Nina Simone – Wild Is The Wind

Nina Simone’s “Wild is the Wind,” released in 1966, is a captivating tapestry of emotions, woven together with Simone’s signature blend of jazz, blues, and folk influences. While it’s technically a compilation album, gathering leftover recordings from previous sessions, the resulting collection feels cohesive and deeply personal.

The album opens with the title track, a hauntingly beautiful ballad that sets the tone for the introspective journey to come. Simone’s voice, imbued with raw emotion and vulnerability, takes center stage, drawing the listener into a world of love, loss, and existential contemplation. Tracks like “Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair” and “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” showcase Simone’s activism and social consciousness, while “Four Women” paints a poignant portrait of Black womanhood in America.

Throughout the album, Simone’s masterful piano playing intertwines with sparse instrumentation, creating an intimate and atmospheric soundscape. Her phrasing is deliberate and nuanced, imbuing each lyric with depth and meaning. Whether she’s delivering a playful scat solo or belting out a soulful cry, Simone’s vocal expressiveness is unmatched.