Is Let It All Out a good place to start with Nina Simone?

Yes, Let It All Out is recommended as a starting point for new Nina Simone listeners. A poignant blend of blues, jazz, and gospel that showcases Simone's emotive vocals and compelling storytelling. Released in 1965, Let It All Out arrived shortly after Nina Simone's breakout success with her album I Put a Spell on You. This record marked her transition into a more introspective phase, highlighting her ability to convey deep emotional truths through music during a time of social change.

Who is Let It All Out for?

Let It All Out works well if you're into intimate reflective listening sessions, emotional depth and resonance and short, poignant musical moments.

How many songs are on Let It All Out?

Let It All Out has 11 tracks, running approximately 37 minutes.

Let It All Out

Nina Simone · 1965

37 min · 11 tracks · blues

A poignant blend of blues, jazz, and gospel that showcases Simone's emotive vocals and compelling storytelling.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Mood Indigo Start here — This track opens the album with a haunting arrangement that highlights Simone's unique vocal timbre, setting a reflective tone that permeates the entire record.
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Don’t Explain — The song's intimate narrative captures the pain of infidelity, showcasing Simone's ability to convey vulnerability while maintaining a sense of dignity.
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The Ballad of Hollis Brown — This powerful cover transforms a stark narrative into a poignant commentary on poverty and despair, reflecting Simone's commitment to social issues through her art.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

72 /100

Alpine

Higher than 95% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong emotional storytelling through its composition and distinctive vocal style.

What we noticed

The album opens with a slow tempo on 'Mood Indigo' and maintains a reflective pace throughout, rarely shifting to an upbeat rhythm.
Simone's vocal delivery often features long, drawn-out phrases that emphasize emotional weight, particularly in tracks like 'The Other Woman' and 'Don’t Explain'.
Several tracks incorporate sparse instrumentation, allowing Simone's voice to dominate the soundscape, such as in 'Chauffeur' and 'For Myself'.
The final track, 'Nearer Blessed Lord', serves as a gospel-inflected conclusion, contrasting with the more secular themes of earlier songs.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

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

intimate reflective listening sessions
emotional depth and resonance
short, poignant musical moments
contemplative late-night vibes

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Critical Peak — Represents a significant artistic transition with emotional depth and introspection.
Themes: civil rights struggle· intimate heartbreak· poverty and despair
Moods: Introspective· Romantic
Career context: Released in 1965, Let It All Out arrived shortly after Nina Simone's breakout success with her album I Put a Spell on You. This record marked her transition into a more introspective phase, highlighting her ability to convey deep emotional truths through music during a time of social change.
Stylistic neighbors: Billie Holiday· Ella Fitzgerald· Aretha Franklin