Released in 1966 by Philips Records, Wild Is the Wind is one of Nina Simone’s most emotionally potent and artistically rich albums. A collection of outtakes from previous sessions, the album transcends its piecemeal origins to form a hauntingly cohesive statement on love, longing, and personal turmoil. Simone’s vocal delivery is raw and deeply expressive, gliding effortlessly from tender vulnerability to defiant strength.
The title track, “Wild Is the Wind,” is a masterclass in interpretation—Simone stretches the song into a slow-burning, sensual lament, transforming it into one of her signature performances. Other highlights include “Four Women,” a powerful narrative exploring the intersecting identities of Black womanhood, and “Lilac Wine,” a delicate, dreamlike ballad.
Blending elements of jazz, classical, folk, and blues, Wild Is the Wind showcases Simone’s genre-defying artistry and her unmatched ability to convey complex emotional landscapes. It remains one of her most acclaimed and enduring works, celebrated for both its political consciousness and its poetic beauty.