Nina Simone - Silk & Soul [Red Holland Import]

Nina Simone brought fire and grace in equal measure to Silk & Soul, her 1967 album for RCA, presented here as a limited edition 180 gram red vinyl Holland import.

By the late 1960s, Simone had become one of the most powerful voices of the civil rights era, and this record captures her moving freely between pop standards, gospel-tinged soul and pointed social commentary. Her classical training and deep jazz roots shine through every arrangement, giving even familiar songs a sense of drama and depth.

The album's crowning moment is "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free," an uplifting freedom anthem that became one of her signature songs. Her take on Burt Bacharach's "The Look of Love" is sultry and slow-burning, while "Go to Hell" is a fierce, gospel-charged warning delivered with total conviction. "It Be's That Way Sometime" opens the record with bluesy, horn-laced swagger.

Simone's voice moves effortlessly from a hushed whisper to a commanding roar, and her piano playing adds a restless, rhythmic spark to every song.

It is a vital piece of her catalogue and a gorgeous listen, a reminder of why her music still feels so urgent and alive. On red vinyl, it makes a handsome addition to any collection.