Folksy Nina
Nina Simone · 1964
40 min · 8 tracks · blues
A rich tapestry of folk, blues, and jazz woven together through Nina Simone's soulful vocals and poignant storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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When I Was a Young Girl — This track highlights Simone's emotive vocal delivery and storytelling prowess, capturing themes of nostalgia and reflection that resonate throughout the album.
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You Can Sing a Rainbow / Hush Little Baby — This medley showcases Simone's versatility by blending children's songs with profound emotional weight, demonstrating her unique ability to evoke deep feelings through simple melodies.
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Silver City Bound Start here — The opening track sets the tone for the album, combining rhythmic storytelling with Simone's distinctive vocal style, embodying the essence of her folk-inspired direction.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases Nina Simone's unique blend of folk and blues, highlighted by her powerful vocals and storytelling.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a driving rhythm in 'Silver City Bound', establishing a lively pace that continues through the first half.
- Tracks like 'When I Was a Young Girl' and 'Erets Zavat Chalav' feature rich vocal harmonies layered over minimal instrumentation, emphasizing Simone's voice.
- The final track combines two songs into one medley, creating a reflective conclusion that contrasts with the earlier upbeat tempos.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing for reflective moments
- rich storytelling with emotional depth
- soulful melodies for quiet evenings
- inviting warmth for intimate gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer high-energy, fast-paced music
- seek standalone hits over flow
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — Represents a shift to folk, showcasing a diverse repertoire during her career transition.
- Themes
- nostalgic reflection· childhood innocence· folk storytelling
- Moods
- Introspective· Nostalgic
- Career context
- Released in 1964, Folksy Nina came during a time when Nina Simone was transitioning into a more diverse repertoire following her earlier breakout success with albums like Little Girl Blue in 1958. This album reflects her artistic growth as she explored the intersections of folk music with her signature jazz and blues influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Billie Holiday· Ella Fitzgerald· Aretha Franklin
Tracklist
- 1 Silver City Bound Start here 5:08
- 2 When I Was a Young Girl 5:57
- 3 Erets Zavat Chalav 4:25
- 4 Lass of the Low Country 6:15
- 5 The Young Night 5:25
- 6 Twelfth of Never 3:33
- 7 Vanetihu 2:27
- 8 You Can Sing a Rainbow / Hush Little Baby 7:11
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Lady in Satin
Billie Holiday
Shares deep emotional storytelling and lush orchestration, blending jazz with a reflective tone.
Songs of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Presents poignant lyrical themes and folk influences, evoking nostalgia and introspection.
Blue
Joni Mitchell
Combines folk and jazz elements with intimate storytelling and a focus on emotional vulnerability.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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