#212 of 500
· Rolling Stone
“There's a case that Wild Is the Wind deserves to be higher, but #212 is solid company. Nina Simone's work here (1966) is the kind of thing that makes you play both sides twice. The original pressing is the way in.”
Nina Simone (1933-2003) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist whose classical training and virtuosic keyboard skills defined her distinctive artistic voice. Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in North Carolina, she initially pursued classical piano performance before transitioning to jazz, blues, and soul. Her career spanned five decades, during which she became one of the most influential and politically engaged artists of the 20th century. Key albums include 'I Put a Spell on You' (1965), 'Wild Is the Wind' (1966), and 'To Love Somebody' (1969). Simone's interpretations of jazz standards, combined with her own compositions and covers of pop songs, created a sophisticated yet emotionally powerful sound. She was also a prominent civil rights activist, using her music to address racial inequality and social injustice throughout the 1960s.
Style
Simone's style synthesized jazz, blues, classical, and soul, characterized by her commanding alto voice, intricate piano arrangements, and emotional intensity. Her music ranged from upbeat jazz-pop numbers to deeply introspective ballads, all delivered with remarkable vocal control and dramatic flair.
Significance
Nina Simone's extensive discography and artistic consistency make her recordings highly sought by vinyl collectors, particularly her 1960s output. Her influence on jazz, soul, and protest music is immeasurable, and her recordings represent essential documents of both musical artistry and the civil rights era.
"Wild Is the Wind" was recorded in 1966 during a creatively fertile period for Nina Simone. The album showcases her remarkable interpretive gifts, featuring standards and contemporary compositions arranged with her distinctive piano work and vocal intensity. Simone recorded these sessions while balancing her growing political activism with her artistic pursuits. The album includes her powerful rendition of the title track, a Dimitri Tiomkin composition, alongside jazz standards and introspective ballads. Her pianist and arranger work elevated each song, whether interpreting Irving Berlin or exploring more contemporary material, demonstrating her unparalleled ability to convey deep emotion and personal conviction through music.
Historical Context
Released in 1966, this album emerged during a transformative period in American music and civil rights history. Nina Simone was increasingly using her platform to address social injustice and the Civil Rights Movement, even as she maintained her artistic integrity in the jazz and standards repertoire. The mid-1960s saw growing expectations for Black artists to take political stances, and Simone was among the most vocal. The album was well-received by jazz and standards audiences, though her escalating activism and increasingly uncompromising approach to music selection would dominate her public narrative in subsequent years.
Pressing Notes
"Wild Is the Wind" was originally released on Philips Records. Early pressings are prized by collectors, particularly those on 180-gram reissues from later reissue labels. Vinyl collectors should look for original Philips pressings from the mid-1960s, though original copies can be costly. The album has been reissued multiple times, including by Verve and other labels. Condition is critical—seeking out well-maintained copies in gatefold sleeves will yield superior sound quality. Like many Simone recordings, the warmth and intimacy of her piano come through beautifully on quality vinyl.
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