Wild is the Wind, Nina Simone

It's black music Month!

Wild is the Wind, Nina Simone, 1966, :38

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Nina Simone does torch songs.  The genre's not one of my very favorites, but she's just so good at it.  I discovered after listening to this album that it's actually a compilation of sessions left over from previous albums, but I wouldn't have known that without being told; there's a cohesiveness to it.  And, I didn't know that the title song is the same as the David Bowie's song, the only cover he put on a studio album, as a tribute to Simone.  Favorite tracks: "I Love Your Lovin' Ways," "Why Keep On Breaking My Heart," with its shuffling percussion, "Break Down And Let It All Out."

I Put a Spell On You, Nina Simone / Beach Boys' Party!, Beach Boys

Currently doing one two albums for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 1965.

I Put a Spell On You, Nina Simone, 1965, :32

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

I adore Nina Simone, one of the true vocal titans, easily up there with Aretha and Frank Sinatra if not their superior.  Her rich, commanding contralto just gives power to everything she sings, and her material usually tends toward the serious.  This album is more swingy and pop than some of her other material, and even includes an instrumental.  She also does "You've Got To Learn," an English translation of Charles Aznavour's "Il Faut Savoir," which I find odd since she sings with ease in French, such as on "Ne Me Quitte Pas" here.  Favorite tracks: "Tomorrow Is My Turn," "Marriage Is for Old Folks," "Gimme Some."

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Beach Boys' Party!, Beach Boys, 1965, :31

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Corny acoustic sing-alongs with the Beach Boys, with tambourine and bongo accompaniment. Brian Wilson mostly sits out, and "fun" "impromptu" crowd noises were dubbed in later. It sounds truly dreadful, but I have to give this a guilty-pleasure four stars. It's not by any means a great album, but good clean fun. They do Beatles and Dylan songs! And it has "Barbara Ann," an essential track.  Favorite tracks: "Barbara Ann," "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow," "I Should Have Known Better."