"Nina Simone in Concert" is a live album by the American singer, pianist, and songwriter Nina Simone. This album was released in 1964, and it was won via the Philips Records label.
The album is noted for the debut of three of Nina Simone's civil rights songs. Interestingly, these songs marked her transition from jazz and blues to more diverse genres, addressing social and racial commentary. The songs were "Old Jim Crow," "Mississippi Goddam," and "Go Limp."
"Mississippi Goddam," written in response to the 1963 assassination of Medgar Evers and the Birmingham church bombing that killed four young African-American girls, became one of Simone's most famous protest songs.
This album included an annotation by Nina herself, which was unusual for a live album. This was her first album for Philips, and she was contractually obliged to make a record for her new label. The album was mainly recorded at Carnegie Hall, New York City, in March and April 1964, apart from the last track, which was recorded in 1961.
"Nina Simone in Concert" is an exemplification of Nina Simone's musical prowess and her contribution to the Civil Rights Movement, making it an essential part of her discography.
