Nina Simone discography

Last updated
Nina Simone discography
Nina Simone14.JPG
Portrait of Nina Simone in concert in Morlaix, France during 1982
Studio albums19
Live albums14

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

Contents

Albums

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
YearTitlePeak chart positionsTypeLabelCertifications
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―1018―――
Pastel Blues 139818 [A] ――――
1966 Let It All Out ―19―――――Live and studio
Wild Is the Wind 11012―――――Studio
1967 High Priestess of Soul ―29―――――
Nina Simone Sings the Blues ―2937 [B] ―――― RCA Records
Silk & Soul 15824―――――
1968 'Nuff Said! ―44―11―8―Live and studio
1969 Nina Simone and Piano ―――――――Studio
To Love Somebody ―――――――
1970 Black Gold 14921―――――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
1985Nina's Back―――――――VPI
Live & Kickin―――――――Live
1987Let 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

List of albums, with selected information
YearTitlePeak chart positionsTypeLabelCertifications
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
1964Serenade of Soul―――――――Demo 1956 (compilation with three tracks by Simone)Almor
1964Starring Nina Simone―――――――Demo 1956 (compilation with five tracks by Simone)Spinorama
1965Sincerely 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 Simone189――――――Compilation RCA Records / BMG
1972Live in Europe―――――――LiveTrip Records
Sings Billie Holiday – Lady Sings the Blues―――――――LiveStroud Recordings
1973 Live at Berkeley ―――――――
Gospel According to Nina Simone―――――――
1974Portrait of Nina―40―――――CompilationTrip
1977Lamentations―――――――LiveVersatile
1979A Very Rare Evening――――――― PM Records
1984Backlash―――――――StarJazz
1987My Baby Just Cares For Me―――564713―Reissue of Little Girl Blue Charly Records
1987The Nina Simone Collection―――――――CompilationDeja Vu
1988Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood―――――――Mercury
1989Nina Simone - Compact Jazz―――――――Mercury
1992The Best Of The Colpix Years―――――――Roulette / Blue Note / EMI
1994The Rising Sun Collection―――――――Live Enja
Verve Jazz Masters, Vol. 17――32――――CompilationPolyGram
The Essential Nina Simone, Vol. 2――41――――Sony Legacy
Feeling Good: The Very Best of Nina Simone――― [D] ――――Verve / Polygram TV
1995Nina Simone – Anthology (The Colpix Years)―――――――Rhino
1996After Hours―――――――Verve
1997Released―――――――RCA Victor Europe
  • ARIA: Gold [8]
1997Blue for You - The Very Best Of―――12―――Global Television
1997Saga of the Good Life and Hard Times―――――――RCA
1997Ultimate Nina Simone――― [E] ――― Verve
1998I Got Life and Many Others―――――19―RCA
2000Bittersweet: The Very Best of Nina Simone――― [F] ――――House of Hits
2003Four Women: The Nina Simone Philips Recordings―――――――Verve
Gold―――27―――Universal / UCJ
Anthology――27――――RCA / BMG Heritage
The Diva Series: Nina Simone――― [G] ――――Verve
2004Nina 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 + DVDRCA DualDisc
Nina Simone Live at Montreux 1976―――――――DVD Eagle Eye Media
Nina Simone Live―――――――Kultur / Creative Arts Television
Love Songs―――――――CompilationSony BMG
Jazz Biography Series――― [J] ――――Universal
Nina Simone for Lovers――21――――Verve
2006 The Very Best of Nina Simone ―――6――126Sony / BMG
  • BPI: 2× Platinum [9]
Remixed and Reimagined ――11――――RemixRCA / Legacy / SME
Forever Young, Gifted, & Black: Songs of Freedom and Spirit――43――――RCA / SME
Songs to Sing: the Best of Nina Simone―――92―――CompilationDeluxe
The Definitive Collection――28―――― Hip-O
2007Just Like a Woman: Nina Simone Sings Classic Songs of the 60s――50――――Sony / Legacy / BMG
2008To Be Free: The Nina Simone Story――24――――Sony / Legacy / BMG
How It Feels to Be Free: Opus Collection― [K] ――――――Sony
2009The Definitive Rarities Collection – 50 Classic Cuts―――――――Artwork Media
Friends/Family/French Lessons――17――――Stroud Recordings
2011The Essential Nina Simone――10―――― Sony Legacy, RCA, BMG Heritage
S.O.U.L.: Nina Simone――16―――― Sony Legacy
2012Greatest Hits―――――――Sinostate
2013Purple Fields―――――――Savage Rose
Feels Good―――――――Savage Rose
Shout Out Loud―――――――Savage Rose
2014Live in Germany 1989―――――――LiveImmortal
2014See-Line Woman - The Best Of―――――――CompilationSpectrum
  • BPI: Silver [9]
2015La légende――――――82Sony
2016Portrait―――――――Warner Music / X5 Music Group
The Other Woman―――――――Awa
2017At High Altitude―――――――Cappo Digital
Mood Indigo: The Complete Bethlehem Singles――7――――Bethlehem / BMG
The Colpix Singles ――――――― Rhino
Platinum Collection―――――――Not Now
Hits―――――――New Continent
20187 Classic Albums―――――――Box SetReel to Reel
2020Work from Home with Nina Simone――8――――CompilationUMG Recordings
Old Time Jazz―――――――Old Time Jazz
2021The Montreux Years――21―――134BMG Right Management
2022Feeling Good: Her Greatest Hits and Remixes――4―――― Verve Label Group
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

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)

YearSingle (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated		Chart positionsLabelCertificationsAlbum
US
[15] 		US
R&B
[16] 		UK
[17]
1959"I Loves You, Porgy"
b/w "Love Me or Leave Me"		182—Bethlehem Little Girl Blue (1959)
"Chilly Winds Don't Blow"
b/w "Solitaire"		———ColpixThe Amazing Nina Simone
"Children Go Where I Send You"
b/w "Willow Weep for Me"		———Colpix
"He Needs Me"
b/w "Little Girl Blue"		———BethlehemLittle 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)		———ColpixNina Simone at Town Hall
1960"Mood Indigo"
b/w "Central Park Blues"		———BethlehemLittle Girl Blue
"For All We Know"
b/w "Good Bait" (from Little Girl Blue)		———BethlehemNina Simone and Her Friends
"Summertime" (Live - Part II Vocal)
b/w "Fine and Mellow"		———ColpixNina Simone at Town Hall
"You'll Never Walk Alone"
b/w "Plain Gold Ring"		———BethlehemLittle Girl Blue
"Since My Love Has Gone"
b/w "Tomorrow (We Shall Meet Once More)" (from The Amazing Nina Simone)		———ColpixNon-album track
"Central Park"
b/w "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" (from Nina Simone and Her Friends)		———BethlehemLittle Girl Blue
"If Only for Tonight"
b/w "Under the Lowest" (from Nina Simone at Town Hall)		———ColpixNon-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)		9323—Colpix
"Trouble in Mind"
b/w "Cotton Eye Joe" (from At Town Hall)		9211—ColpixNina at Newport
1961"Work Song"
b/w "Memphis in June"		———ColpixForbidden 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)		———ColpixNon-album track
1962"In the Evening by the Moonlight"
b/w "Chilly Winds Don't Blow" (from The Amazing Nina Simone)		———ColpixNina at Newport
"I Got It Bad"
b/w "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl" (Non-album track)		———ColpixNina Simone Sings Ellington
"My Baby Just Cares for Me"
b/w "He Needs Me"		———BethlehemLittle Girl Blue
1963"Little Liza Jane"
b/w "Blackbird" (Non-album track)		———ColpixNina 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.

YearSingle (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated		Chart positionsLabelCertificationsAlbum
US
[15] 		US
R&B
[16] 		UK
[17]
1963"Work Song"
b/w "Gin House Blues"		———Colpix TorchliteForbidden 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 TorchliteNina 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 TorchliteNina 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 TorchliteThe 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 TorchliteNina Simone at Newport
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles: Middle period (1964-74)

YearSingle (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated		Chart positionsLabelCertificationsAlbum
US
[15] 		US
R&B
[16] 		UK
[17]
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"		1202349
  • BPI: Silver [9]
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"		——5To 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"		83432
1969"I Put a Spell on You"
b/w "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (from Broadway-Blues-Ballads)
Reissue		——28I 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)		768—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)

YearSingle (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated		Chart positionsLabelCertificationsAlbum
US
[15] 		US
R&B
[16] 		UK
[17]
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
  • BPI: Silver [9]
Little Girl Blue
1994"Feeling Good" (Original 1965 recording)
b/w "My Baby Just Cares for Me" (live, non-album track)		——40Feeling Good - The Very Best of Nina Simone
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles: Posthumous (2003 onward)

YearSingle (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated		Chart positionsLabelCertificationsAlbum
US
[15] 		US
R&B
[16] 		UK
[17]
2003"Sinnerman"
CD single with four different versions		———
  • BPI: Silver [9]
Four Women - The Nina Simone Philips Recordings
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Notes

  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. [12]
  5. ↑ Ultimate Simone did not enter the US Jazz Albums chart, but did peak at number 25 on the Traditional Jazz Albums. [12]
  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. [12]
  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. [12]
  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. [12]
  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. [12]
  10. ↑ Jazz Biography Series did not enter the US Jazz Albums chart, but did peak at number 23 on the Traditional Jazz Albums. [12]
  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. [14]

References

  1. 1 2 "Nina Simone Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Nina Simone Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard . Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Nina Simone Chart History: Jazz Albums". Billboard . Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Nina Simone Chart History: Official Charts". Official Charts . Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Dutch Charts" . Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Les Charts" . Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  8. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "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. ↑ "Brazilian album certifications – Nina Simone – Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Nina Simone Chart History: TraditionalJazz Albums". Billboard . Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Nina Simone)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  14. ↑ "Nina Simone - Chart History (Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p.  643. ISBN   0-89820-155-1.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 402.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. p. 703. ISBN   0-00-717931-6.
  18. ↑ "Gold & Platinum (Advanced search for "Nina Simone" singles)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Search | Official Charts". Official Charts .
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