Blues on a Holiday

From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD
Country blues stylist Rishell is too smart to affect the involved emotional urgencies of the prewar Delta bluesmen he regards with deep respect. Performing solo on nine cuts on his first recording, the Cambridge-based vocalist/guitarist addresses classic material by Tommy Johnson, Blind Blake, and others, with a sharp eye toward capturing the timelessness of themes such as anxiety in hard times and the urge to roam. Far less involving are several tracks with a Chicago-style band, where he sacrifices personality to generic partying -- © Frank John Hadley 1993

Blues on a Holiday,Paul Rishell,Tone Cool,Blues,Pop

Average customer rating: Traditional Christmas Music The quintessential Christmas recording A Top List Christmas CD The best How do you describe perfection?

A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw Chorale Robert Shaw Chorale Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Texas Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Piano | Blues | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Robert Shaw Chorale | ( R ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and Carols The Many Moods of Christmas (1963 RCA Victor Version) Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra Joy to the World - Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra A Festival of Carols in Brass A Robert Shaw Christmas - Angels on High ASIN: B000003EPA Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Medley: Good Christian Men - Rejoice - Silent Night - Patapan - O Come - All Ye Faithful
2. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
3. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
4. Shepherd's Carol
5. Go, Tell It On The Mountain
6. Medley: O Sanctissima - Joy To The World - Away In A Manger - Fum, Fum, Fum - March Of The Kings
7. I Wonder As I Wander
8. We Three Kings
9. My Dancing Day
10. Medley: What Child Is This? - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Bring A Torch - Jeanette - Isabella - Angels We Have Heard On High
11. Coventry Carol
12. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
13. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
14. Carol Of The Bells
15. Medley: Break Forth - O Beauteous Heavenly Light - The First Nowell - O Little Town Of Bethlehem - I Saw Three Ships - Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly

Customer Reviews:

Traditional Christmas Music .......2007-01-24

If you love traditional Christmas music, done in traditional style (i.e., no rock or jazz influence), this CD is for you. The Robert Shaw Chorale, the "gold standard" of quality choral music, sings much loved carols, with some lesser-known pieces as well. Some are a cappella; some include a full orchestral accompaniment. My favorites on this CD are "We Three Kings," "Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella," and "I Saw Three Ships."

The quintessential Christmas recording.......2005-12-09

This recording seems to elicit universal and heartfelt praise. Who am I to dispute that? The performance is terrific, just as described by the other Amazon reviewers, no doubt about it.

However, I do have one bone to pick with this recording. There just isn't enough of it. With material as good as this, that is a real loss!

A Top List Christmas CD.......2004-12-28

I bought this cd long ago, and have enjoyed it immensely each year. It is the perfect blend of celebration and meditation. Orchestra and choir combine in four distinct groupings, and a capella arrangements complete the masterful collection. The orchestral arrangements will make the hairs on your neck stand up, and your stomach quiver with all the excitement you ever felt as a child at Christmas. Adeste Fidelis is performed as few other ensembles have ever come close. The a capella arrangements will all, without exception, be on your yearly list of must-hear holiday arrangements. Truly a top list Christmas CD, essential for every family who celebrates this feast.

The best.......2004-01-02

I own approximately 35 Christmas choral CDs - including choirs and groups such as the Cambridge Singers and the King Singers. I also own two Christmas albums with Robert Shaw and the Atlantic symphony. This performance with the Robert Shaw Chorale is old but it is still my favorite. The arrangements are magnificent, the sound is brilliant, and the choir and orchestra are precise with wonderful volume control. Buy and enjoy!

How do you describe perfection?.......2003-12-14

This is my favorite Christmas CD. Nothing comes close. I thoroughly enjoyed learning much of the music in high school choir over 30 years ago. The music has never left me. The four medleys are the arrangements of Robert Russell Bennett titled "The Many Moods of Christmas". The arrangements seem to have a freshness about them even after listening numerous times.

Interspersed with the medleys are a cappella carols.

All of this music is wonderfully performed by the Robert Shaw Chorale, the a cappella selections recorded in 1957 and the medleys in 1963.

Four decades have proven that this is the standard in choral music. The clarity of text, the richness of tone, the beauty of harmony combine to present the message of Christmas in the manner that only music can do.

These words are no surprise to those familiar with choral music in the United States. If you are not so familiar, but would like to enjoy Christmas music at its most beautiful, you can do no better than acquiring this CD.

Average customer rating: Much Anticipated A Taste of Heaven The Energizer Bunny Great Seasonal Album The Most Beautiful Sounds I Have Ever Heard

Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and Carols Robert Shaw , and Robert Shaw Chamber Singers Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Texas Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Piano | Blues | Styles | Music All Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Holiday Music | Miscellaneous | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Holiday Music | Miscellaneous | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Easy Listening | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music $7 - $10 | Today's Deals | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw Chorale A Robert Shaw Christmas - Angels on High O Come All Ye Faithful: Christmas Carols at King's College, Cambridge A Festival of Carols in Brass The Many Moods of Christmas (1963 RCA Victor Version) Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra ASIN: B000003D0G Release Date: 1994-10-18

Tracks:

1. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
2. Angels We Have Heard On High
3. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
4. How Unto Bethlehem?
5. The Boar's Head Carol
6. O Tannenbaum
7. Masters In This Hall
8. My Dancing Day
9. Away In A Manger
10. Good Christian Men, Rejoice
11. The Holly And The Ivy
12. Good King Wenceslas
13. Wassail Song
14. Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella
15. Fum, Fum, Fum
16. Mary Had A Baby
17. Hacia Belen Va Un Borrico
18. Christ Was Born On Christmas Day
19. March Of The Kings
20. Coventry Carol
21. Deck The Halls
22. The Cherry Tree Carol
23. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
24. Toruo-Louro-Louro!
25. So Blest A Sight
26. I Saw Three Ships
27. What Child Is This?
28. Susanni
29. In The Bleak Midwinter

Customer Reviews:

Much Anticipated.......2007-01-26

I have been looking for this CD for years!! Our family had a Shaw Chorale LP which contained almost all the songs on this CD. We had a number of excellent holiday albums and played all of them often, but we wore the Shaw Chorale album out! Not only are the musical renditions excellent and very similar to earlier Shaw recordings, the nostalgia evoked for this listener is incomparable!

A Taste of Heaven.......2007-01-18

I received this recording on cassette from a choral teacher, and played it so often that I wore it out! I especially appreciate the purity of sound and the arrangements in this recording. Lovers of choral music will feel as though "Songs of Angels" brings them a taste of heaven!

The Energizer Bunny.......2007-01-18

Alas that Robert Shaw is no longer with us. Throughout his long and varied career he gave us choral music with exactness,good pacing,and proper execution though not all musicologists would chose his renditions.
In "Songs of Angels" recorded in 1994 he shows us that even in later years he just kept going and going. Giving us stellar performances of masterpieces such as "Elijah","The Creation" and other large choral works. Yet in this album he shows the same attention to detail and
enraptures us with that special beauty of tone and ensemble which was
was to be Shaw's watermark on his life's offering.

Great Seasonal Album.......2006-01-16

This is one of the most impressive period albums I own. Wonderful for the holiday season. Will miss it during the rest of the year.

The Most Beautiful Sounds I Have Ever Heard.......2003-02-04

A fluid and seamless piece of heaven that transcends all classical and holiday music. This is an OUTSTANDING non-traditional Holiday CD!!! Many voices come together as one in these enchanting verses sung in languages other than English. It is just enough language mix to appease and intrigue the soul but not too much so that the listener does not understand the lyrics. For example, the English verse is sung then a verse in German and then back to English. Emmanuel is written this way. Other languages include French (Angels we Have Heard on High) and even Catalan which is a dialect of Spain.

Several of the songs were not traditional Holiday songs (at least for my generation), yet they were intriguing to learn and now I feel I know them just like the traditional ones. This CD offers a healthy mix of traditional and non-traditional songs on this CD.

If you can picture the most beautiful sounds you have ever heard you can come close to the joy this CD will bring you. It is February and I can't stop listening to it. You will not regret purchasing it&the only regret you may have is not buying all of Robert Shaw's holiday CDs.

I am writing this review to share the joy with you!

Average customer rating: Great Music, Bad Layout The package Avoid at all costs a lot of stuff, but indispensable the best billie holiday...

The Complete Billie Holiday On Verve, 1945-1959 Billie Holiday Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic Female Vocal Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Box Sets | Stores | Music Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Box Sets | Stores | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia (1933-1944) The Complete Commodore Recordings The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books Billie Holiday: The Complete Decca Recordings Live Trane: The European Tours ASIN: B0000046P3 Release Date: 1993-03-09

Tracks:

1. Body And Soul - Billie Holiday
2. Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday
3. I Cried For You - Billie Holiday
4. Fine And Mellow - Billie Holiday
5. He's Funny That Way - Billie Holiday
6. The Man I Love - Billie Holiday
7. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You? - Billie Holiday
8. All Of Me - Billie Holiday
9. Billie's Blues (Aka I Love My Man) - Billie Holiday
10. Travelin' Light - Billie Holiday
11. He's Funny That Way - Billie Holiday
12. Norman Granz 'Announcement' - Billie Holiday
13. You Better Go Now - Billie Holiday
14. You're Driving Me Crazy - Billie Holiday
15. There Is No Greater Love - Billie Holiday
16. I Cover The Waterfront - Billie Holiday
17. Norman Granz 'Announcement' - Billie Holiday
18. East Of The Sun - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
19. Blue Moon - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
20. You Go To My Head - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
21. You Turned The Tables On Me - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
22. Easy To Love - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
23. These Foolish Things - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
24. I Only Have Eyes For You - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
25. Solitude - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra

Tracks:

1. Everything I Have Is Yours - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
2. Love For Sale - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
3. Moonglow - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
4. Tenderly - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
5. If The Moon Turns Green - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
6. Remember - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
7. Autumn In New York (Common Take - LP) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
8. Autumn In New York (Rare Take - 78 RPM) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
9. My Man - Billie Holiday and Her Lads Of Joy
10. Lover, Come Back To Me - Billie Holiday and Her Lads Of Joy
11. Stormy Weather - Billie Holiday and Her Lads Of Joy
12. Yesterdays - Billie Holiday and Her Lads Of Joy
13. He's Funny That Way - Billie Holiday and Her Lads Of Joy
14. I Can't Face The Music - Billie Holiday and Her Lads Of Joy
15. MC and Leonard Feather 'Announcements' - Billie Holiday and Her Lads Of Joy
16. Blue Moon - Billie Holiday
17. All Of Me - Billie Holiday
18. My Man - Billie Holiday
19. Them There Eyes - Billie Holiday
20. I Cried For You - Billie Holiday
21. What A Little Moonlight Can Do - Billie Holiday
22. I Cover The Waterfront - Billie Holiday
23. Leonard Feather 'Announcement' - Billie Holiday
24. Billie's Blues (aka I Love My Man) - Billie Holiday

Tracks:

1. Lover, Come Back To Me - Billie Holiday
2. How Deep Is The Ocean? - Billie Holiday And Her Band
3. What A Little Moonlight Can Do - Billie Holiday And Her Band
4. I Cried For You - Billie Holiday And Her Band
5. Love Me Or Leave Me - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
6. P.S. I Love You - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
7. Too Marvelous For Words - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
8. Softly - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
9. I Thought About You - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
10. Willow Weep For Me - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
11. Stormy Blues - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
12. Say It Isn't So - Billie Holiday
13. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Billie Holiday
14. I Wished On The Moon - Billie Holiday
15. Always - Billie Holiday
16. Everything Happens To Me - Billie Holiday
17. Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me - Billie Holiday
18. Ain't Misbehavin' - Billie Holiday

Tracks:

1. Nice Work If You Can Get It - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
2. Discussion; Nice Work If You Can Get It - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
3. Mandy Is Two - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
4. Prelude To A Kiss - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
5. I Must Have That Man! - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
6. Jeepers Creepers - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
7. Jeepers Creepers - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
8. Discussion/Jeepers Creepers - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
9. Discussion/Jeepers Creepers - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
10. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
11. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
12. Discussion/Moonlight In Vermont - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
13. Misery - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
14. Restless - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
15. Moonlight In Vermont - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
16. Everything Happens To Me - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
17. Discussion - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
18. I Don't Want To Cry Any More - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
19. I Don't Want To Cry Any More - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
20. Discussion/I Don't Want To Cry Any More - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
21. Everything Happens To Me - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
22. Discussion - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
23. When You Are Away, Dear - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
24. Discussion - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
25. It Had To Be You - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
26. The Mood That I'm In - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
27. Gone With The Wind - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
28. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
29. Discussion - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
30. A Sunbonnet Blue - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
31. (I Dont' Stand A) Ghost Of A Chance - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
32. Discussion - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
33. I'm Walkin' Though Heaven With You - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
34. Discussion - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
35. Just Friends - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
36. The Nearness Of You - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
37. Discussion - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
38. It's Too Hot For Words - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
39. They Say - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro
40. I Won't Believe It - Billie Holiday/Jimmy Rowles/Artie Shapiro

Tracks:

1. I Don't Want To Cry Any More (Take 1 - False Start) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
2. I Don't Want To Cry Any More (Take 2 - Master Take) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
3. Studio Talk: Prelude To A Kiss (Take 1 - False Start) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
4. Studio Talk: Prelude To A Kiss (Take 2 - Incomplete Take) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
5. Prelude To A Kiss (Take 3 - Master Take) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
6. (I Don't Stand A) Ghost Of A Chance - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
7. When Your Lover has Gone (Take 1 - Incomplete Take) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
8. Studio Talk: When Your Lover Has Gone (Take 2 - Incomplete Take) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
9. Studio Talk - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
10. When Your Lover Has Gone (Take 3 - Master Take) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
11. Gone With The Wind - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
12. Studio Talk - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
13. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
14. It Had To Be You - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
15. Studio Talk - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
16. Nice Work If You Can Get It - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
17. Come Rain Or Come Shine - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
18. I Got A Right To Sing The Blues - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
19. What's New? - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
20. A Fine Romance (Take 1 - Incomplete Take) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
21. A Fine Romance (Take 2 - Alternate Take) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
22. A Fine Romance (Take 3 - False Start) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
23. A Fine Romance (Take 4 - Incomplete Take) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
24. A Fine Romance (Take 5 - Incomplete Take) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
25. A Fine Romance (Take 6 - False Start) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
26. A Fine Romance (Take 7 - Incomplete Take) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
27. A Fine Romance (Take 8 - Master Take) - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
28. Studio Talk - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
29. I Hadn't Anyone Till You - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra

Tracks:

1. I Get A Kick Out Of You - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
2. Everything I Have Is Yours - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
3. Isn't This A Lovely Day? - Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra
4. Discussion/Misery - Billie Holiday
5. Israel - Billie Holiday
6. Misery - Billie Holiday
7. Discussion - Billie Holiday
8. I Must Have That Man! - Billie Holiday
9. Discussion - Billie Holiday
10. Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday
11. Discussion: God Bless The Child - Billie Holiday
12. Discussion - Billie Holiday
13. God Bless The Child - Billie Holiday
14. God Bless The Child - Billie Holiday
15. Discussion - Billie Holiday
16. God Bless The Child - Billie Holiday
17. One Never Knows, Does One? - Billie Holiday
18. Discussion - Billie Holiday
19. Beer Barrel Polka (Aka Roll Out The Barrel) - Billie Holiday
20. Some Of These Days - Billie Holiday
21. A Yiddishe Momme - Billie Holiday
22. A Yiddishe Momme - Billie Holiday
23. Discussion - Billie Holiday
24. Lady's Back In Town - Billie Holiday
25. Discussion - Billie Holiday
26. Discussion - Billie Holiday
27. One Never Knows, Does One? - Billie Holiday
28. Discussion - Billie Holiday
29. (Unknown Title) - Billie Holiday

Tracks:

1. Travelin' Light - Billie Holiday/Tony Scott And His Orchestra
2. I Must Have That Man! - Billie Holiday/Tony Scott And His Orchestra
3. Some Other Spring - Billie Holiday/Tony Scott And His Orchestra
4. Lady Sings The Blues - Billie Holiday/Tony Scott And His Orchestra
5. Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday/Tony Scott And His Orchestra
6. God Bless The Child - Billie Holiday/Tony Scott And His Orchestra
7. Good Morning Heartache - Billie Holiday/Tony Scott And His Orchestra
8. No Good Man - Billie Holiday/Tony Scott And His Orchestra
9. Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me - Billie Holiday
10. Cheek To Cheek - Billie Holiday
11. Ill Wind - Billie Holiday
12. Speak Low - Billie Holiday
13. We'll Be Together Again - Billie Holiday
14. All Or Nothing At All - Billie Holiday
15. Sophisticated Lady - Billie Holiday
16. April In Paris - Billie Holiday

Tracks:

1. Lady Sings The Blues (With Reading From 'Lady Sings The Blues') - Billie Holiday/Gilbert Millstein
2. Lady Sings The Blues - Billie Holiday
3. Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do - Billie Holiday
4. Travelin' Light (With Reading From 'Lady Sings The Blues') - Billie Holiday/Gilbert Millstein
5. Reading From 'Lady Sings The Blues' - Gilbert Millstein
6. Billie's Blues (Aka I Love My Man) - Billie Holiday
7. Body and Soul - Billie Holiday
8. Reading From 'Lady Sings The Blues' - Gilbert Millstein
9. Don't Explain - Billie Holiday
10. Yesterdays - Billie Holiday
11. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone - Billie Holiday
12. I'll Be Seeing You - Billie Holiday
13. Reading From 'Lady Sings The Blues' - Gilbert Millstein
14. My Man - Billie Holiday
15. I Cried For You - Billie Holiday
16. Fine And Mellow - Billie Holiday
17. I Cover The Waterfront - Billie Holiday
18. What A Little Moonlight Can Do - Billie Holiday
19. I Wished On The Moon - Billie Holiday
20. Moonlight In Vermont - Billie Holiday
21. A Foggy Day (Stereo) - Billie Holiday
22. I Didn't Know What Time It Was - Billie Holiday
23. Just One Of Those Things (Take 7 - Incomplete Take) - Billie Holiday
24. Studio Talk - Billie Holiday
25. Just One Of Those Things (Take 8 - Master Take) - Billie Holiday
26. Studio Talk - Billie Holiday
27. Comes Love (Take 1 - Alternate Take) - Billie Holiday
28. Comes Love (Take 2 - False Start) - Billie Holiday
29. Comes Love (Take 3 - False Start) - Billie Holiday
30. Comes Love (Take 4 - Master Take) - Billie Holiday

Tracks:

1. Day In, Day Out (Stereo) - Billie Holiday
2. Darn That Dream - Billie Holiday
3. But Not For Me - Billie Holiday
4. Body And Soul - Billie Holiday
5. Studio Talk - Billie Holiday
6. Just Friends (Instrumental) - Billie Holiday
7. Studio Talk - Billie Holiday
8. Stars Fell On Alabama (Take 1 - Incomplete Take) - Billie Holiday
9. Stars Fell On Alabama (Take 2 - Master Take) (Stereo) - Billie Holiday
10. Studio Talk: Say It Isn't So (Take 1 - Incomplete Take) - Billie Holiday
11. Say It Isn't So (Take 2 - Master Take) - Billie Holiday
12. Studio Talk: Our Love Is Here To Stay (Take 1 - False Start) - Billie Holiday
13. Our Love Is Here To Stay (Take 2 - Master Take) - Billie Holiday
14. Studio Talk: One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) (Take 1 - False Start) - Billie Holiday
15. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) (Take 2 - Incomplete Take) - Billie Holiday
16. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) (Take 3 - Master Take) - Billie Holiday
17. They Can't Take That Away From Me - Billie Holiday
18. Embraceable You - Billie Holiday
19. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off - Billie Holiday
20. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You? - Billie Holiday

Tracks:

1. Willis Conover Announcement - Willis conover
2. Johnny Mercer Announcement - Johnny Mercer
3. Fanfare From: Oh, Lady be Good - Billie Holiday/Mal Waldron/Joe Benjamin/Jo Jones
4. Nice Work If You Can Get it - Billie Holiday/Mal Waldron/Joe Benjamin/Jo Jones
5. Willow Weep For Me - Billie Holiday/Mal Waldron/Joe Benjamin/Jo Jones
6. My Man - Billie Holiday/Mal Waldron/Joe Benjamin/Jo Jones
7. Lover, Come Back To Me - Billie Holiday/Mal Waldron/Joe Benjamin/Jo Jones
8. Lady Sings The Blues - Billie Holiday/Mal Waldron/Joe Benjamin/Jo Jones
9. What A Little Moonlight Can Do - Billie Holiday/Mal Waldron/Joe Benjamin/Jo Jones
10. Fanfare From: Oh, Lady Be Good/Conover Announcement - Billie Holiday/Mal Waldron/Joe Benjamin/Jo Jones
11. Leonard Feather Announcement - Leonard Feather
12. I Wished On The Moon - Billie Holiday
13. Lover Man - Billie Holiday
14. All The Way - Billie Holiday
15. It's Not For Me To Say - Billie Holiday
16. I'll Never Smile Again - Billie Holiday
17. Just One More Chance - Billie Holiday
18. When It's Sleepy Time Down South - Billie Holiday/Ray Ellis And His Orchestra
19. Don't Worry 'Bout Me - Billie Holiday/Ray Ellis And His Orchestra
20. Sometimes I'm Happy - Billie Holiday/Ray Ellis And His Orchestra
21. You Took Advantage Of Me - Billie Holiday/Ray Ellis And His Orchestra
22. There'll Be Some Changes Made - Billie Holiday/Ray Ellis And His Orchestra
23. 'Deed I Do - Billie Holiday/Ray Ellis And His Orchestra
24. All Of You - Billie Holiday/Ray Ellis And His Orchestra
25. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home? - Billie Holiday/Ray Ellis And His Orchestra

Amazon.com

That's right: Ten CDs with everything Billie Holiday recorded on Verve Records between 1945 and her death in 1959--not only the songs, but concert introductions, some of the rehearsals, and between-take studio chatter, too. All of which makes for a definitive portrait of Lady Day in her final years. For a long time these recordings were disparaged because it was said her voice was no longer fine and mellow, "ravaged" by hard living, jail time, booze, and drugs. And there's no question that her later tone is darker, more brittle and unstable than it had been in the '30s--but somehow I find myself listening to this music more often than those Brunswick/Columbia or Decca sides, anyway. Like Frank Sinatra, who so often paid tribute to her influence, Holiday's artistry was never based on virtuosity; it was about interpretation, bringing out the emotions in a song and giving a personal reading. She never stopped doing that, and for all the "strange fruit" you'll find in this collection, it's a gold mine. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

Great Music, Bad Layout.......2005-11-25

My Five Star rating is for the music.

I am a long time Billie Holiday fan and love all of her music; it's taken many years, but I am confident that I have acquired virtually everything she ever recorded. Although I enjoy every period of her musical development, I am particularly fond of the tracks she recorded for Norman Granz on the Verve label in the 1950's. Naturally, I was thrilled when this box set was announced.

While I am grateful to have so complete a box set as Verve has issued here, I have severe problems with the way the material is presented. It's nice that they have released virtually everything in the Verve vaults, but in so doing they have included live performances, alternate takes, false starts, and even some rehearsals. That would have been fine with me, if they hadn't decided to place everything in strictly chronological order. We therefore get Lady Day's great studio sessions interspaced with live concert performances, chatter, rehearsals and incomplete takes, and the total effect makes for very poor continuity. It also makes the boxed set, on the whole, very difficult to enjoy.

A few of the live concert performances have never been released before, and I was thrilled to hear some "new" Billie Holiday. But the audio quality and Billie's performance varies greatly on the live material, and the result is very uneven. And the inclusion of the rehearsal material is questionable, even if you're a die-hard fan like me.

The 1955 rehearsal with Jimmie Rowles is particularly problematic. This session was released on an LP called Songs and Conversations shortly after Billie's death, and I was frankly surprised to find it included here. It consists of mostly drunken rambling conversation while Billie rehearses with her favorite and most sympathetic pianist. Some of the language is quite raunchy, although most of the discussion is hard to follow anyway, as the audio quality is particularly poor. The alternate studio takes are frequently annoying, especially when they include two or three false starts in a row, and the spoken intros by Norman Granz often included in the master takes are completely unnecessary. It would have worked so much better if they had simply separated the live concert material from the studio sessions and then saved the alternate takes, false starts and rehearsal material for the last couple of discs. It's a pity - I would love to be able to listen to all of Billie's wonderful 1950's studio sessions all the way through, without the distractions of the extra material. Happily, I see that Verve will release a new boxed set of just the studio masters in December 2005. Hopefully they will skip all the chatter (I don't need to hear Mr. Granz announce "All Or Nothing At All, take 5"). A great deal of expense and angst could have been avoided if the track layout for this set had simply been better thought out.

As for Billie's performances, there is not a bad moment in any of the studio recordings presented here, including the notorious three April 54 tracks that she later dismissed, complaining that the band was drunk. The musicians are all first rate throughout these sessions, and present her with the sympathetic backing she deserved and worked best with.

The package.......2005-02-10

In reference to the Dec 7th/2001 review by Michael Mccarthy:

I to bought this when it was originally released and aside from the collected songs and book - which cannot be faulted - the package was as Michael points out beautifully done - it did in fact win a Grammy (for the packaging and the way it was put together - all hardbound etc)- I had intended to buy this box set for my Daughter - however after having read Michael's review I chose not to pay the high cost given the packaging has been downgraded..Like Michael I cannot understand why they would have done this given the cost remains basically the same. If your looking at purchasing I would read Michael's review and then look for the original...

Avoid at all costs.......2004-01-30

This is one of the worst box sets ever released.

There is talking between virtually every track (on 7 or 8 of the 10 cds)(scores and scores of title and take numbers spoken, and respoken. The producer introducing tracks by title and making endlessly pointless studio remarks. (Of course the same uninteresting remark
each and every time you play the cd..)
Sometimes songs even stop after a single line is sung (or before). Then reslate, retitle and restart for
another 20 seconds.

Of course the (properly recorded) music itself is wonderful but it's impossible to fall into any kind of musical reverie
with the incessant interruptions (absolutely none of it worth hearing).
So if you like Billie Holiday for her *music* this isn't for you

In fact the box set is so utterly unplayable I rebought the music on individual cds so that I can actually listen to it.
I'm a big Billie fan, I already had all the music on vinyl before I bought the box set.
(Yes, even the very poor bootleg stuff that Verve bought to pad out the box set.)

Finally it's wildly overpriced, around 5/6 of the cd's are only for listening to once (and you might not even manage
that. Billie Holiday as a slurring rambling drunk is a big downer and
the record company might have shown her a little respect and kept the tapes in the vault.
Haven't they made enough off her yet? In the first place they only paid her a fee of $30-$100 per track for a buyout with
with no royalties ever.

In reality at least half the box set is actually unreleasable outtakes/rehearsal tapes - boxed up as full price cds.
The whole thing smacks of record company greed.

So there are only around 4 cds of real, properly recorded releasable master take music.
And these can be bought on 2 double cd sets (unfortunately only from Verve) without the talking between tracks.
Do yourself a favor and get these instead.

Oh yeah, and as if all this isn't enough bad news, they've jammed different sessions on to the same cd - so you get a handful of
prime Billie tracks followed by 40 minutes of amateur home recorded rehearsal talking on the same cd.
So what emerges is that there is only (I think) one single cd which is prime quality all the way through.
(Except for the stopping, retakes and talking between the takes which it also has..)

So get any other Billie Holiday box set than this - but get one!

Verve should be ashamed of themselves for ruining an incredible archive like this.
And making me feel so ripped off that I had to go to the trouble of writing this.
Thanks Amazon for the cheap therapy.

a lot of stuff, but indispensable.......2003-08-30

There are many rehearsal cuts in this box set, which may not be of interest to all listeners. Plus, there are many live performances recorded with less than ideal equipment.
That said, this is THE collection for those of us who love Billie's 1950s work. It's all here, and it's all wonderful - those who agree with Miles Davis that Lady Day's chief attribute during this decade was her rhythmic flexibility will be more than satisfied, and those who love her expressiveness will be more than amply rewarded.
The accompaniments are exemplary, featuring many of the greatest players of that Golden Era.
Plus, of course, she's singing some of the greatest songs ever written, and her attention to lyrics is beyond comparison.

She never had Ella's vocal range and flexibility and virtuosity (or her sweetness of sound); she never came close to Sarah's level of musicianship (or her richness of sound). But this set will convince you that Billie was the greatest of the great: to borrow from Virginia Woolf, among major jazz singers, Billie is the hardest to catch at the act of being great.

This is an important release. Miss it at your soul's peril.

the best billie holiday..........2002-02-26

so much has been said about the kind of vocalist she has turned into by the time she signed up with verve - a voice ravaged by ill fated romantic liaisons, drugs and alcohol...not to mention jail time.

what will ultimately make you favor this collection over her works with columbia, decca (her best - vocally) and commodore is one word - pathos. some of her previous material rerecorded for verve seem to have a more emotional pull - simply listen to "strangefruit" from her "the decca years" and the one found on this set. this collection covers her ENTIRE verve record stint - warts and all - some of them captured live (check out disc 10). never has the words "bonus tracks" been used more liberally, with one disc devoted entirely to her rehearsal sessions giving the listener a rare peek at a billie holiday at work. the book makes for a very interesting read. never has the color black been a more appropriate choice for packaging either. tip: if packaging means a lot to you, you're better off getting the american edition - the cd labels are more faithful copies of the various verve imprints than the ones on the european edition.

Average customer rating: Did they use CEDAR noise reduction on this set? If there is a "must", this is it ART! Just the most essential music of the 20th century Save money and buy the German set instead!

Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia (1933-1944) Billie Holiday Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic Female Vocal Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Cabaret | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Box Sets | Stores | Music Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Box Sets | Stores | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Box Sets | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Complete Billie Holiday On Verve, 1945-1959 Billie Holiday: The Complete Decca Recordings The Complete Commodore Recordings The Complete Verve Studio Master Takes The Commodore Master Takes ASIN: B00005Q47M Release Date: 2001-10-02

Tracks:

1. Your Mother's Son-In-Law
2. Riffin' The Scotch
3. I Wished On The Moon
4. What A Little Moonlight Can Do
5. Miss Brown To You
6. A Sunbonnet Blue
7. What A Night, What A Moon, What A Girl
8. I'm Painting The Town Red
9. It's Too Hot For Words
10. Twenty-Four Hours A Day
11. Yankee Doodle Never Went To Town
12. Eeny Meeny Miney Mo
13. If You Were Mine
14. These 'N' That 'N' Those
15. You Let Me Down
16. Spreadin' Rhythm Around
17. Life Begins When You're In Love
18. It's Like Reaching For The Moon
19. These Foolish Things
20. I Cried For You
21. Guess Who
22. Did I Remember?
23. No Regrets
24. Summertime
25. Billie's Blues

Tracks:

1. A Fine Romance
2. I Can't Pretend
3. One, Two, Button Your Shoe
4. Let's Call A Heart A Heart
5. Easy To Love
6. With Thee I Swing
7. The Way You Look Tonight
8. Who Loves You?
9. Pennies From Heaven
10. That's Life I Guess
11. I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Baby)
12. One Never Knows, Does One?
13. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
14. If My Heart Could Only Talk
15. Please Keep Me In Your Dreams
16. He Ain't Got Rhythm
17. This Year's Kisses
18. Why Was I Born
19. I Must Have That Man
20. The Mood That I'm In
21. You Showed Me The Way
22. Sentimental And Melancholy
23. My Last Affair

Tracks:

1. Carelessly
2. How Could You?
3. Moanin' Low
4. Where Is The Sun?
5. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
6. They Can't Take That Away From Me
7. I Don't Know If I'm Coming Or Going
8. Sun Showers
9. Yours And Mine
10. I'll Get By
11. Mean To Me
12. Foolin' Myself
13. Easy Living
14. I'll Never Be The Same
15. Me, Myself And I
16. A Sailboat In The Moonlight
17. Born To Love
18. Without Your Love
19. Getting Some Fun Out Of Life
20. Who Wants Love?
21. Trav'lin' All Alone
22. He's Funny That Way

Tracks:

1. Nice Work If You Can Get It
2. Things Are Looking Up
3. My Man
4. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
5. My First Impression Of You
6. When You're Smiling
7. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
8. If Dreams Come True
9. Now They Call It Swing
10. On The Sentimental Side
11. Back In Your Own Backyard
12. When A Woman Loves A Man
13. You Go To My Head
14. The Moon Looks Down And Laughs
15. If I Were You
16. Forget If You Can
17. Having Myself A Time
18. Says My Heart
19. I Wish I Had You
20. I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (And Throw Away The Key)
21. The Very Thought Of You
22. I Can't Get Started
23. I've Got A Date With A Dream
24. You Can't Be Mine (And Someone Else's Too)

Tracks:

1. Everybody's Laughing
2. Here It Is Tomorrow Again
3. Say It With A Kiss
4. April In My Heart
5. I'll Never Fail You
6. They Say
7. You're So Desirable
8. You're Gonna See A Lot Of Me
9. Hello, My Darling
10. Let's Dream In The Moonlight
11. That's All I Ask Of You
12. Dream Of Life
13. What Shall I Say?
14. It's Easy To Blame The Weather
15. More Than You Know
16. Sugar (That Sugar Baby O'mine)
17. You're Too Lovely To Last
18. Under A Blue Jungle Moon
19. Everything Happens For The Best
20. Why Did I Always Depend On You
21. Long Gone Blues

Tracks:

1. Some Other Spring
2. Our Love Is Different
3. Them There Eyes
4. Swing, Brother, Swing
5. Night And Day
6. The Man I Love
7. You're Just A No Account
8. You're A Lucky Guy
9. Ghost Of Yesterday
10. Body And Soul
11. What Is This Going To Get Us?
12. Falling In Love Again (Can't Help It)
13. I'm Pulling Through
14. Tell Me More And More, And Then Some
15. Laughing At Life
16. Time On My Hands
17. I'm All For You
18. I Hear Music
19. The Same Old Story
20. Practice Makes Perfect
21. St. Louis Blues
22. Loveless Love
23. Let's Do It
24. Georgia On My Mind

Tracks:

1. Romance In The Dark
2. All Of Me
3. I'm In A Low-Down Groove
4. God Bless The Child
5. Am I Blue?
6. Solitude
7. Jim
8. I Cover The Waterfront
9. Love Me Or Leave Me
10. Gloomy Sunday
11. Wherever You Are
12. Mandy Is Two
13. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
14. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
15. Saddest Tale
16. No Regrets
17. The Way You Look Tonight
18. Who Loves You?
19. Pennies From Heaven
20. That's Life I Guess
21. They Can't Take That Away From Me
22. I Don't Know If I'm Coming Or Going
23. I'll Get By
24. Mean To Me

Tracks:

1. Me, Myself And I
2. Without Your Love
3. They Can't Take That Away From Me
4. Swing, Brother, Swing
5. I Can't Get Started
6. My First Impression Of You
7. When You're Smiling
8. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
9. If Dreams Come True
10. Now They Call It Swing
11. On The Sentimental Side
12. Back In Your Own Backyard
13. You Go To My Head
14. The Moon Looks Down And Laughs
15. If I Were You
16. Forget If You Can
17. Having Myself A Time
18. Says My Heart
19. I Wish I Had You
20. I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (And Throw Away The Key)
21. I Can't Get Started
22. I've Got A Date With A Dream

Tracks:

1. April In My Heart
2. They Say
3. You're So Desirable
4. You're Gonna See A Lot Of Me
5. Hello, My Darling
6. Let's Dream In The Moonlight
7. I Cried For You
8. Jeepers Creepers
9. That's All I Ask Of You
10. More Than You Know
11. You're Too Lovely To Last
12. Under A Blue Jungle Moon
13. Night And Day
14. Falling In Love Again
15. Laughing At Life
16. I'm All For You
17. I Hear Music
18. The Same Old Story
19. The Same Old Story
20. Practice Makes Perfect
21. Practice Makes Perfect
22. Practice Makes Perfect

Tracks:

1. St. Louis Blues
2. Loveless Love
3. Let's Do It
4. Georgia On My Mind
5. Georgia On My Mind
6. Romance In The Dark
7. Romance In The Dark
8. Romance In The Dark
9. All Of Me
10. All Of Me
11. God Bless The Child
12. God Bless The Child
13. Am I Blue?
14. Am I Blue?
15. Jim
16. Gloomy Sunday
17. Wherever You Are
18. Mandy Is Two
19. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
20. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
21. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
22. Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me/I'll Get By
23. I Love My Man

Amazon.com

This box set earns the "deluxe" designation not only because of its handsome packaging, insightful essays by Holiday scholars, and testimonials from the likes of Tony Bennett, Sonny Rollins, and Etta James, but also because of the vastly improved remastered sound that makes Lady Day the definitive issue of Billie Holiday's pivotal 1930s and '40s Columbia/Vocalion/Brunswick/OKeh oeuvre. The sides here include epochal collaborations with Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Lester Young, Teddy Wilson, and others. Six-plus discs chronologically present 151 masters, with the rest of the 10 CDs' space given to alternate takes and radio air checks.

It was during the early years of this period, of course, that Holiday quickly developed into one of the 20th century's vocal monuments. Her incisive way with lyric and melody, often deploying playfulness, wit, and pain in a single song, became a model for both many a female singer, as well as Frank Sinatra and Marvin Gaye. These are records to be endlessly replayed for many kinds of appreciation. Played end to end, they introduce ideals of groove and emotional expression that remain fresh and even startling many years on. Lady Day is not only a perfect example of how to reissue key material, but is an album that will stand as a beacon for veteran Holiday fans and for the new ones it will no doubt attract. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Did they use CEDAR noise reduction on this set?.......2006-11-19

Although,like so many other people, I am a big fan of Billie Holiday I have not yet purchased this set of recordings and am not sure that I will. In listening to the teasers that are available at this site I hear the familiar digital signature of the CEDAR sound reduction system, something that I have grown to dislike. It generally does an excellent job on the low end of recordings up to the mid range sounds, but the high ends become shrill and thin, often piercing. I have purchased other recordings that have used this process and will try to avoid it as much as is possible in the future. I have no way of knowing if it is an inherent quality of the process itself or the failure of the technicians using it.

If there is a "must", this is it.......2005-10-12

I have listened to this music my whole life long, from the early 10"LPs on, and I already had 4 different reissues on CD of Lady Day OK & Columbia recordings, but - friends - what these guys have done is an incredible sound improvement, quite different from previous CDs & LPs. And the package is almost perfect, just like an old 78s album. Do not worry too much about what other friends have written, the sleeves beeing too tight and so on: you just have to be a little careful. Had I to stay on the famous lonely island, this is the jazz album I would need to have with me!

ART!.......2004-07-21

Giving this release less than 5 stars is just irresponsible. These sides are beyond critiscm, they are part of the legacy of the human spirit. Yes, there are cheaper imports, but those are rip offs. This time Columbia did a great job and they deserve your hard earned money. Of course, it would be nice that 10 copies of this were sent to every library in the country, I cant think of a better way to improve jazz apreciation in this country.

Just the most essential music of the 20th century.......2003-12-22

I would need much much more than a thousand words to tell you about my feelings related to this sublime music.How many times I cried listening to some tunes,or was feeling incredibly high and happy listening to other ones.
If you want me to play to the "desert island" game,I would only take this set with me;you don't know how I treasure Monk,Duke,Armstrong,Trane,Bud,Bird,Bill Evans,Bechet,Fats Waller,Hines or Tatum,but I''d surely forget them all to keep these Columbia years of Lady Day with me.Here is the most fantastic music I've ever heard,here are the highest moments of the history of jazz.NOBODY never recorded such a bunch of masterpieces in some eleven years;nobody,even Duke.Here is a colossal set of the most amazing music you'll ever hear.
This is the third time I purchase these sessions:first,I bought them on 33rpm,some 25 years ago;then on separate CDs;then,a friend of mine let me listen to this set,and what a shock!!! The sound is so great that I thought I was discovering tunes I knew for years and years.It seems that Billie and the guys are playing in your room,just in front of you!!!
Now,for those who have no idea of what's in this very beautiful set,let's have a glance at the musicians you'll listen to:the ghotta of jazz is here!!! LESTER YOUNG,Teddy Wilson,Johnny Hodges,Duke Ellington,Count Basie,Benny Goodman,Chu Berry,Jo Jones,Buck Clayton,Roy Eldridge,Ben Webster,Benny Carter,Charlie Shavers,Red Allen,Cootie Williams,Hot Lips Page,Bunny Berigan,Jack Teagarden,Walter Page,Milt Hinton,John Kirby,Cozy Cole,Sid Catlett,Kenny Clarke,Freddie Greene,Dickie Wells,Hary Carney,Harry James,and many more.
About the tunes: masterpieces,masterpieces and masterpieces!!!
It would take some ten pages to describe it.Of course,the most magnificent ones are those in which Lester Young plays.Lester and Billie,Pres and Lady Day;they had the most magical musical complicity of the history of jazz,they really LOVED each other,even if their lives had separate ways;Lester,the Greatest of all jazz saxophone players,was born 1909;Billie,the Baltimore child,was born in 1915;they both died 1959,Lester in March,and Billie in July.The tunes they recorded during these years,the tunes you'll listen to in this set are very simple to describe: it's LOVE.and maybe the most beautiful that ever was.Maybe,these are the most sublime masterpieces in the history of Music."when you're smiling","he's funny that way","travelin' all alone","mean to me","foolin' myself","me,myself and I","born to love","gettin' some fun out of life","I'll never be the same"....I could listen to these tunes a hundred times everyday.This music is magic;it'll make you feel great.And you'll cry sometimes too,because of too much beauty.Here is the very best of Jazz,a music that gave us tons and tons of beauty;Billie's voice is at her most expressive,so young,so fresh,so joyful,and so sexy (and even sometimes,so sexual);Lester 's playing ,even if he only blows short choruses,is the most beautiful one that ever was ("all of me","foolin' myself","born to love","mean to me",...).
Here is sublime music;the most magnificent you'll listen to.I couldn't live without these records.They are my copanions since I was 15 years old;I spent hours and hours listening to them,wether I felt high or bad;and even after 23 years of frequent listening,they seem to me as fresh and new as when I discovered them.
Thanks a million,Lady Day (a nickname Lester gave to Billie),thanks a million for so much beauty.It never happened in the history of Art.

Save money and buy the German set instead!.......2003-06-16

Don't bother paying a ton of money for the Billie Holiday Columbia box set when you can buy the 10 disc German box set called "Portrait" for a whole lot less.
The American set goes for $150 to $160 where the German set is going for $25 to $35.
I've heard both sets and the German one is MUCH better with far less surface noise without sacrificing the sound.

But I must warn you that the German set does have a touch of stereo reverb added to the recordings, but it's very
tastefully done. I'm usually one of those who hates doctored up old recordings, but this is so well done. It's okay.

The German collection also has more songs which includes great recordings from the other labels Decca and Commodore. For some reason the set is missing four great tracks (Strange Fruit, Yesterdays, Fine And Mellow and
Until The Real Thing Comes Along) but the American set doesn't include Strange Fruit, Yesterdays and
Fine and Mellow either. The American set only deals with the Columbia sides, but does give you lots of
alternate takes, which the set from Germany avoids. But that's alright, I just want the official recording, not
the alternates or outtakes as I call them.

As far as packaging, the American set wins hands down, but the imported German set does have a nice
40 page booklet and is better about protecting your CD's and most importantly...far better sound quality.

Average customer rating: Buy it! I said Buy it!

Blues on a Holiday Paul Rishell Manufacturer: Tone Cool ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: Swear to Tell the Truth ASIN: B000003A0A Release Date: 1994-04-14

Tracks:

1. Big Road Blues
2. Creepy John
3. Jinx Blues
4. Dallas
5. Careless Love
6. Louise
7. Too Tight
8. Trouble Blues
9. Honey It Must Be Love
10. Talk To Me Baby
11. Keep It To Yourself
12. Possession
13. You Got Me Wrong
14. Like I Used To Do
15. Blues On A Holiday
16. Hoodoo Party

Customer Reviews:

Buy it! I said Buy it!.......1999-09-16

Fabulous acoustic and electric blues. The man cannot be beat. He never fails.

Average customer rating:

Christmas on the Border- A Spicy Holiday Recipe of Texas Blues, Hot Country, and Mexican Salsa Produced and arranged by John Darnall ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000MK69IU

Average customer rating: One of the Best CDs I own!

Wishing on the Moon Billie Holiday Manufacturer: Asv Living Era ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic Female Vocal Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00000I9FS Release Date: 1999-03-23

Tracks:

1. I Wished On The Moon
2. Twenty-Four Hours A Day
3. These Foolish Things
4. I Cried For You
5. No Regrets
6. A Fine Romance
7. The Way You Look Tonight
8. Who Love You?
9. Pennies From Heaven
10. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
11. This Year's Kisses
12. The Mood That I'm In
13. Carelessly
14. Mean To Me
15. A Sailboat In The Moonlight
16. Nice Work If You Can Get It
17. My Man (Mon Homme)
18. I'm Gonna Lock My Heart
19. All Of Me
20. God Bless The Child
21. I Cover The Waterfront
22. Lover, Come Back To Me
23. Loverman
24. Don't Explain
25. Good Morning, Heartache

Customer Reviews:

One of the Best CDs I own!.......2001-12-29

I love Billie Holiday and this cd has a lot of her better songs on it.

Average customer rating:

He Saved the Best for Last Davony Manufacturer: The Orchard ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Pop Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | R&B | Indie Music | Stores | Music Pop Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music ASIN: B00004WKDY Release Date: 2000-07-04

Tracks:

1. He Saved The Best For Last
2. He Saved The Best For Last (Instrumental & Background Vocals)
3. He Saved The Best For Last (Instrumental Only)
4. He Saved The Best For Last

Average customer rating:

The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra On Broadway Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Rodgers & Hammerstein - The Complete Overtures ~ Opening Night / Hollywood Bowl Orchestra · Mauceri ASIN: B0000041CH Release Date: 1996-07-16

Tracks:

1. Carousel: A Symphonic Portrait
2. Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
3. Kurt Weill Songbook For Orchestra
4. Free And Easy: Concert Suite From Blues Opera
5. Showboat: Scenario For Orchestra

Average customer rating:

On the Sentimental Side Billie Holiday Manufacturer: International Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic Female Vocal Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Cabaret | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B00003L2E9

Tracks:

1. I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me
2. If Dreams Come True
3. Now They Call It Swing
4. On the Sentimental Side
5. Back in Your Own Backyard
6. When a Woman Loves a Man
7. You Go to My Head
8. Moon Looks Down and Laughs
9. If I Were You
10. Forget If You Can
11. Havin' Myself a Time
12. Says My Heart
13. I Wish I Had You
14. I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (And Throw Away the Key)
15. Very Thought of You
16. I Can't Get Started
17. I've Got a Date With a Dream
18. You Can't Be Mine (And Someone Else's Too)
19. Everybody's Laughing

Music Album:

1. Brown Eyed Handsome Man
2. Buffalo Republic
3. Can't Fight the Moonlight [CD-single] [Import]
4. Cash on Delivery: Tribute to Johnny Cash
5. Christmas Legends
6. Couch, Los Angeles
7. Country Duets [Import]
8. Cowboy Songs
9. Del Doc & Mac
10. Desperado: 36 Country & Western Hits [Import]

Music Album