billie holiday S/D

I used to have that ten-CD box set of the complete Columbia recordings. Die-hard Billie Holiday collectors will want it, but the only alternate take that really challenges the master take is the third take of "All Of Me" (located somewhere towards the end of the set). It was actually the preferred take, but it ran for 3 minutes and 48 seconds which was considered too long for a 78rpm disc at the time. Fortunately they saved it, but it didn't see the light of day until 1980 when it was released on the Columbia LP The Lester Young Story Vol. 5 (C2 34849). The remote/live stuff on that ten-CD box set is great too - I haven't checked, but given the nature of those recordings, it wouldn't surprise me if they were re-issued elsewhere.

Outside of what I just mentioned, the master takes are really the essential recordings, IMHO, and that box set Brad mentioned will do the trick. It's much more affordable and the mastering's better as the EQ applied to the ten-CD box set is a bit thin and bright.

“I love him.”—Cher Horowitz

LOL, yeah, I remember Clueless.

Just noticed that there are very few posts in this 13-year old thread, the second of which is "no one here likes billie holiday?" from the thread-starter. I'm not even sure I know anyone who really listens to Holiday outside of regular jazz listeners, but whatever, she's part of that Holy Trinity of jazz vocalists, along with Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. There are other great singers of course, but those three very different singers get the most plaudits for good reason.

The Decca stuff is also good, as are the handful of recordings she made with Commodore (where she recorded "Strange Fruit" when Columbia was too scared about upsetting the South to release it). But absolutely check out the Verve recordings - in total, they rival her work on the Columbia-owned labels. Her voice never had the physical advantages Fitzgerald or Vaughan had, and that was more true in her later years, but her phrasing and sense of rhythm on those studio recordings for Verve was even more impressive.

Lady In Satin is perfect - particularly in November. How have I only just realised that it's Mal Waldron on piano on this?

I've just ordered the Lady In Autumn (a Verve collection) and have my eye on the Outtakes and Singles Brad mentions above.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/nov/06/billie-holiday-documentary-lost-tapes-racism-in-united-states

Really worth seeing.
Though I just want to hear more of the interviews.

Wow

Mal Waldron had a huge nervous breakdown after she died (he had a serious drug problem as well iirc), and no doubt got the usual tlc from US mental health services of that era. After which he couldn't even play the piano any more, it's quite a remarkable story of downfall and recovery.

Wow, I didn't know that story, that is remarkable.

I've had Lady in Autumn for about as long as I've been collecting CDs, but honestly you might just as well go for this. All those latter day albums are the best music ever recorded imo.

https://http2.mlstatic.com/D_NQ_NP_726446-MLC28467346368_102018-O.jpg

I got the Autumn double CD set in the end and yep, best music ever made.

"Lady In Satin is perfect - particularly in November."

works for me

^To state the obvious, still perfect in December. Just scored a sweetly priced nice '69 Dutch pressing

so I can only guess as to wtf is going on but I imagine someone at Universal Music noticed this amateur remix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev4dgDPXI8A
billie holiday - solitude (slowed + reverb)

and saw money to be made and made an official "Verve" release of this in Billie's name

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7j73IPKffE
Solitude (Slowed + Reverb)

or maybe it's some tiktok thing I'm not aware of

what a time...