Recorded in New York in 1967, Silk & Soul is Nina Simone’s second album for RCA. Despite arrangements that don’t always best suit her voice, this album does contain classics “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free”, which would become a Civil Rights anthem and “It Be’s That Way Sometimes”, written by her brother Sam Waymon. “The Turning Point”‘ is a song that seems to be about a child making a new friend, but turns out to question the origins of racism.

Ms Simone also takes on Dusty Springfield by covering “The Look Of Love”, which was originally featured in the 1966 James Bond spoof Casino Royale. She’s greatly inspired by Mozart in the fugue-like “Consummation”.