Album Summary
Wild Is the Wind is the sixth studio album by American singer and pianist Nina Simone released by Philips Records in 1966. The album was compiled from several recordings that were left over from sessions (in 1964 and 1965) for previous Philips albums. In 2020, the album was ranked 212 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The album was a Billboard magazine "special merit pick" on release, with the reviewer commenting: "Simone ... sets up an exceptional romantic mood that offers top listening delight". The song "Four Women" was released as a single, and gained attention when banned by the New York jazz focused radio station WLIB due to concern over the lyrics. Simone first recorded "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair" in 1955, in Philadelphia with a strings arrangement and was not intended for release at the time. (In 1970 that version appeared on the album Gifted & Black.) In April 1964 she went into a New York Studio with her band, and on the second day in the studio, she recorded the version of "Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair" that would appear on Wild Is The Wind. For the song, Simone only wanted a minimal accompaniment with her playing the piano and a bass drone. Lisle Atkinson [describes] what he was asked to do during his time in Nina Simone’s band: “She wanted the least amount of complication as possible—roots and 5’s, nothing too slick. I have to give Nina credit for being aware that I could bow, and she utilized it a lot. She had me playing a lot of arco in performances. "Wild Is The Wind" was covered by David Bowie on his 1976 album Station to Station. "Lilac Wine" was covered by Jeff Buckley on his album Grace (1994). The album was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The album was also rated the 5th best album of the 1960s by Pitchfork.
Read more on Wikipedia
Keywords from Reviews
Rating Over Time
Reviews
I’m not the biggest fan of her voice, but the music is gorgeous. I really love the vibe of this stuff, these are the types of albums. I’m doing this challenge for. Picking up on the, I’m glad I heard this one.
Originally misread this as 1996 and not 1966. Perspective shifted once i realized...was confused!
Wonderful voice - the titular track is particularly poignant
There’s no possible way this could be lower than a 5. I felt it disrespectful to be making any more noise at all while this record was on. Entrancing immediately and all the way through.
Wonderful album
Love me some Nina! This isn’t my favorite album of hers but it is beautiful. I generally prefer her more upbeat stuff. Pastel Blues is a great one.
Good tunes. Enjoy her style.
Although sensational and powerful, just not for me
I didn't really enjoy this the way I thought I would. I prefer the arrangements and her piano playing over her vocal performance, personally. One of those artists where I prefer the covers of her songs more than the originals. The lyrics did not resonate with me. I PUT A SPELL ON YOU felt to me like the more essential album in Nina Simone's discography than this one.
Legendary
Considering that this is comprised of supposed "b" tracks, it's quite fantastic. I had listened to some of her music before, but this album has made me want to listen to more of her work.
9/10 ⭐️: Lilac Wine
The song four women had incredible lyrics and made me genuinly impressed. One of my favourite covers of "Lilac Wine" is also on this album which will make the final score a little higher. Overall the album had beautiful vocals, lyrics and music finaling at a 4/5 for me.
Wow! Awful.
4.35
Not consider myself a fan, but this is her only album on here, wtf. Lesser followers get multiple here, bs. The emotion on display here, 4 women is gut punch powerful. As said not a fan, hence 4 Star at the moment but going to be listening more from today.
Four women 🥺♥️
Haunting and alluring, a real delight
Pastel Blues and Little Girl Blue should have both been on the list and it's a travesty they're not
very consistently good sound throughout this record. good times all around. 8/10 FAVOURITE SONGS: WHY KEEP ON BREAKING MY HEART, THAT'S ALL I ASK, WHAT MORE CAN I SAY?
Que linda música :D
Бля ну это женщина топ уровня
Pretty incredible discovery for me. RYM: Y (#347) Saved a song: Y
What a mix. Some great stuff, some not great stuff. Some in between.
What stands out to me is the emotion on this album. "Four Women" was surprisingly powerful to me. Unfortunately, jazz is not really my kind of thing at the moment.
Great voice, with a nice mix of soft piano of backing band. My understanding is that she is an icon within the back community and I can see why. Her lyrics, even if I likely don't get all the references and context, are powerful. Especially given this came out in 1966.
Outstanding
Soooooo boring
Breathtakingly beautiful. A powerful album that held me captivated the whole time.
Elegant and haunting, with some more upbeat songs (I Love Your Loving Ways). Beautiful album
I've been acquainted with Ms. Nina Simone but had never listened to this album before. Two things stand out: 1.) I'd only ever heard Jeff Buckley's Lilac Wine and oh my god. She really sent it. 2.) The deep pain throughout this record really emanates. It is nourishment for the heartbroken.
Beautiful album
I liked this! This would be fun on vinyl.
Fine
Very nina
Klassiker
What starts as a really sweet soul jazz album, eventually takes you on a journey through Nina Simone's life, as she touches on her experiences as a black woman in segregated America, the heartbreak she has experienced in her life, and the hardships she has faced throughout her life. She manages to present each theme in such a beautiful way, and shows off her once in a generation vocals with the immense versatility of her voice. It's shameful that this is the only Nina Simone album on the list, she deserves at least two or three more.
Trite. But also overly serious.
Vibey, moody! Not something I'd listen to all the time, but definitely something to get a particular ambiance. She has a fascinating voice.
Such class
I can't possibly adore Tori, Fiona, and PJ without first giving mad props to Nina. I don't LOVE her voice in some of these songs, but I love it at the same time. It's raw and messy. I think I might have even shed at tear at some point. I can't believe I have gone 49 years of life without listening to an entire album from this queen. Also, as an added bonus, I got Jeff Buckley this week, too, so I got to hear 2 different 5-star versions of "Lilac Wine". Absolutely amazing.
I really couldn’t get into this album. “Lilac Wine” and “Either Way I Lose” were the only two songs I enjoyed. The rest were genuinely unpleasant to listen to. I wasn’t a fan of the instrumentals or Nina Simone’s voice, which made most of the album difficult to enjoy. Overall, just not my kind of music.
Yeh this is great. I know a couple of these tunes from some great covers I've heard. She is such a unique voice, it's really amazing
I'm gonna be honest, I think Jeff Buckley did "Lilac Wine" better, but I think Nina did "Wild Is the Wind" better than Bowie did. Like the guy on the piano goes crazy during the chorus. Great album overall though! It's a mid to high 4
Glorified cover album. Simone is a good performer, but that isn’t everything a look for in an album.
What a great start with “I Love Your Lovin’ Ways”. But then unfortunately it became another boring elevator songs album. But Nina’s voice was outstanding. (Listened to it on Apple Music)
I feel blasphemous saying this as Nina Simone is amazing and I love her music, but this album felt a bit unpolished to me in a way that didn’t work. Her voice didn’t seem as great as it usually did. I think I was expecting more, there was still some good songs
probably wont come back to this but did decided to check out more nina simone. I put a spell on you is better
Smooth jazz, smooth voice.
I was glad to get this on the generator this morning! Nina Simone really has a passion in her voice that makes you feel empowered. The obvious highlight is 'Four Women', the final line never fails to make me shiver, the way she sings 'Peaches' is one of the most beautiful, yet devastating moments in recorded music! 'Lilac Wine' is also a highlight, simply for being haunting and 'Break Down And Let It All Out' was a much more standard track thematically, but had some of the greatest energy on the whole album. 'Wild In The Wind' is likely the most overrated track on the album, it goes on for too long in my opinion, but it's still a brilliant track. Simone has THE greatest voice in Soul and she deserves her title as the 'High Priestess' - all of her music is honestly breathtaking!
One of the most spectacular voices of all time. Anything less than 5 stars is unacceptable.
Im kinda shocked that its her only album in the book and im not even a big Nina Simone fan. I never liked her voice that much. I dont know if its a hot take. This album is very slow and calm, wich I liked but it made some of the lesser good songs on the album really boring. The piano is very cute and it balanced out her weird ass raspy voice. I liked it and its definitely one of the highest 3 or lowest 4 ive given so far (I dont know which score to give it rigth now).
I Love Your Lovin' Ways - 8/10. Great song, beautiful voice. Four Women - 10/10. Powerful and uncomfortable to examine our dark history. What More Can I Say? - 9/10. Another powerful belter of a song. Lilac Wine - 9/10. Haunting, both in the vocals and the piano chords. That's All I Ask - 10/10. Wow. I have no words. Break Down and Let it All Out - 8/10. Amazing voice. Why Keep On Breaking My Heart - 9/10. Almost the perfect voice for this song. Wild is the Wind - 10/10. Amazing. Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair - 10/10. Hauntingly beautiful. Perfection. If I Should Lose You - 9/10. Amazing. Either Way I Lose - 9/10. Wow. Overall Rating - 4.59/5 (9.18/10). A powerful voice, singing powerful songs. Absolutely incredible.
Favorite Song: Wild Is The Wind Least Favorite: Why Keep On Breaking My Heart
Этот альбом воняет
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Vocals are amazing. The lyricism is deep and rich
Ponderous. Classic but not firey. Maybe needed to listen to it more closely on a day when more in the mood. Its still Nina though so gets at least 4/5
Pretty good, I liked the songs I love you lovin ways but the rest was pretty good.
Promptly purchased on vinyl. An incredible album.
Lovely music. Nina Simone just conveys a mood as well as almost anyone
There’s probably a 5 star album hidden in here somewhere but you can unfortunately tell that these weren’t recorded with the intent of being one cohesive album. That’s about all that’s holding this thing back from perfection. Nina Simone’s vocals and piano or amazing as usual, making we want to smoke a cigarette alone in a bar at 1 am and contemplate all my life choices. The backing band is complex but doesn’t overtake the lead. All around great performances.
Imagine that these are the leftovers from her previous albums...
_pastel blues_ is my favorite nina album, but this is a classic for a reason. "wild is the wind" alone is worth the price of admission. i've been a nina fan for decades, and it's always a treat to hear her stuff
I'll rave even for Four Women alone.
Man this was really good. I guess I was just in the right mood for this because this album was like an emotional experience for me.
3/5
It's always a feat to create music that can be heard 60 years later and is instantly attributable to a particular artist. There's no question Nina Simone is one of those artists. Such a unique powerful voice and a unique woman behind it. Not something I tend to reach for, but I always appreciate her music.
Dreary and boring.. Nursing home music.
The production on this record is impeccable and Simone's phrasing is unparalleled but the music itself isn't anything exceptional.
not something I would listen to regularly, but very beautiful
Good, but as with early to mid 1960s albums, even the best artists are largely just making product and as such there's going to be some filler. Lots of great stuff here, but not without filler.
she’s obviously on here for a reason but i was really struggling to get into this. confused 3 from me.
Nina's voice is strong, she holds notes so clearly. Some of the lyrics are very pointed and her strong voice really drives them home. I'm not sure many of these songs were really that great. I like lilac wine, but I wonder if that is mainly through my familiarity with the Jeff Buckley version. I'm sure Nina Simone has recorded some great songs, but this seems to be a collection of b sides so it seems it was never going to be incredible.
Ahh fine had moments but mostly was a miss.
Classy, as expected.
Nina Simonella on vaikuttava ja persoonallinen lauluääni. Musiikki oli dramaattista, mutta en ole ihan varma kuinka paljon tykkäsin tästä levystä. Nimikkokappale oli ennestään tuttu David Bowien esittämänä.
Outstanding
Nina is really fine here
A voice as powerful, unique, versatile, the world may never see again. Emotion just pours out when she applies vibrato.
I know a lot of these songs (particularly Four Women). But I hadn't heard them as an album. Really great stuff, as expected. A genius at work. 5 stars.
Class act, brilliant songs.
Didn't realise thes album was from the 60s it feels so modren.
Chillico, la loca canta muy bien y mucha emocion, no ses mi musica ni en pedo
Nina Simone's timber and raw emotion in her vocals never wains or ebbs; Simone carries the weight of each lyric with her. Few vocalists pack such a punch with their delivery.
Honestly, really boring....
I do like Nina Simone, amazing voice. Wild is the Wind and Four Women are excellent.
Enchanting, soulful and deeply sinister. Great stuff
Cool record, very unique voice. “Four Woman” and the title track were the stand out songs for me
Very powerful voice. Not really background music even when it's slow. Really nice.
Not bad, but definitely of its time and not a sound that I gravitate towards personally. 2.5/5
The best album that I've heard on here for ages. Proper stop-you-in-your-tracks stuff: really beautiful and moving renditions including some very powerful tracks. No notes!
a compelling voice in places, but strays over the line from vulnerable to struggling in others. lyrics are a bit mono-theme, but the rest of the writing and playing are quite good.
Total stunner from Nina. Four Women has to be one of the heaviest songs ever
Lovely, morose but varied. A lovely listen, featuring beautiful singing and some good supporting players. Unfortunately, this sits in a sort of musical space that never grabs me. I should buy this album to put on in an evening when I just want to be cozy at home. On the other hand, the gentle, sad jazz genre just doesn't grab me. It's a mood but it's one I avoid. I'm saying 4/5.
This album changed my life today.
Nina cried power
Great bi-side album, the voice is incredible
Might be a four. She had interesting voice
Listened a few times. Felt real…in your soul….so so good!
This one is good. This is a great album. She has a great voice and the instrumentation is great too. This album is both evocative and relaxing. It does get a little more upbeat, but even the upbeat stuff is still somewhat subdued. I super liked it. I don’t really know what to say but this album is something special. I just want to go on a walk and listen to this. Maybe I will.