Nina Simone discography explained

Artist:	Nina Simone
Studio:	19
Live:	14

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

Albums

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

Year! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"

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	―	―	―	―
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	―	―	―	―		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		ARIA: Gold^[8]
1972	Emergency Ward	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	Live and studio
1974	It Is Finished	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	Live
1978	Baltimore	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	Studio	CTI Records
1982	Fodder on My Wings	―	―	22	―	―	―	―		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

Year! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"

Title	Peak chart positions							Type	Label	Certifications
US	US R&B	US Jazz	UK	AUS	NL	FRA
1960	Nina Simone and Her Friends	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	Compilation - Studio	Bethlehem Records
1963	Nina's Choice	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	Compilation	Colpix Records
1964	Serenade of Soul	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	Demo 1956	Almor
1964	Starring Nina Simone	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	Demo 1956	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	BPI: Gold^[9] FRA: Gold^[10]
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	―	―	―	―	―	―	―		Verve / Polygram TV
1995	Nina Simone – Anthology (The Colpix Years)	―	―	―	―	―	―	―		Rhino
1996	After Hours	―	―	―	―	―	―	―		Verve
1997	Released	―	―	―	―	―	―	―		RCA Victor Europe	ARIA: Gold
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	―	―	―	―	―	―			Verve
1998	I Got Life and Many Others	―	―	―	―	―	19	―		RCA
2000	Bittersweet: The Very Best of Nina Simone	―	―	―	―	―	―	―		House of Hits
2003	Four Women: The Nina Simone Philips Recordings	―	―	―	―	―	―	―		Verve
	Gold	―	―	―	27	―	―	―		Universal / UCJ	BPI: Gold BVMI: Platinum^[11]
	Anthology	―	―	27	―	―	―	―		RCA / BMG Heritage
	The Diva Series: Nina Simone	―	―	―	―	―	―	―		Verve
2004	Nina Simone's Finest Hour	―	―	―	―	―	―	―			Verve / Universal
	Feeling Good: The Very Best of Nina Simone	―	―	―	9	―	―	―		Verve / Polygram TV	BPI: Gold BVMI: Gold
2005	The Soul of Nina Simone	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	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	―	―	―	―	―	―	―		Universal
	Nina Simone for Lovers	―	―	21	―	―	―	―		Verve
2006	The Very Best of Nina Simone	―	―	―	6	―	―	126		Sony / BMG	BPI: 2× Platinum
	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	BPI: Gold
	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	―	―	―	―	―	―	―		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	BPI: Silver
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

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)

Year	Single (A-side, B-side)	Chart positions			Label	Certifications	Album
		US ^[12]	US R&B ^[13]	UK ^[14]
1959	"I Loves You, Porgy"	18	2	—	Bethlehem		Little Girl Blue (1959)
	"Chilly Winds Don't Blow"	—	—	—	Colpix		The Amazing Nina Simone
	"Children Go Where I Send You"	—	—	—	Colpix
	"He Needs Me"	—	—	—	Bethlehem		Little Girl Blue
	"Don't Smoke in Bed"	—	—	—	Bethlehem
	"The Other Woman"	—	—	—	Colpix		Nina Simone at Town Hall
1960	"Mood Indigo"	—	—	—	Bethlehem		Little Girl Blue
	"For All We Know"	—	—	—	Bethlehem		Nina Simone and Her Friends
	"Summertime" (Live - Part II Vocal)	—	—	—	Colpix		Nina Simone at Town Hall
	"You'll Never Walk Alone"	—	—	—	Bethlehem		Little Girl Blue
	"Since My Love Has Gone"	—	—	—	Colpix		Non-album track
	"Central Park"	—	—	—	Bethlehem		Little Girl Blue
	"If Only for Tonight"	—	—	—	Colpix		Non-album track
	"Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"	93	23	—	Colpix
	"Trouble in Mind"	92	11	—	Colpix		Nina at Newport
1961	"Work Song"	—	—	—	Colpix		Forbidden Fruit
	"Gin House Blues"	113	—	—	Colpix
	"Come on Back, Jack"	—	—	—	Colpix		Non-album track
1962	"In the Evening by the Moonlight"	—	—	—	Colpix		Nina at Newport
	"I Got It Bad"	—	—	—	Colpix		Nina Simone Sings Ellington
	"My Baby Just Cares for Me"	—	—	—	Bethlehem		Little Girl Blue
1963	"Little Liza Jane"	—	—	—	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)	Chart positions			Label	Certifications	Album
		US	US R&B ^[15]	UK ^[16]
1963	"Work Song"	—	—	—	Colpix Torchlite		Forbidden Fruit
	"Where Can I Go Without You"	—	—	—	Colpix Torchlite
	"Summertime [Part II - Vocal] [Live]"	—	—	—	Colpix Torchlite		Nina Simone at Town Hall
	"Exactly Like You"	—	—	—	Colpix Torchlite
	"Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me"	—	—	—	Colpix Torchlite		Nina Simone Sings Ellington
	"Merry Mending"	—	—	—	Colpix Torchlite
	"I Like the Sunrise"	—	—	—	Colpix Torchlite
	"The Gal from Joe's"	—	—	—	Colpix Torchlite
	"Children Go Where I Send You"	—	—	—	Colpix Torchlite		The Amazing Nina Simone
	"You've Been Gone Too Long"	—	—	—	Colpix Torchlite
	"That's Him Over There"	—	—	—	Colpix Torchlite
	"I Can't Get Out of This Mood"	—	—	—	Colpix Torchlite
	"Trouble In Mind (Short Version)"	—	—	—	Colpix Torchlite		Nina Simone at Newport
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles: Middle period (1964-74)

Year	Single (A-side, B-side)	Chart positions			Label	Certifications	Album
		US	US R&B ^[17]	UK ^[18]
1964	"I Loves You, Porgy"	—	—	—			The Best of Nina Simone
	"Mississippi *@!!?*@!"	—	—	—
	"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"	131	—	—			Broadway-Blues-Ballads
1965	"I Am Blessed"	—	—	—
	"I Put a Spell on You"	120	23	49		BPI: Silver	I Put a Spell on You
	"Either Way I Lose"	—	—	—			Wild Is the Wind
1966	"Why Keep on Breaking My Heart"	—	—	—
	"I Love You've Lovin' Ways"	—	—	—
	"Four Women"	—	—	—
	"Don't You Pay Them No Mind"	—	—	—			High Priestess of Soul
1967	"Day and Night"	—	—	—			Nina Simone Sings the Blues
	"You'll Go to Hell"	133	—	—			Silk & Soul
	"I Wish I Knew"	—	—	—
1968	"To Love Somebody"	—	—	5			To Love Somebody
	"Why?"—Part 1	—	—	—			'Nuff Said
	"Ain't Got No, I Got Life"	94	—	2
	"Do What You Gotta Do"	83	43	2
1969	"I Put a Spell on You"	—	—	28			I Put a Spell on You
	"Revolution"—Part 1	—	41	—			To Love Somebody
	"Suzanne"	—	—	—
	"To Be Young, Gifted and Black"	76	8	—			Black Gold
1970	"I Loves You Porgy"	—	—	—			Little Girl Blue
	"Who Knows Where the Time Goes"	—	—	—			Black Gold
	"Whatever I Am"	—	—	—			Non-album tracks
1971	"O-O-H Child"	—	—	—			Here Comes the Sun
	"Here Comes the Sun"	—	—	—
1973	"Anytime, Anywhere"	—	—	—			Gospel According to Nina Simone
	"No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed"	—	—	—			Live at Berkeley
	"My Sweet Lord"/"Today Is a Killer"	—	—	—			Emergency Ward
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles: Late period (1974-2003)

Year	Single (A-side, B-side)	Chart positions			Label	Certifications	Album
		US	US R&B ^[19]	UK ^[20]
1978	"Baltimore"	—	—	—			Baltimore
1979	"The Family"	—	—	—
1987	"My Baby Just Cares for Me"	—	—	5		BPI: Silver	Little Girl Blue
1994	"Feeling Good"	—	—	40		BPI: Platinum	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)

Year	Single (A-side, B-side)	Chart positions			Label	Certifications	Album
		US	US R&B ^[21]	UK ^[22]
2003	"Sinnerman"	—	—	—		BPI: Silver	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.^[23]

Notes and References

1. Nina Simone Chart History: Billboard 200. Billboard. March 14, 2021.
2. Nina Simone Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Billboard. March 14, 2021.
3. Nina Simone Chart History: Jazz Albums. Billboard. March 14, 2021.
4. Web site: Nina Simone Chart History: Official Charts. Official Charts. September 11, 2021.
5. Web site: Australian Charts. Hung Medien. September 11, 2021.
6. Web site: Dutch Charts. September 11, 2021.
7. Web site: Les Charts. September 11, 2021.
8. Australia. Nina Simone. 2005. September 11, 2021.
9. United Kingdom. Nina Simone. May 23, 2023.
10. France. Nina Simone. album. infodisc. September 11, 2021.
11. Germany. Nina Simone. 27 June 2024.
12. Book: Whitburn, Joel. 2003. Top Pop Singles 1955-2002. 1st. Record Research Inc.. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. 0-89820-155-1. 643. registration.
13. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Joel Whitburn . 1996 . Record Research . 402.
14. Book: Betts, Graham. 2004. Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004. 1st. Collins. London. 0-00-717931-6. 703.
15. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Joel Whitburn . 1996 . Record Research . 402.
16. Book: Betts, Graham. 2004. Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004. 1st. Collins. London. 0-00-717931-6. 703.
17. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Joel Whitburn . 1996 . Record Research . 402.
18. Book: Betts, Graham. 2004. Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004. 1st. Collins. London. 0-00-717931-6. 703.
19. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Joel Whitburn . 1996 . Record Research . 402.
20. Book: Betts, Graham. 2004. Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004. 1st. Collins. London. 0-00-717931-6. 703.
21. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Joel Whitburn . 1996 . Record Research . 402.
22. Book: Betts, Graham. 2004. Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004. 1st. Collins. London. 0-00-717931-6. 703.
23. https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/ain't-got-no-i-got-life/