Nina Simone – Black Gold

Black Gold is a live album by Nina Simone, released in 1970, capturing the full expressive and political force of the artist at a pivotal moment in her career.

Recorded in New York in late 1969, the album blends powerful renditions of established repertoire with new material that reflects the urgent social and political climate of the time. A central piece of the recording is Simone’s performance of “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” dedicated to the memory of writer Lorraine Hansberry and soon to become an anthem of the African-American civil rights movement. Throughout the album, Nina Simone moves seamlessly between jazz, soul, gospel and blues, wielding her voice and piano as tools of resistance and affirmation. Black Gold stands as a vivid document of her live presence — commanding, emotional and fully aware of music’s potential as an agent of change.