super schön. what more can i say au suuper schön mega minimalistisch und denn de schluss rieesig. lilac wine geile name. cooli chords wow nina. meeeega schöns lied. suuper ruhig. thats all that i ask mega schöns blöser arrangment. break down and let it all out chli simpler grader. why keep on breaking my heart irgendwie sochli mexikanische schlager type? uuuh ihres vibrato isch suuuper. wild is the wind seehr langsam, klavier super schön macht uhuere viel am schluss. aber het mi etz nöd begeisteret. allgemein zweiti hälfti vom album bitz weniger füür drin. aber immerno guet. either way i lose isch super mit de tüüfe stimm wo d bassline dopplet. mega cool. und sie singt scho fantastisch und au meeega speziell. oke wooow mega song. glaub scho es vieri.

no es cools album amene verregnete morge four women isch chli meh "abgange" und jz simmer wieder bide schön ruhige klavier ballade sehr sön ah und mega cooli stimm! uf break down and let it out gaht sie CRAZY und gad NOMAL weild is de weind isch krass, s klavier macht sache die nächste zwei lieder sind sehr ruhig und intim ich lieb de dom-dom-dom-dom guy hmm 3 oder 4, iwie scho sehr öppis speziells, s klavier und d stimm isch fast scho haunting chan mi immernanig entscheide und loses drum nomal han vorher four women scho gern gha aber BOUM

Powerful voice and some iconic mid-60s songs.

Nina Simone is such a badass. This isn't something I typically reach for, but I'll never ask to turn it off. Her voice is simply inimitable.

so very good!! didn’t realize nina simone sounded like that

A reluctant 4 only because it's not something I'd have to be in the mood to put on. But if you are in the mood, boy is it a rewarding listen, and the more attention you give it the more impressive it gets.

Great album to relax to. Will definitely listen again.

This was very good but for some reason it doesn't hit with me the same as some other albums in this era and genre. I like Nina's voice, and the songwriting is beautifully done, but I think the music just doesn't totally appeal to me for some reason. She's still getting 4 stars though, she's a powerful presence.

Oh yeah, the iconic Miss Simone. This early record hints at her coming socially-conscious greatness. Still, that voice and presentation commands and transcends the fairly stock material about love with its thrills and its pain. “Four Women,” the one song that presages what was to come in her catalog, is the showstopper here.

Beautiful album. Beautiful voice.

Tunnelmallista ja hienoa tulkintaa.

A wonderful showcase of Nina Simone’s range, 'Wild Is the Wind' is a strong, powerful, heartfelt, primal, raw, evocative, and deeply emotional album. Simone blends jazz, soul, folk, and classical influences with remarkable control and depth. You feel every note she plays and sings. An incredible album, simmering with a quiet, aching intensity, that stays with you long after it's finished.

Great album. Loved her voice and knew quite some songs apparently (though mostly as covers). Definitely will listen to this again when I’m in the mood for it.

❤️❤️❤️ : Wild is The Wind Four Women I Love your Lovin' Ways 🙂🙂🙂 : Why Keep on Breaking my Heart Break Down and Let It All Out

8.57, toimisto, koss, qobuz

Insanely talented

Prefer her live work, but this comes close.

Another talented artist who wrestled with mental illness. Would the talent still be there if the illness was not? Powerful voice and a poignant listen.

Heard lots from Nina Simone before, but non from this album. A couple of belters, not much more to say, it's Nina Simone!

Occasionally sublime always real now and then meh

Incredible singer and great texts for the time.

Incredible voice, incredible talent. Heartbreaking and hauntingly beautiful songs.

Pretty good - I do think I prefer some of Nina Simone's earlier stuff such as her album and pretty iconic song, "I put a spell on you". Overall, this was a pretty poetic album, lots of personal experiences and struggles embedded into it. I didn't feel the melodies were as cohesive for me as other albums or music of hers. Favourite song: Lilac Wine

Very chill and laid back album. Clearly a banger

9/10, its fucking Nina Simone. Her voice is incredible.

There's nothing like her voice and this album is mesmerizing. Going 4 because I've never heard it, but could get up to 5 someday.

A really wonderful and unique voice. Great listen, great vibes.

This makes my emotions all confused. I want to dislike it but I also like it. The music resonates deep in the soul.

Nicht meine Musikrichtung, dafür aber echt gut

Just a joy to listen to

Прекрасная музыка для душевных посиделок, для немного задумчивого настроения. 7,5 из 10.

Good variety - enjoyed the upbeat and different nature here!

is this yearning

dost prijemny jazzovy instrumental + zaujali ma hiphopove sample

The first track is a full on blues number, which I love. The rest is soulful jazz with intense lyrics. Less my jam, but if you really listen to the lyrics (not my usual style) it’s very moving. Four women is intense/heartbreaking. I’m sure in some ways it deserves 5 stars, but I can’t quite get there overall.

The thing about this album is that I really want to give it a 9 because it has MULTIPLE 10/10 songs on it (and a few 9/10s), but then there's also a lot of 7/10s...so I guess 8 is the most round number I can give it.

Glorious

Some absolutely stunning songs - Four Women is one I had somehow never heard and absolutely floored me both musically and thematically. For me the slowest songs are the best, her voice is truly unique and I love how unprocessed, raw and in some cases slightly imperfect it sounds. The piano playing is incredible and I don't think I'd every fully processed just how good she is. The R&B and blues-y numbers are still good but don't hit quite as hard, but still show off her versatility. Truly a one of a kind artist.

Some beautiful songs although the album felt disjointed at times. Black Is The Color is an all time favorite.

nice

Nina as usual, in charge and after 3 notes she has your attention - a master in every sense. She embodies the music, with her it's always an emotional affair. Lilac wine a particular favorite, although I also love Jeff Buckley's version.

This certainly took over my morning. A voice that is both comfort and weapon. So many highlights but Four Women, Lilac Wine and Either Way I Lose show her range, power and most importantly - control. So just lie back and let her take the wheel.

very moody in a good way

This is a very versatile album, lots of different styles, rock and roll blues, haunting ballads and jazzy showtunes with big orchestral features Nina Simone is a beast on the piano too, so good playing so complicated stuff and singing all the while, amazing

Beautiful

Great voice, sometimes strange use of it but I really enjoyed it.

- her vocals soar on what more can i say? omgggg

VERY soulful, i saved a couple of songs and listened to the album almost 2 ways through, definitely a good change of pace from the last album. when heard LILAC WINE i knew it was gonna be good for the rest of the album. i love jeff buckley and through this album i found out that the song lilac wine goes deeper than jeff. not every song was my favorite but i especially enjoyed the storytelling in the song four women. definitely looking to explore more of her music. wonderfully emotional and heavy voice.

That voice.

What a powerhouse Nina Simone was — both musically and as an activist. Her voice is so distinct, with such raw emotion that make many of her songs feel like poetry set to music. She continues to have influence, as I actually first discovered some of her work through modern samples, like Jay-Z’s use of “Four Women” in “The Story of O.J.” Favorite tracks: - Four Women - What More Can I Say? - Why Keep On Breaking My Heart - Wild is the Wind

Gorgeous and smooth. What a voice. Could be an easy weekend record, a soundtrack to a dinner party or smoky bar - it really took me away.

Incredible voice, and a few songs that stuck with me, though I wish the engineering was a bit cleaner

Bra skit

Nina Simone goes up to the limit of how visceral and passionate music can be and regularly crosses it. listen after 8 hours of standing up at work when you're finally able to give your feet a rest. will feel about as good as the best sex (not that i would know) deserves to be one of the 1001? yea but not as much as Pastel Blues!! why the snub? it has Sinnerman for goodness sakes!!

Beautiful album with poignant lyrics. Probably close to a 3.76 for me, but going to go with a 4.

Quite interesting. I probably don't listen to enough Nina Simone.

Wirklich sehr schön und groovy

Not my fave album from her

I love Nina Simone. This is a good album, although not my favorite by her.

Good

I love Nina. Such a wonderful voice. A complex person too. Her stuff isn't the type that I listen to often, but it's really quite good.

Excelente voz.

I don't know if there is a definitive Nina Simone album, in part because of the circumstances of the industry, especially for Black artists, and for jazz artists, in the 50s and 60s, but this is probably as close as a studio album of hers gets. Everything central to her existence - her Blackness, her voice, her rage, her love, her grief - is here, and she sounds incredible throughout.

I've never heard of either Nina Simone or the album. Nina has an impressive voice. The lyrics of her songs are great. Very good music and arrangements. I don't listen to this genre and especially this kind of partly minimalistic realization very often, but I always like it from time to time. 4/5

NYC jazz bar with passion

4/5 stars Very smooth jazzy vibes, super soulful, incredible vocals. Relaxing to listen to but powerful at the same time.

Really great album. Such range and diverse sounds.

Nina is the queen

Oufff

Loved Four Women - the end is almost haunting. Overall really enjoyed this one. Incredibly soulful and melancholic and such a unique voice.

first listen love her

Interesting

Simone’s voice and presence are commanding. Many of the pieces are beautiful. In the end, there’s a little too much drama in the presentation, which feels a little stiff. Still I’ll likely play this again and I’m willing to bet that familiarity will soften the few edges. It’s a 4.

Great voice and impactful lyrics - would definitely listen again

Nina Simone is amazing, but this album is not even close to her best album. It's not even the top 2: I put a spell on you, and Pastel Blues; both are much better albums. Fortunately, I listened to them all on the same day.

A high 4, maybe a 5 - what a voice.

I enjoyed this, but it's not the sort of thing that is typically in the rotation. Clearly the product of skilled musicians and artists.

A nice listen

My name is peaches

Such a great voice

You can't go wrong with Nina Simone. I've loved her since I first heard Sinnerman so many years ago. She has such a soulful voice and the lyrics to match. Really great at having you feel the story she's singing to you. The music on this album is really great as well. It might not be my favorite of her albums but it such a damn good album everyone should give it a listen.

Nina Simone’s vocals are faultless and other an interesting counterpoint to the lyrical content of this album. The story telling of racial equality is impactful without detracting from the enjoyment on a musical level. I love Jeff Buckley’s version of Lilac Wine and Nina’s version definitely holds its own with that.

Sweet, introspective, raw, Nina Simone's vocals are out of the world

Wow, such a powerful and soulful voice. With the intonations and vocal range used she really treats her own voice as an instrument more than most singers on this list. Far and above the highlight of this album for me, I could only wish some of the other elements were a little stronger to elevate my rating higher, the structure for a lot of these songs get into a monotony that feels like a disservice to the vocal delivery of Simone. I can’t stress enough how much she carrys this album on her back

Heard a different album from Nina before. Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous 4/5

Dark, heavy, haunting and at the same time effortlessly beautiful. It’s an incredible record that highlights Nina’s raw skill as a musician and writer. Just a wonderful expression of emotion.

Really great classic album

Nice. Bluesy singer that makes you feel the emotion in her words and voice.

A very, very solid album. Remarkable performance throughout - and a clear inspiration for so many artists who came after her. My first time listening to it through, but I’m hooked. Brilliant.

Quality album, listening to Nina puts me in a great mood.

Que presencia y que bien suena el álbum. Muy buena muestra de lo que fue Nina, con la voz, con el piano y dejando el alma.

Having a Nina Simone album on a list of albums to listen to before you die makes sense, given her powerful voice and wide influence on jazz, soul, and R&B. I remember analyzing her original composition "Four Women" back in college, as the song explored the various livelihoods and struggles of black women in American society in the 1960s. I appreciate the album with that track made it onto the list, but how does the rest of Wild Is the Wind hold up? Well, Nina ran the gamut of covers and renditions with her commanding voice and elegant piano play, reasonably backed by the session musicians. Some truly transformative takes stand tall in her catalog, including "What More Can I Say", "Lilac Wine", "Break Down and Let It All Out", and especially the slow and drawn-out delivery of the title track. Honestly, my only complaint is that it is evident this album is a compilation of recordings from previous sessions, lacking cohesive flow from one track to the next. The pacing and tone were uneven in places, which made the listening experience feel a tad disjointed. Still, it is a solid collection of songs from a generational voice, one who had such reach beyond the arts.

Beautiful! I had always wanted to listen to Nina but never got around to it, this is why I am part of this.

Haunting minimalist arrangements and powerful vocals.

Though one for me to rate because I love her voice but none of the songs jumped out and grabbed me.

Minimalist, but in a good way that leaves a mark on you.

nina can SANG

Excellent album 4.5 stars.

Nina is my favourite soul singer, might not technically have the voice of the other greats but only Billie Holiday matches her for raw emotion. Not a fan of the first track otherwise this would 5 stars

What an amazing voice Nina Simone has. She effortlessly navigates between genres and never fails to inspire. I loved the jaunty “why keep on breaking my heart” and “lilac wine”.

Lovely music and a first-class voice. Nice album to be exposed to.

A voice and words that command respect. Beautiful.

This one took me off-guard. Not the type of music I listen to often, but I loved the charged vocals and raw feeling behind the lyrics.

Powerful stuff. The ambiance on this is unlike anything else, with an intense, almost excorciating vocal performance playing off (usually) barebones instrumentals. The signature blend comes in track 2 with Four Women and its striking, looping piano melody - famously sampled in Jay Zs The Story of OJ (and by extension one of the best diss tracks ever in The Story of Addidon by Pusha T). How could so much sugary shitbop be getting worldwide attention at the same time Nina Simone is putting out stuff like this?

Few listening experiences on this list so far have stopped me in my tracks and actually demanded me to stop what I’m doing and listen. This is the first I’ve really heard of Nina Simone, and it kind of floored me. The clear highlight here is Wild is the Wind. I was familiar with the Bowie version, but I never realised his was a cover. How shocked I was to discover the original version of a song I loved - and to also find it vastly superior! Simone has a stunning voice; unnerving at times in its power, but always gorgeous. This isn’t the kind of music I’d listen to if I’m trying to relax or zone out. But if I’m feeling especially broody one night, this album will be my first port of call. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nice album. A bit the same throughout but makes it easy to listen to.

Good Lord, I feel everything through this woman's voice.

Nina Simone is cool Fav Track: Either Way I Lose

A truly amazing voice that peals the layers beneath every possible emotion.

Stor positiv överraskning! Riktigt härligt sound. En sån där artist jag bara hört talats om.

I enjoyed this almost as much as In Utero so 4 stars

This was very pretty, Nina's voice is spectacular and she put it on display on some beautiful songs. I think it aged extremely well for an album from the 60's too, the mixing and production are still great.

Spannende Musik mit viel Atmosphäre. Man merkt das Alter der Musik, trotzdem schön zu hören. Isch schwanke zwischen 3-4/5.

Fantastic, love the production

What a voice! Beautiful, and liked the experience of the album. Sunday listening for sure.

Nina is always powerful and emotionally resonant. On tracks luke Four Women, you FEEL every emotion she conveys. Listening to this start to finish, I was also captivated by how beautiful the lowest points in Ms. Simone's vocal range are. Some personal favorites are I Love Your Loving Ways, What More Can I Say, and That's All I Ask.

Good

++: I Love Your Lovin' Ways, What More I Can Say, Lilac Wine, Break Down and Let It All Out, Why Keep On Breaking My Heart, Wild Is the Wind, Black Is the Color of My True Lover's Hair, If I Should Lose You, Either Way I Lose +: Four Women, That's All I Ask 9,4/10

Wonderful album. Four Women incredibly powerful, Lilac Wine lovely. Nina's voice is so unique. 8/10

The cover has it right - Four Women is unforgettable, and the stand-out track here.

Full of soul and emotion. Great listen

very nice - liked the openness

Soulful, masterful and loveable.

Her sixth album. Four Women is an absolutely mesmerising and haunting track. The vocals are beautiful and the lyrics haunting. Lorde and Lana Del Rey, THIS is how you do it. Dramatic, passionate, soulful, real unfiltered music sung by an intense artist with something to say. Fuck off Taylor Swift! The range of emotion and that voice is magical.

The use of instrumental swells and dynamics here is incredible. It’s just not quite consistent enough to push it to a 5/5. Four Women is an incredible song that I can’t help but hear Pusha T tell the world Drake is hiding a child over. Favorites were Four Women, What More Can I Say?, Lilac Wine, and Wild Is The Wind.

Obviously excellent. Is it my favourite Simone? No, but what a voice.

3.75

always beautiful

It’s a beautiful thing. Four women is obviously the stand out but lilac wine RULES. I would listen to anything on this album if someone else put it on with no complaints. The piano playing is beautiful, whoever that may be I don’t know because there is no personnel listing. I gotta get on my high horse of “she didn’t write anything other than four women of which from what I can tell is also the only song that isn’t a cover” but they’re so beautiful covers. It seems to be a recurring thing so maybe I need to get over it.

Enjoyed this album. Nina can have such a soft but powerful voice. She has insane vocal control. Very impressive. Very beautiful. Much wow. Good 4

361/1001

Wild Is the Wind is an overall great listen, it's elegant, powerful, and emotionally rich. The album starts off with more of a punch, drawing you in immediately, and then slowly eases into a more subdued, introspective space. That gradual fade works, though, because Nina Simone’s voice carries the entire record effortlessly. Her vocal delivery is magnetic, tender one moment, defiant the next, and it gives each track its weight. There isn’t a bad song on the album, and it’s a testament to Simone’s ability to make every lyric feel deeply personal and lived-in. A timeless, soulful listen from start to finish.

Excellent album. I really enjoyed her unique voice. The music is a bit jazzy but more rhythmic and engaging. Favorites: Four Women, Wild is the Wind

Yeah amazing ofc

That's not my taste in music, but pleasant music - brilliant voice

4.2/i enjoyed that!

Nina Simone can sing. Her countralto vocals are so powerful and wonderful. She's an incredible singer. This album was very enjoyable to me.

4.5/5

lovely album. songs 2-4 had me so ready to give this album a five but not every song on here is bonafide best of the best. thats not to say they're bad by any means i made a soul playlist just to put some of these songs somewhere. wonderful

Devastating. No one had an instrument like Nina. This is such a powerful album that it’s hard to listen to some of these songs more than once in quick succession. True Art by a True Artist. Four Women is a seminal song, I cannot believe that she was able to make it and put it on a widely released album at the time (and name the alb after the track). Timeless, ever-relevant. It’s a song that hits like a nuclear bomb. Break Down And Let It All Out is maybe the best song about freaking the fuck out. Simone’s vocal range on Wild Is the Wind is absurd. She was a master poet. Her lyrics are spare but immense.

Loved it such soulful music

Dunno if I have a ton to say about this. One of those albums that while I don't think I'll playlist anything, its one of those albums that just "feels" great. "I don't need to pay attention to the lyrics to know they're great" kinda music. Side note, how the hell is Pastel Blues not on the list?

What more can I say - soft and sweet, like relaxing yet heartbreaking, yet I feel I could happily listen to this thinking of a love or sob to this alone, thinking also of a love. very short but to the point... like what more can I say Ilac wine - very somber. I don't love the way she sings in this one. Not as much of a fan of this single That's all I ask - immediately captivated, the mix of her voice with the instruments is beautiful. Break Down and Let it all out - Powerful. Why Keep on Breaking My Heart- I like how the start is just her, and it's so beautiful, calm, and sad. Then the instruments and backup vocals start so perfectly. She sounds so different in this very '50s pop, but I enjoy it

Lilac Wine 👌

Great voice, great songs, but calling the love interest 'Daddy' is rough.

This is lovely.

Damn that’s beautiful

makes me see what i wanna see and be what i want to be <3

A true delight. Enjoyed this and want to keep listening.

Incredible. I think it might be a 5 but probably need to listen to it more to appreciate this record to its fullest.

A few songs I thought were very good 4 women is fantastic. It isn't great front to back but overall it certainly earned it's spot.

Feels like the soundtrack to a smoky black-and-white mystery where someone is inevitably discovered slumped over a piano.

Haunting

I don't remember the last time a song hit me as hard as Four Women just did. Holy shit.

Didn't get much of a chance to listen to the whole thing but I thought the songs thta I did hear were great. Nina Simone is classic and such a gem.

Feeling like in a field of flowers

Deep and soulful

Great musician. Enjoyed the album.

idk didnt have time to litsen to it its prob good i guess

Classic oldies. R&B I guess? Good album. Feels very genuine.

Good

Nina always hits hard. What a voice. what musical talent. what lyrics. She's got it all and then some. I love listening to her. Her emotion shoots right through to you.

3.5?

What a woman, what a voice. Powerful stuff. Unfortunately a little bit repetitive in the second half, but has bangers that hit me in the heart. 4 stars.

A beautiful album, surprisingly made from unused tracks from old recording sessions. There are a few memorable tracks among an overall solid album.

Love me some women with powerful voices. Not surprised to see Nina Simone on here, considering her catalogue. Feel like I pretty much know what I'm getting into here, even though this album in particular wasn't known to me before today. Expecting to hear a great vocal performance. Love how I've already reviewed covers of two of the tracks on here (Wild Is The Wind, David Bowie) , (Lilac Wine, Jeff Buckley) both of those are on albums I scored 5 stars, hoping for more amazing tracks like that. I Love Your Lovin' Ways It's a very uplifting song, enjoy how positive and sweet it is. The vocals are sung with a lot of confidence and naturality. Really like how the backing vocals contrast with Nina Simone's voice. The instrumental feels pretty typical for the era, doesn't take a lot of space and focus away from the main performer while adding a decent amount of texture to the track. Good. 4/5 Four Women Feminist sentiment is strong in this one. Relates with and celebrates women of colour while bringing attention to the stories of these women. There's a lot of tragedy in this tale where the common theme is the discrimination and dehumanization that women in minority groups have been facing all across the world. The final verse details someone who's world view has been particularly soured because of generational trauma caused by these injustices. As the piano darkens and tenses up, you feel her anger and bitterness, before the final line in the song releases the tension with an explosion of sound. Insightful. 5/5 What More Can I Say? Has a really classy vibe to it, while still showing a longing emotional core with a hint of frustration in there too. Love the grandiosity of the track. Has a lot of payoff to the buildup. Remains soulful throughout. While it relies heavily on the large and powerful instrumentation, it works great in tandem with the vocals to create some really powerful emotional moments. Great. 4.5/5 Lilac Wine A great piece of storytelling, love the metaphor. Has a really interesting structure. The piano is very emotive. The vocal performance is really balanced, never too subtle, never too bombastic. Remains understated enough to feel genuine. The ending is really sweet. Great. 4.5/5 That's All I Ask A great piece of soul with a jazzy little instumental. Has some decent sounding horns and a lot of subtle but impactful percussion. Feels like parts of the instrumental gets a bit in the way of the vocal performance. At times they compete for the same real estate causing it to sound a bit messy. The vocals are great, but never really doing anything out of the ordinary to differentiate it from similar songs of the era. Don't like how it fades out, it's too quick, too sudden, leaving the song with no real ending. Ends up sounding a bit unfinished. Fine. 3/5 Break Down And Let It All Out Empowering with a splash of colour. Love the slight bitterness and confrontational nature present in the vocal performance. The main hook is kinda cathartic. Still not loving the fade out. Decent. 3.5/5 Why Keep Breaking My Heart A nice change of pace instrumentally, with some more folky energy. Pleasant enough, but not particularly inspiring. The backing vocals feel a bit weak, and the main vocal performance is fairly standard. The chorus has a decent melody. Fine. 3/5 Wild Is The Wind Stunning. The background piano really gives the song some high stakes beauty. Buttery smooth and passionate vocal performance, with a hint of somber contemptation. Has this epic almost cinematic buildup that just keeps adding tension to the track, building layers on top of layers. One of the greats. Romantic powerhouse. 5/5 Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair Sweet and sentimental. Has a very good vocal performance, and is written very passionately and beliveably. Decent. 3.5/5 If I Should Lose You That piano intro is just so incredibly beautiful, wow. Sleepy and calming vibe. Love the interplay between voice and piano, it really reflects the emotion in her voice. Really like how it cascades and escalates through the track, played with a lot of depth. Never takes away the focus from the vocals, which work excellently in their own right. It's gotten to that point where her brilliance has become par for the course, as she's so incredibly consistent. Great. 4.5/5 Either Way I Lose You Kinda don't like the "dum dum dum"s. Feels a bit distracting. The horns are also kinda unneccesary. Soulful and mournful, has that quiet acceptance which makes it that much richer and more flavourful. Decent. 3.5/5 That was some upper shelf quality stuff. Oozes with class and skill, unburdened with the cliches that are often found in other 60's soul albums. She's such an amazing vocalist, showing so much control while also delivering in the areas where restraint is needed. Giving the performances just the right amount of push the song requires. Powerful, unique, and also incredibly sweet at times. Genuine sounding love songs, showing gratitude, longing, despair and even bitterness. Even has an amazing concious piece with the stunning "Four Women" written with incredibly thoughtfulness and awareness. Instrumentally the part that impressed me the most was the incredibly smooth and able piano playing which had some great technical moments, while always being an amazing supporting companion to the vocals. Would also shout out the percussion at times. A really consistent album where the weaker tracks are only hurt by production choices I don't agree with, or just lacking a bit of extra polish. A great listen with plenty to love. 4/5. Fave track. Four Women Least fave track. Why Keep Breaking My Heart

good music, shes really cool too

I liked it a lot. I listened to this while making coconut macaroons on Easter. Something about the condensed milk made this feel more appropriate. The sweet, thick and smooth nature of it paired well with Ms. Simone's style. Almost every song felt like, apart from just a song, it had been steeped in something else. Call it emotion, call it something at the same time contemplative and primal (maybe call it soul), I don't know. Every track seemed like you were being wrapped with a different blanket. A lot of the songs made me wish they were written/sung for me, that someone could love me with what it felt like she was loving with. Rating could go up but not down.

Listened to this once through as background music, went back to some of the songs and I think I will probably be going back for more in the future. Torn between a 3 and a 4, but since it's my first time listening to a full Nina Simone album, I think it deserves to be elevated.

Incredible, versatile vocal performance with many moods. Excellent.

Voice beautiful enough to calm a raging bull.

jazzy

Love Nina Simone. A decent selection of tunes and as always incredibly soulful. I do think Pastel Blue is her greatest work.

Four Women I know from the Jay-Z sample on 4:44's The Story of OJ. Loved it used as an instrumental on that track -- love it even more as a standalone. The sparse instrumentation is so powerful in framing Simone's exposed vocals. I absolutely love Wild Is The Wind. Pretty sure I've heard the sample here in a Pretty Lights song before, but it was in such a very different context. Super dooper high 4 for me. High quality jazzy vibes throughout. Simone's vocals are on point and mixed well with tasteful instrumentals. I can get down with this.

A soulful jazzy album. Nina Simone’s voice is a true alto giving the most purple of purple and blends beautifully with the music to create an emotional experience.

Listened May 2021. Her voice is unlike anything else in music.

Nina Simone has one of my favorite voices of any singer ever. This album was fantastic. Really high 4 or low 5

The second listen bumped it up to 4 stars

Captured in first notes. Love her voice and piano . Passionate

I'm actually not sure I've ever heard Nina Simone's voice before today. Pretty unique and deep, yet soulful. Apt for the melancholic nature of some of her song's content, and more so here. I don't know if this specific record is considered her "magnum opus", but it certainly has the makings to be considered. "Four Women" is pretty damn profound for one.

Great vibe and vocals. Appreciate the subject matter as well. A solid album for just listening.

This is one sophisticated lady. Glad to learn about this album.

Just lovely.

slay i love nina simone

Nina's voice is very emotive; you can feel her emotions as she powers through these numbers. I am a fan of her work, but never listened to this album before and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Even by Nina's standards, this was dark. Listened to: at Trader Joe's. Favorite tracks: Lilac Wine, Four Women, Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair

liked songs: Four Women, What More Can I Say?, That's All I Ask, Wild Is The Wind, If I Should Lose You Very good. 4

so many hip hop samples

Beautiful album. Nina was such a powerful singer, performer and activist. This album is very moving. Love it.

Cooles, wechselhaftes Jazz-Album. Interessant falls ich mal einen Film drehe.

Listened to the entirety of this album while stuck in standstill traffic on the M8 coming out of Glasgow. Still enjoyed it. Bit disconnected in places but as a whole a good album Fav song - I love your lovin ways Least fav - Black is the Color of my true love’s hair Specific rating - 3.9

chill vibes! also my deadlines are done!

She's just got such a gorgeous and powerful voice and she puts so much emotion into the music. The album itself doesn't feel super cohesive (the transition between the last two songs is particularly jarring) but that's to be expected of an album made of leftovers from other albums. I'd love to know why this particular Nina Simone album was the one chosen for the list. Favourite song: Break Down And Let It All Out Least: Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair

It's like Koko Taylor did a crooning album. I really vibed with the beginning tracks, but kind of got bored with it once the songs without band accompaniment began, at "Wild Is The Wind." Finished alright with "Either Way I Lose", though. Overall the music was good, but the later songs weren't my cup of tea.

She's just great isn't she

It takes a bit to warm up to her voice which is different, but man this is really nice. Best Song: Lilac Wine Rating: 7.5/10 Stars: 4/10

Good art is all about emotion. There is so much emotion here. The word evocative comes to mind but I'm not sure it applies. 8/10 A worthy listen

This is maybe the distinctive singing voice I have ever heard. Took a little getting used to but by spin 2 I am a believer. Didn't listen to it 3 times but it might have been a 5 if I did.

I liked the feel of this more than I thought I would. This was somehow less strict than her other records.

Very calming music. Reminds me of Billie Holiday

Pet fav: Either Way I Lose Liliac Wine: covered by J. Buckley-- Grace Four Women - banned for lyrics, written by Simone Wild is the Wind: covered D. Bowie Black is the Color... - standard American folk Leftovers compilation from previous studio albums. Interesting stuff; not samey-samey

Härligt jazzig, med stundvis underbara pianostycken. Påminner mig lite både om Amy Winehouse och Anthony and the Jacksons. Vill lära mig sjunga titelspåret!

Easy listening classic Nina

very beautiful, i don’t listen to a lot of jazz records so this was a nice change of pace

What am incredible talent! I'm hoping there is more from her on this list!

peak

not a major album so dont think I’d heard many of these before. Fantastic range on display here and definitely one i’ll listen to again

Powerful. A beautiful and moving piece with incredible influence. 9/10

most beautiful album on this list without a doubt

This was a pretty good soundtrack for a stressful morning spent trying to cancel my broadband, which is obviously what Nina Simone had in mind when she was recording it.

3,75

What a wonderful record. Every track is a masterpiece on its own, carried by her tremendous voice.

Great album, lilac whine is a great song, along with so many political lyrics.

After an upbeat electric misdirection to open with, something grand unfolds here. There's fire and darkness, wisdom and poetry throughout this sauntry album where no song outstays its welcome, and I felt myself hanging on wave after wave of swell-and-release for 38 minutes - sensual and powerful. Favourite tracks: Four Women, Lilac Wine, Wild Is The Wind, Black Is The Colour Of My True Love's Hair, If I Should Lose You (amazing three song run)

01) I Love Your Lovin' Ways - 7,0 02) Four Women - 9,0 03) What More Can I Say - 8,5 04) Lilac Wine - 8,5 05) That's All I Ask - 8,0 06) Break Down and Let It All Out - 8,0 07) Why Keep On Breaking My Heart - 8,5 08) Wild Is the Wind - 8,5 09) Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair - 7,0 10) If I Should Lose You - 7,0 11) Either Way I Lose - 8,5 TOTAL: 8,05 (81/100) Current ranking: 150/471

Uffff Madame Simone! Top 3 Musiker*inne woni gern mal uf es Kaffiichränzli treffe würd. Ihri Stimm und Piano skills sind ja s einte, aber ihre Aktivismus als Woman of Color ide 50er/60er Jahr sehr Inspirierend. Sehr schön das Album mal ganz glost z ha und vieli vo ihrne lieder wohni noni kennt han i minere Sentimentalitäts-Playlist hinzuezfüege. Gern meh vo dene wichtige Albe! Vier d bagge abekullerndi freudesträne für das Meisterwerk

kei ziit zum schriebe leider, aber sicki stimm sponti 4, maybe 3, also guet 4

"Goddamn!" ...the power and strength in her voice is amazing. Nina Simone was one of those artists that for whatever reason, was fully skipped while growing up. I had heard the name and only become familiar with her when my kid's learned about her in 6th grade. It seems so very much overdue, but nice to finally have an excuse to listen to Nina Simone.

Rare Things from My 1001 Experience for 1600, Ken: Jazz that I like

Rating: 8/10 What a unique voice, some nice variety here as well.

Extremely charismatic vocals all over this album. Nina's range is incredible, captivating on both the heart wrenching ballads and the more up tempo tracks. Favourite songs were I Love Your Lovin' Ways, Four Women, Why Keep On Breaking My Heart, Wild Is The Wind and Either Way I Lose. Really enjoyed. 4 Stars. Love the album cover as well.

Such a pretty album! Although I definitely need to be in a right mood to listen to this kind of music. 4 stars

Several gems in here. Need to listen to it again.

One of the great voices. I love some of the songs, but isn't sold on everything. 4 stars

There's definitely some great songs here, and Nina has a great voice. I do think it kind of sags a bit in the middle, but plenty of good stuff here including "Lilac Wine", "Four Women", "I Love Your Lovin' Ways", and the title track. 4 stars.

4.5

So rich and moody. What an amazing voice. Four Women is a pretty startling highlight where at the end she reveals that she is a 21st century Canadian electroclash singer. Plus some excellent David Bowie and Jeff Buckley covers on this one with the title song and Lilac Wine.

What an amazing and powerful voice. A true artistic talent. While I enjoyed the style of songs bouncing around, I feel it would have been best to stay with one style of music over multiple styles.

The first track sounded generic to me but then we get some much more sparse piano arrangements that compliment her voice and I'm enjoying it more. Lilac Wine might be the highlight, but there's other tracks I like where the backing band comes in and adds more texture. It's a very old school sound with the strings, theatrical, but not over the top. Wild Wind takes us back to just Nina and her piano - beautiful.

Definitely something I would listen to again, love a bit of Nina. My favourite song was break down and let it all out :) a pretty chill album with nice vibes.

It’s fine for Dinner music. Inoffensive. She’s also got that tortured voice that Chet Baker had.