Forbidden Fruit
Nina Simone · 1961
78 min · 21 tracks · blues
A rich tapestry of jazz, blues, and gospel that showcases Simone's powerful voice and emotional depth.
Top tracks — play these first
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Rags and Old Iron Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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No Good Man — This track features an infectious groove and highlights Simone's dynamic vocal delivery, capturing her struggles with love and betrayal that resonate throughout the album.
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Forbidden Fruit — The title track elegantly intertwines lush instrumentals with Simone's heartfelt vocals, embodying the themes of desire and longing that permeate the album.
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I Love to Love — A vibrant expression of joy and affection, this song showcases Simone's versatility while adding a lively contrast to the more somber tracks on the album.
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Work Song — Simone's interpretation brings a haunting beauty to this classic, emphasizing resilience amidst hardship—an evocative reflection of her personal narrative.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Simone's powerful vocals and varied arrangements create a compelling yet uneven listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a strong, rhythmic piano line in 'Rags and Old Iron' that sets a bluesy tone for the record.
- Several tracks feature Simone's voice accompanied by minimal instrumentation, allowing her vocal delivery to take center stage.
- The final track, 'Od Yesh Homa', features a distinct shift in style, incorporating elements of world music that contrast with earlier tracks.
- 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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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
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
- fragmented pacing for varied moods
- late-night introspection with depth
- sing-along moments with friends
- bittersweet reflections on love
- playful yet soulful expressions
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy dance tracks
- prefer straightforward radio singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Helped establish Simone's reputation and showcased her emotional depth.
- Themes
- forbidden desire· love and betrayal· resilience in hardship
- Career context
- Released in January 1961, Forbidden Fruit was Nina Simone's fifth studio album during a period of artistic growth following her breakout success with 'I Put a Spell on You' in 1965. This album further solidified her reputation as a versatile artist capable of blending genres while addressing complex themes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Billie Holiday· Ella Fitzgerald· Aretha Franklin
Tracklist
- 1 Rags and Old Iron Start here 4:09
- 2 No Good Man 3:39
- 3 Gin House Blues 3:04
- 4 I’ll Look Around 5:04
- 5 I Love to Love 3:24
- 6 Work Song 2:35
- 7 Where Can I Go Without You? 2:52
- 8 Just Say I Love Him 6:35
- 9 Memphis in June 2:39
- 10 Forbidden Fruit 3:47
- 11 Porgy I Is Your Woman Now 3:27
- 12 Baubles, Bangles and Beads 4:04
- 13 Gimme a Pigfoot 2:17
- 14 Ev’rytime We Say Goodbye 3:27
- 15 Spring Is Here 3:57
- 16 Lonesome Valley 3:41
- 17 Golden Earrings 4:47
- 18 My Ship 3:34
- 19 ’Tain’t Nobody’s Biz-Ness If I Do 4:40
- 20 Try a Little Tenderness 3:22
- 21 Od Yesh Homa 3:12
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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