Wild is the Wind

Eamon O’Flynn is joined by Nathan Smith and Alex Kinsella to discuss Wild is the Wind, the daring and influential album from Nina Simone. This album ranked #212 on the 2020 Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.

Runtime: 46 minutes

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Who is Nina Simone?

Nina Simone (1933-2003) was an American singer, songwriter, musician and civil rights activist. Nicknamed “the High Priestess of Soul,” Simone’s music blended gospel, blues, jazz, folk and classical music to create a style all her own. She was one of the earliest established black musicians to produce direct social commentary in support of civil rights. Considered one of the most gifted vocalists of her generation, Wild is the Wind is Simone’s lone entry on the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums list.

What is Wild is the Wind?

Wild is the Wind is Nina Simone’s sixth studio album. Released in 1966, it was cut together from several recordings from sessions in 1964 and 1965 and not originally conceived as an album. Despite this, Wild is the Wind was a “special merit pick” from Billboard Magazine upon release, though some tracks faced backlash due to their social commentary. For example, “Four Women” was released as a single and gained wide attention when it was banned by a New York jazz radio station for its lyrics. In addition to its appearance at #212 on Rolling Stone’s Greatest Albums list, Wild is the Wind was also rated the 5th best album of the 1960s by Pitchfork.