This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (December 2021) |
Nina Simone discography | |
---|---|
Studio albums | 19 |
Live albums | 14 |
Nina Simone was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and arranger.
This is a list of Simone's official albums, both studio and live, issued with her explicit co-operation.
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Type | Label | Certifications | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [1] |
US R&B [2] |
US Jazz [3] |
UK [4] |
AUS [5] |
NL [6] |
FRA [7] | |||||
1959 | Little Girl Blue | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Studio | Bethlehem Records | |
The Amazing Nina Simone | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Colpix Records | |||
Nina Simone at Town Hall | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live and studio | |||
1960 | Nina Simone at Newport | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live | ||
1961 | Forbidden Fruit | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Studio | ||
1962 | Nina at the Village Gate | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live | ||
Nina Simone Sings Ellington | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Studio | |||
1963 | Nina Simone at Carnegie Hall | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live | ||
1964 | Folksy Nina | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | |||
Nina Simone in Concert | 102 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Philips Records | |||
Broadway-Blues-Ballads | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Studio | |||
1965 | I Put a Spell on You | 99 | ― | 10 | 18 | ― | ― | ― | |||
Pastel Blues | 139 | 8 | 18[A] | ― | ― | ― | ― | ||||
1966 | Let It All Out | ― | 19 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live and studio | ||
Wild Is the Wind | 110 | 12 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Studio | |||
1967 | High Priestess of Soul | ― | 29 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | |||
Nina Simone Sings the Blues | ― | 29 | 37[B] | ― | ― | ― | ― | RCA Records | |||
Silk & Soul | 158 | 24 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ||||
1968 | 'Nuff Said! | ― | 44 | ― | 11 | ― | 8 | ― | Live and studio | ||
1969 | Nina Simone and Piano | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Studio | ||
To Love Somebody | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ||||
1970 | Black Gold | 149 | 21 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live | ||
1971 | Here Comes the Sun | 190 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Studio | ||
1972 | Emergency Ward | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live and studio | ||
1974 | It Is Finished | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live | ||
1978 | Baltimore | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Studio | CTI Records | |
1982 | Fodder on My Wings | ― | ― | 22[C] | ― | ― | ― | ― | Carrere | ||
1985 | Nina's Back | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | VPI | ||
Live & Kickin | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live | |||
1987 | Let It Be Me | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Verve | ||
Live at Ronnie Scott's | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Hendring-Wadham | |||
1993 | A Single Woman | ― | ― | 19 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Studio | Elektra Records | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Type | Label | Certifications | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [1] |
US R&B [2] |
US Jazz [3] |
UK [4] |
AUS [5] |
NL [6] |
FRA [7] | |||||
1960 | Nina Simone and Her Friends | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Compilation - Studio (compilation with four tracks by Simone) | Bethlehem Records | |
1963 | Nina's Choice | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Compilation | Colpix Records | |
1964 | Serenade of Soul | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Demo 1956 (compilation with three tracks by Simone) | Almor | |
1964 | Starring Nina Simone | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Demo 1956 (compilation with five tracks by Simone) | Spinorama | |
1965 | Sincerely Nina | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Compilation - Studio & Live | Philips Records | |
1966 | Nina Simone with Strings | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Compilation - Studio (strings added) | Colpix | |
1970 | Gifted & Black | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Demo 1957 (strings added 1970) | Canyon Records (Stroud Productions) | |
The Best of Nina Simone | 189 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Compilation | RCA Records / BMG | ||
1972 | Live in Europe | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live | Trip Records | |
Sings Billie Holiday – Lady Sings the Blues | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live | Stroud Recordings | ||
1973 | Live at Berkeley | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | |||
Gospel According to Nina Simone | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ||||
1974 | Portrait of Nina | ― | 40 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Compilation | Trip | |
1977 | Lamentations | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live | Versatile | |
1979 | A Very Rare Evening | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | PM Records | ||
1984 | Backlash | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | StarJazz | ||
1987 | My Baby Just Cares For Me | ― | ― | ― | 56 | 47 | 13 | ― | Reissue of Little Girl Blue | Charly Records | |
1987 | The Nina Simone Collection | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Compilation | Deja Vu | |
1988 | Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Mercury | ||
1989 | Nina Simone - Compact Jazz | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Mercury | ||
1992 | The Best Of The Colpix Years | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Roulette / Blue Note / EMI | ||
1994 | The Rising Sun Collection | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live | Enja | |
Verve Jazz Masters, Vol. 17 | ― | ― | 32 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Compilation | PolyGram | ||
The Essential Nina Simone, Vol. 2 | ― | ― | 41 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Sony Legacy | |||
Feeling Good: The Very Best of Nina Simone | ― | ― | ―[D] | ― | ― | ― | ― | Verve / Polygram TV | |||
1995 | Nina Simone – Anthology (The Colpix Years) | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Rhino | ||
1996 | After Hours | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Verve | ||
1997 | Released | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | RCA Victor Europe |
| |
1997 | Blue for You - The Very Best Of | ― | ― | ― | 12 | ― | ― | ― | Global Television | ||
1997 | Saga of the Good Life and Hard Times | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | RCA | ||
1997 | Ultimate Nina Simone | ― | ― | ―[E] | ― | ― | ― | Verve | |||
1998 | I Got Life and Many Others | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | 19 | ― | RCA | ||
2000 | Bittersweet: The Very Best of Nina Simone | ― | ― | ―[F] | ― | ― | ― | ― | House of Hits | ||
2003 | Four Women: The Nina Simone Philips Recordings | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Verve | ||
Gold | ― | ― | ― | 27 | ― | ― | ― | Universal / UCJ | |||
Anthology | ― | ― | 27 | ― | ― | ― | ― | RCA / BMG Heritage | |||
The Diva Series: Nina Simone | ― | ― | ―[G] | ― | ― | ― | ― | Verve | |||
2004 | Nina Simone's Finest Hour | ― | ― | ―[H] | ― | ― | ― | Verve / Universal | |||
Feeling Good: The Very Best of Nina Simone | ― | ― | ― | 9 | ― | ― | ― | Verve / Polygram TV | |||
2005 | The Soul of Nina Simone | ― | ― | ―[I] | ― | ― | ― | ― | Compilation + DVD | RCA DualDisc | |
Nina Simone Live at Montreux 1976 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | DVD | Eagle Eye Media | ||
Nina Simone Live | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Kultur / Creative Arts Television | |||
Love Songs | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Compilation | Sony BMG | ||
Jazz Biography Series | ― | ― | ―[J] | ― | ― | ― | ― | Universal | |||
Nina Simone for Lovers | ― | ― | 21 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Verve | |||
2006 | The Very Best of Nina Simone | ― | ― | ― | 6 | ― | ― | 126 | Sony / BMG |
| |
Remixed and Reimagined | ― | ― | 11 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Remix | RCA / Legacy / SME | ||
Forever Young, Gifted, & Black: Songs of Freedom and Spirit | ― | ― | 43 | ― | ― | ― | ― | RCA / SME | |||
Songs to Sing: the Best of Nina Simone | ― | ― | ― | 92 | ― | ― | ― | Compilation | Deluxe |
| |
The Definitive Collection | ― | ― | 28 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Hip-O | |||
2007 | Just Like a Woman: Nina Simone Sings Classic Songs of the 60s | ― | ― | 50 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Sony / Legacy / BMG | ||
2008 | To Be Free: The Nina Simone Story | ― | ― | 24 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Sony / Legacy / BMG | ||
How It Feels to Be Free: Opus Collection | ―[K] | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Sony | |||
2009 | The Definitive Rarities Collection – 50 Classic Cuts | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Artwork Media | ||
Friends/Family/French Lessons | ― | ― | 17 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Stroud Recordings | |||
2011 | The Essential Nina Simone | ― | ― | 10 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Sony Legacy, RCA, BMG Heritage | ||
S.O.U.L.: Nina Simone | ― | ― | 16 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Sony Legacy | |||
2012 | Greatest Hits | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Sinostate | ||
2013 | Purple Fields | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Savage Rose | ||
Feels Good | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Savage Rose | |||
Shout Out Loud | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Savage Rose | |||
2014 | Live in Germany 1989 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Live | Immortal | |
2014 | See-Line Woman - The Best Of | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Compilation | Spectrum |
|
2015 | La légende | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | 82 | Sony | ||
2016 | Portrait | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Warner Music / X5 Music Group | ||
The Other Woman | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Awa | |||
2017 | At High Altitude | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Cappo Digital | ||
Mood Indigo: The Complete Bethlehem Singles | ― | ― | 7 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Bethlehem / BMG | |||
The Colpix Singles | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Rhino | |||
Platinum Collection | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Not Now | |||
Hits | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | New Continent | |||
2018 | 7 Classic Albums | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Box Set | Reel to Reel | |
2020 | Work from Home with Nina Simone | ― | ― | 8 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Compilation | UMG Recordings | |
Old Time Jazz | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Old Time Jazz | |||
2021 | The Montreux Years | ― | ― | 21 | ― | ― | ― | 134 | BMG Right Management | ||
2022 | Feeling Good: Her Greatest Hits and Remixes | ― | ― | 4 | ― | ― | ― | ― | Verve Label Group | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Nina Simone's life as a recording artist can be divided into three phases: early period (1957–64, corresponding to her albums with Bethlehem and Colpix); middle period (1964–74, corresponding to her albums with Philips and RCA); and late period (1974–2003, corresponding to her time either without a recording contract or with a multitude of different contracts). Simone died in 2003, and all releases after this are posthumous.
Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Chart positions | Label | Certifications | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [14] |
US R&B [15] |
UK [16] | |||||
1959 | "I Loves You, Porgy" b/w "Love Me or Leave Me" |
18 | 2 | — | Bethlehem | Little Girl Blue (1959) | |
"Chilly Winds Don't Blow" b/w "Solitaire" |
— | — | — | Colpix | The Amazing Nina Simone | ||
"Children Go Where I Send You" b/w "Willow Weep for Me" |
— | — | — | Colpix | |||
"He Needs Me" b/w "Little Girl Blue" |
— | — | — | Bethlehem | Little Girl Blue | ||
"Don't Smoke in Bed" b/w "African Mailman" (from Nina Simone and Her Friends) |
— | — | — | Bethlehem | |||
"The Other Woman" b/w "It Might as Well Be Spring" (from The Amazing Nina Simone) |
— | — | — | Colpix | Nina Simone at Town Hall | ||
1960 | "Mood Indigo" b/w "Central Park Blues" |
— | — | — | Bethlehem | Little Girl Blue | |
"For All We Know" b/w "Good Bait" (from Little Girl Blue) |
— | — | — | Bethlehem | Nina Simone and Her Friends | ||
"Summertime" (Live - Part II Vocal) b/w "Fine and Mellow" |
— | — | — | Colpix | Nina Simone at Town Hall | ||
"You'll Never Walk Alone" b/w "Plain Gold Ring" |
— | — | — | Bethlehem | Little Girl Blue | ||
"Since My Love Has Gone" b/w "Tomorrow (We Shall Meet Once More)" (from The Amazing Nina Simone) |
— | — | — | Colpix | Non-album track | ||
"Central Park" b/w "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" (from Nina Simone and Her Friends) |
— | — | — | Bethlehem | Little Girl Blue | ||
"If Only for Tonight" b/w "Under the Lowest" (from Nina Simone at Town Hall) |
— | — | — | Colpix | Non-album track | ||
"Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" b/w "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair" (from Nina Simone at Town Hall) |
93 | 23 | — | Colpix | |||
"Trouble in Mind" b/w "Cotton Eye Joe" (from At Town Hall) |
92 | 11 | — | Colpix | Nina at Newport | ||
1961 | "Work Song" b/w "Memphis in June" |
— | — | — | Colpix | Forbidden Fruit | |
"Gin House Blues" b/w "You Can Have Him" (from Nina Simone at Town Hall) |
113 | — | — | Colpix | |||
"Come on Back, Jack" b/w "You've Been Gone Too Long" (from The Amazing Nina Simone) |
— | — | — | Colpix | Non-album track | ||
1962 | "In the Evening by the Moonlight" b/w "Chilly Winds Don't Blow" (from The Amazing Nina Simone) |
— | — | — | Colpix | Nina at Newport | |
"I Got It Bad" b/w "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl" (Non-album track) |
— | — | — | Colpix | Nina Simone Sings Ellington | ||
"My Baby Just Cares for Me" b/w "He Needs Me" |
— | — | — | Bethlehem | Little Girl Blue | ||
1963 | "Little Liza Jane" b/w "Blackbird" (Non-album track) |
— | — | — | Colpix | Nina at Newport | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Colpix Torchlite Series singles
Simone's official final single for Colpix was "Little Liza Jane" in September 1963, as she then moved from that company to a new contract with Philips. However, later that year, Colpix released thirteen 7" singles all at the same time from Simone under a special imprint called the Colpix Torchlite Series.
Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Chart positions | Label | Certifications | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [14] |
US R&B [15] |
UK [16] | |||||
1963 | "Work Song" b/w "Gin House Blues" |
— | — | — | Colpix Torchlite | Forbidden Fruit | |
"Where Can I Go Without You" b/w "Memphis In June" |
— | — | — | Colpix Torchlite | |||
"Summertime [Part II - Vocal] [Live]" b/w "Cotton Eyed Joe [Studio]" |
— | — | — | Colpix Torchlite | Nina Simone at Town Hall | ||
"Exactly Like You" b/w "Fine and Mellow" |
— | — | — | Colpix Torchlite | |||
"Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me" b/w "Hey, Buddy Bolen" |
— | — | — | Colpix Torchlite | Nina Simone Sings Ellington | ||
"Merry Mending" b/w "Something to Live For" |
— | — | — | Colpix Torchlite | |||
"I Like the Sunrise" b/w "You Better Know It" |
— | — | — | Colpix Torchlite | |||
"The Gal from Joe's" b/w "It Don't Mean a Thing" |
— | — | — | Colpix Torchlite | |||
"Children Go Where I Send You" b/w "Tomorrow (We Shall Meet Once More)" |
— | — | — | Colpix Torchlite | The Amazing Nina Simone | ||
"You've Been Gone Too Long" b/w "Stompin' at the Savoy" |
— | — | — | Colpix Torchlite | |||
"That's Him Over There" b/w "Chilly Winds Don't Blow" |
— | — | — | Colpix Torchlite | |||
"I Can't Get Out of This Mood" b/w "Willow Weep for Me" |
— | — | — | Colpix Torchlite | |||
"Trouble In Mind (Short Version)" b/w "You Can Have Him" (from Nina Simone at Town Hall) |
— | — | — | Colpix Torchlite | Nina Simone at Newport | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Chart positions | Label | Certifications | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [14] |
US R&B [15] |
UK [16] | |||||
1964 | "I Loves You, Porgy" b/w "Old Jim Crow" (Non-album track) |
— | — | — | The Best of Nina Simone | ||
"Mississippi *@!!?*@!" b/w "Sea Lion Woman" (from Broadway-Blues-Ballads) |
— | — | — | ||||
"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" b/w "A Monster" (Non-album track) |
131 | — | — | Broadway-Blues-Ballads | |||
1965 | "I Am Blessed" b/w "How Can I" |
— | — | — | |||
"I Put a Spell on You" b/w "Gimme Some" |
120 | 23 | 49 |
|
I Put a Spell on You | ||
"Either Way I Lose" b/w "Break Down and Let It All Out" |
— | — | — | Wild Is the Wind | |||
1966 | "Why Keep on Breaking My Heart" b/w "I Love Your Lovin' Ways" |
— | — | — | |||
"I Love You've Lovin' Ways" b/w "See-Line Woman" (from Broadway-Blues-Ballads) |
— | — | — | ||||
"Four Women" b/w "What More Can I Say" |
— | — | — | ||||
"Don't You Pay Them No Mind" b/w "I'm Gonna Leave You" |
— | — | — | High Priestess of Soul | |||
1967 | "Day and Night" b/w "Do I Move You" |
— | — | — | Nina Simone Sings the Blues | ||
"You'll Go to Hell" b/w "It Be's That Way Sometimes" |
133 | — | — | Silk & Soul | |||
"I Wish I Knew" b/w "Cherish" |
— | — | — | ||||
1968 | "To Love Somebody" b/w "I Can't See Nobody" |
— | — | 5 | To Love Somebody | ||
"Why? (The King of Love Is Dead)"—Part 1 b/w Part 2 |
— | — | — | 'Nuff Said! | |||
"Ain't Got No, I Got Life" b/w "Real Real" (from Nina Simone Sings the Blues) |
94 (1969) | — | 2 | ||||
"Do What You Gotta Do" b/w "Peace of Mind" |
83 | 43 | 2 | ||||
1969 | "I Put a Spell on You" b/w "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (from Broadway-Blues-Ballads) Reissue |
— | — | 28 | I Put a Spell on You | ||
"Revolution"—Part 1 b/w Part 2 |
— | 41 | — | To Love Somebody | |||
"Suzanne" b/w "Turn Turn Turn" |
— | — | — | ||||
"To Be Young, Gifted and Black" b/w "Save Me" (Non-album track) |
76 | 8 | — | Black Gold | |||
1970 | "I Loves You Porgy" b/w "My Baby Just Cares for Me" A-side reissue of 1959 recording |
— | — | — | Little Girl Blue | ||
"Who Knows Where the Time Goes" b/w "Assignment Song" |
— | — | — | Black Gold | |||
"Whatever I Am" b/w "Why Must Your Love Well Be So Dry" |
— | — | — | Non-album tracks | |||
1971 | "O-O-H Child" b/w "New World Coming" |
— | — | — | Here Comes the Sun | ||
"Here Comes the Sun" b/w "Angel of the Morning" |
— | — | — | ||||
1973 | "Anytime, Anywhere" b/w "Sunday in Savannah" |
— | — | — | Gospel According to Nina Simone | ||
"No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed" b/w "The Assignment Song" |
— | — | — | Live at Berkeley | |||
"My Sweet Lord"/"Today Is a Killer" b/w "Poppies" |
— | — | — | Emergency Ward! | |||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Chart positions | Label | Certifications | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [14] |
US R&B [15] |
UK [16] | |||||
1978 | "Baltimore" b/w "Forget" |
— | — | — | Baltimore | ||
1979 | "The Family" b/w "That's All I Want from You" |
— | — | — | |||
1987 | "My Baby Just Cares for Me" b/w "Little Girl Blue" Original 1958/1959 recordings |
— | — | 5 |
|
Little Girl Blue | |
1994 | "Feeling Good" (Original 1965 recording) b/w "My Baby Just Cares for Me" (live, non-album track) |
— | — | 40 |
|
Feeling Good - The Very Best of Nina Simone | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Chart positions | Label | Certifications | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [14] |
US R&B [15] |
UK [16] | |||||
2003 | "Sinnerman" CD single with four different versions |
— | — | — |
|
Four Women - The Nina Simone Philips Recordings | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |