About

Nina Simone's sixth album for Philips Records was Wild Is the Wind, released in 1966. The album was compiled from several recordings that were left over from sessions for previous Philips albums. 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. "Wild Is The Wind" was covered by David Bowie on his 1976 studio recording Station to Station.

"With her dusky voice at its most commanding, Simone works her way through roadhouse soul ('I Love Your Lovin' Ways') and dramatic set pieces (the melancholic 'Lilac Wine,' later covered by Jeff Buckley). It peaks with 'Four Women,' an ambitious saga of racially diverse women and their struggles, written by Simone." — Rolling Stone

The material is certainly as strong and consistent as it is on her other mid-'60s LPs. As is the case with most of her albums of the time, the selections are almost unnervingly diverse, ranging from jazz ballads to traditional folk tunes ("Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair") to the near calypso of "Why Keep on Breaking My Heart" to the somber, almost chilling title track. Highlights are two outstanding pop-soul numbers written by the pre-disco Van McCoy ("Either Way I Lose," "Break Down and Let It All Out") and "Four Women," a string of searing vignettes about the hardships of four African-American women that ranks as one of Simone's finest compositions.

Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging. — (via Acoustic Sounds / AllMusic)

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Label: Verve Records, UMe
Series: Acoustic Sounds Series
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 180g, Gatefold
Country: Worldwide
Reissued: Aug 25, 2023 / Original Release: 1966
Genre: Jazz
Style: Soul-Jazz
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File under: Jazz – Vocals (Audiophile)