NINA SIMONE-LET IT ALL OUT: SELECTED SINGLES 1961-1978.

dereksmusicblog ♦ October 30, 2025 ♦ 1 Comment

Nina Simone-Let It All Out: Selected Singles 1961-1978.

Label: Ace.

Format: CD.

Release Date: 31st October 2025.

Nina Simone’s recording career began at Bethlehem Records in 1957 when she started recording tracks that would eventually feature on her debut album. The tracks were recorded during two sessions for a flat fee, with Simone not receiving any royalties. However, it wasn’t until 1959 that Simone released her debut album‘Little Girl Blue’ on Bethlehem Records. 

By then, Simone had signed to Colpix Records and released ‘Chilly Winds Don’t Blow’ as a single. It failed to trouble the charts.

Meanwhile Bethlehem Records released ‘I Loves You, Porgy’ as a single. It was taken from the album ‘Little Girl Blue,’ and reached number eighteen in the US Billboard 100 and number two in the US R&B charts. However, never again would Simone enjoy the same commercial success. That’s despite releasing singles to widespread critical acclaim.

Singles by Simone would be released by both Bethlehem Records and Colpix Records until she signed to Phillips in 1963.

Singles released by Bethlehem Records, Colpix Records, Phillips and RCA Victor feature on ‘Let It All Out: Selected Singles 1961-1978,’ a new compilation which will be released by Ace on 31st October 2025. It focuses specifically on the soulful singles Simone released for these four labels between 1961 and 1978.

There’s three singles that Simone released on Colpix Records on the compilation. They were all released in 1961. This included a cover Oscar Brown’s ‘Work Song’ and ‘Gin House Blues’ from ‘Forbidden Fruit,’ Simone’s sophomore album for Colpix Records. Despite the quality of singles neither single was a commercial success. It was case of deja vu when ‘Come On Back, Jack’ was released later in 1961. 

In 1962, the High Priestess of Soul of released a cover of the jazz standard ‘My Baby Just Cares for Me’ on Bethlehem Records. This future classic failed to trouble the charts. Nowadays, it’s regarded as one of Simone’s finest recordings.

The following year, 1963, Simone signed to Philips in the US. She released seven albums between 1963 and 1966, and they enjoyed a degree of success. 

However, the singles Simone released on Philips weren’t as successful. The exception was the mesmeric ‘I Put a Spell on You’ which reached number twenty-three on the US R&B charts in 1964. Across the Atlantic, the single reached forty-nine in the UK. This was the first of seven hit singles Simone enjoyed in the UK.

The following year, 1965, the double-A-side ‘Either Way I Lose’ and Break Down and ‘Let It All Out’ which were both written by Van McCoy was released. However, despite the quality of the two soulful sides they failed to chart.

Things didn’t get any better in 1966 when ‘Don’t You Pay Them No Mind,’ a track from Simone’s critically acclaimed album ‘High Priestess of Soul’ was released as a single. It too failed to chart and later in 1966, Simone left Philips. 

After leaving Phillips in 1966, Simone signed to RCA Victor. She and her husband Andy Stroud, who was also her manager, set up Stroud Productions and negotiated a deal where Simone’s recordings would be released by RCA Victor for the foreseeable future.

The High Priestess of Soul would spend nearly eight years signed to RCA Victor. During this period, Simone released nine albums and seventeen singles on RCA Victor.  For much of this period, commercial success eluded her in the US. However, in the UK Simone enjoyed a degree of success.

Simone’s first single released on RCA Victor was the poppy sounding ‘Day and Night.’ It was released in 1967 but again, commercial success eluded Simone. Included on the compilation is the B-side, the tough and sensual blues ‘Do I Move You?’ Both tracks feature on ‘Nina Simone Sings the Blues’ which was released in 1967, and reached twenty-nine on the US R&B charts.  

Two other singles were released by RCA Victor during 1967. This included ‘It Be’s That Way Sometime’ ’ However, it failed to chart. 

When ‘Ain’t Got No, I Got Life’ was released later in 1967 it was hailed as a black anthem. It reached number ninety-four on  US Billboard 100, number two in the UK and topped the chart in the Netherland. However, the single isn’t included on the compilation. Instead, the B-Side ‘Real Real,’ a track from ‘Nina Simone Sings the Blues’ is included.

Meanwhile, Simone’s second album for Philips ‘Silk and Soul’ reached 158 on the US Billboard 100 and twenty-four on the US R&B charts. Simone’s albums were faring better than most of her singles.

Four of the singles Simone released during 1968 feature on the compilation. This included ‘To Love Somebody.’ Although it failed to chart in the US, it reached number five in the UK. This was the High Priestess of Soul’s second hit single in Britain.

When ‘Why? (The King Of Love Is Dead)’ was released as a single, it too failed to trouble the charts. However, when  ‘Do What You Gotta Do’ was released, it reached eighty-three on the US Billboard 100, forty-three on the US R&B charts and reached number two in the UK. It was Simone’s biggest hit in the UK, where her popularity was on the rise.

Then when ‘Ain’t Go No; I Got Life’ was released, it reached ninety-four and number two in the UK. It’s the UK single version that’s included on the compilation.

In 1969, Simone covered Leonard Cohen’s classic ‘Suzanne.’ It’s given a makeover on the album ‘Nina Simone and Piano.’ Just like the single it failed to chart. This is a disappointing cover. Especially when compared to Cohen’s original and Judy Collins’ 1967 cover version which are both classics. 

Much better is ‘Revolution (Pt 1)’ which was written by Simone and Weldon Irvine. It reached forty-one on the US R&B charts. However,  Simone’s finest single of 1969 was ‘To Be Young, Gifted and Black.’ It was taken from her album ‘Black Gold.’ This anthemic track reached seventy-six on the US Billboard 100 and eight on the US R&B charts. On the B-side was ’Save Me’ a non album track penned by Curtis Ousley with Aretha and Carolyn Franklyn. It’s a sultry, soulful hidden gem

In 1970, Simone covered Willie Dixon’s ‘Whatever I Am (You Made Me).’ It was given a soulful makeover but failed to chart.

Then in 1971, the cinematic and soulful sounding ‘O-o-h Child’ was released by Simone. Despite a much more commercial sound, the single didn’t trouble the charts. That had been the story of much of Nina Simone’s time at RCA Victor.

Seven years later, in 1978, RCA Victor released ‘Baltimore’ as a single. This is the only late period single from Simone’s career. It’s slow, funky and soulful with lush strings playing their part in the sound of what’s an oft-overlooked hidden gem. It’s one of the highlights of ‘Let It All Out: Selected Singles 1961-1978.’

Several hundred Nina Simone compilations have been released over the past sixty-six years. However, very few of these compilations focus on the soulful side of her music. ‘Let It All Out: Selected Singles 1961-1978’ does. It features twenty-four tracks that span Simone’s time at Bethlehem Records, Colpix Records, Philips and RCA Victor. These tracks are a reminder of the High Priestess of Soul during her early, middle and later periods. 

Although Simone didn’t enjoy massive commercial success she’s regarded one of the most important and influential singer and songwriters of the twentieth century. Her albums featured everything from jazz, soul, R&B, blues, gospel and pop. Twenty-two years after her death on April ‘21st,’ 2003 Nina Simone’s music continues to influence a new generation of singers and songwriters. That music was the legacy that the High Priestess of Soul left behind for future generations to enjoy. This includes the twenty-four tracks on ‘Let It All Out: Selected Singles 1961-1978.’

Nina Simone-Let It All Out: Selected Singles 1961-1978.