Wild Is the Wind - Nina Simone [VINYL]

This album was apparently a bit of a pastiche of leftovers from sessions for Nina Simone's four previous albums on Philips. But you'd never guess from listening; 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.

Disc 1
1. I Love Your Lovin' Ways - Nina Simone (2.39)
2. Four Women - Nina Simone (4.28)
3. What More Can I Say - Nina Simone (2.52)
4. Lilac Wine - Nina Simone (4.16)
5. That's All I Ask - Nina Simone (2.31)
6. Break Down and Let It All Out - Nina Simone (2.41)
7. Why Keep On Breaking My Heart - Nina Simone (2.37)
8. Wild Is the Wind - Nina Simone (6.59)
9. Black Is the Colour of My True Love's Hair - Nina Simone (3.28)
10. If I Should Lose You - Nina Simone (3.58)
11. Either Way I Lose - Nina Simone (2.46)