Bel Enfant Noir / Prendre Le Vent: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A 45 rpm record of Nina Simone's single "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black" as recorded by French singer Christine Lebail, with a letter to Andy Stroud from Ivan Mogull asking for Simone's written praise.

The vinyl record (a) has a pink and white label at the center, one side reading [FACE A / Prendre Le Vent] and the other reading [FACE B / BEL ENFANT NOIR 2'45 / Musique de Nina Simone / Parole de Frank Gérald / CHRISTINE LEBAIL]. A red "X" has been added by hand on either side of the Side B label. The record album sleeve (b) features a headshot of Lebail set against an orange background with [christine / LEBAIL / BEL ENFANT NOIR / PRENDRE LE VENT] in white text on the left side. The back of the sleeve features black text on a yellow background with [CHRISTINE LEBAIL] across the top and lyrics for "Prendre Le Vent" on the left and "Bel Enfant Noir" on the right. A red "X" has been added by hand on either side of the text [BEL ENFANT NOIR]. At the bottom is the copyright notice [1971 BAGATELLE - 10, rue Washington - Paris 8]. At top right is [disc AZ] logo.

The letter (c) is a single sheet of [ivan mogull music corporation] letterhead and is printed on one side in black typewritten ink. It is dated [November 8, 1971] and addressed to [Mr. Andy Stroud / Stroud Productions]. At center is written [Re: "TO BE YOUNG, GIFTED & BLACK" / Music by Nina Simone / Lyrics by Wildon J. Irvine]. The content of the letter states that a copy of the album is enclosed and that [our associate in France] has asked that Nina comment on the recording that [she likes it very much; thanking her for recording the song in French]. The letter is signed at the bottom [Cordially, / Ivan Mogull]. There are no markings on the back.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1971
• Recorded by: Christine Lebail, French
• Subject of: Nina Simone, American, 1933 - 2003
• Type: record covers
• Type: 45 rpm records
• Medium: vinyl with ink on paper (fiber product)
• Dimensions: H x W (album sleeve): 7 × 7 in. (17.8 × 17.8 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (letter): 11 × 8 1/2 in. (27.9 × 21.6 cm)
• Place made: Paris, France, Europe
• Place used: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Business
• Topic: Composers (Musicians)
• Topic: Popular music
• Topic: Race relations
• Topic: Rhythm and blues (Music)
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Topic: Soul (Music)
• Object number: 2011.132.8.1ab
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © 1971 Bagatelle Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.