Nina Simone was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and arranger.

Nina Simone discography
Portrait of Nina Simone in concert in Morlaix, France during 1982
Studio albums19
Live albums14

Albums

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This is a list of Simone's official albums, both studio and live, issued with her explicit co-operation.

List of albums, with selected information
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.

Additional album releases

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List of albums, with selected information
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
  • BPI: 2× Platinum[9]
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.

Singles

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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.

Singles: Early period (1959-64)

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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.

Singles: Middle period (1964-74)

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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.

Singles: Late period (1974-2003)

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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
  • BPI: Platinum[9]
Feeling Good - The Very Best of Nina Simone
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles: Posthumous (2003 onward)

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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.
  • a remix of Ain't Got No I Got Life credited to Nina Simone V Groovefinder reached #30 on the UK Singles Chart in 2006.[17]

Notes

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  1. ^ 2020 reissue
  2. ^ 2006 reissue
  3. ^ 2020 reissue
  4. ^ Best Of did not enter the US Jazz Albums chart, but did peak at number 18 on the Traditional Jazz Albums.[11]
  5. ^ Ultimate Simone did not enter the US Jazz Albums chart, but did peak at number 25 on the Traditional Jazz Albums.[11]
  6. ^ Bittersweet: The Very Best of Nina Simone did not enter the US Jazz Albums chart, but did peak at number 23 on the Traditional Jazz Albums.[11]
  7. ^ The Diva Series: Nina Simone did not enter the US Jazz Albums chart, but did peak at number 23 on the Traditional Jazz Albums.[11]
  8. ^ Nina Simone's Finest Hour did not enter the US Jazz Albums chart, but did peak at number 22 on the Traditional Jazz Albums.[11]
  9. ^ The Soul of Nina Simone did not enter the US Jazz Albums chart, but did peak at number 23 on the Traditional Jazz Albums.[11]
  10. ^ Jazz Biography Series did not enter the US Jazz Albums chart, but did peak at number 23 on the Traditional Jazz Albums.[11]
  11. ^ How It Feels to Be Free: Opus Collection did not enter the Billboard 200, but did peak at number three on the Catalog Albums chart.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Nina Simone Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Nina Simone Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Nina Simone Chart History: Jazz Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Nina Simone Chart History: Official Charts". Official Charts. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Dutch Charts". Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Les Charts". Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "British certifications – Nina Simone". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 23, 2023. Type Nina Simone in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  10. ^ "French album certifications – Nina Simone" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved September 11, 2021. Select NINA SIMONE and click OK. 
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "Nina Simone Chart History: TraditionalJazz Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Nina Simone)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Nina Simone - Chart History (Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d e Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 643. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
  15. ^ a b c d e Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 402.
  16. ^ a b c d e Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. p. 703. ISBN 0-00-717931-6.
  17. ^ "Search | Official Charts". Official Charts.
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