Product Details
Artist : Billie Holiday
Format : Best of, Box set
Binding : Audio CD
EAN : 0011105060127
Label : Verve
Number of Discs : 2
Product Group : Music
Release Date : 1991-10-05
UPC : 011105060127
ASIN : B000003N36
Track Listings for
Disc-1
1. Lover Man
2. No More
3. No More [Alternate Take]
4. That Ole Devil Called Love
5. Don't Explain [First Version]
6. Big Stuff
7. Don't Explain [Second Version]
8. Big Stuff
9. You Better Go Now
10. What Is This Thing Called Love?
11. Good Morning Heartache
12. No Good Man [Previously Unissued Alternate]
13. No Good Man
14. Big Stuff [Breakdown and Chatter][#]
15. Big Stuff [Third Version][#]
16. Big Stuff
17. Baby, I Don't Cry Over You [Previously Unissued Alternate]
18. Baby, I Don't Cry Over You
19. I'll Look Around [Previously Unissued Alternate]
20. I'll Look Around
21. Blues Are Brewin'
22. Guilty [Previously Unissued Alternate]
23. Guilty [Previously Unissued Breakdown and Chatter]
24. Deep Song
25. There Is No Greater Love
Disc-2
1. Easy Living
2. Solitude [Previously Unissued Alternate]
3. Solitude
4. Weep No More - Billie Holiday, The Stardusters
5. Girls Were Made to Take Care of Boys - Billie Holiday, The Stardusters
6. I Loves You, Porgy
7. My Man [Previously Unissued Alternate]
8. My Man
9. 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do [Previously Unissued Alternate]
10. 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do
11. Baby Get Lost
12. Keeps on A-Rainin'
13. Them There Eyes
14. Do Your Duty
15. Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer)
16. You Can't Lose a Broken Heart - Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday
17. My Sweet Hunk O' Trash - Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday
18. Now or Never
19. You're My Thrill
20. They Can't Take That Away from Me
21. Please Tell Me Now
22. Somebody's on My Mind
23. God Bless the Child
24. This Is Heaven to Me
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Holiday recorded for Decca between 1944 and 1950, a period in which she was at the heights of both her popularity and her vocal powers. The music is less jazz-oriented in its backing than were the earlier Columbia and Commodore or later Verve recordings, but these are superb vocal performances, including matchless renderings of "Lover Man," "Don't Explain," and "Solitude." Holiday achieved the highest level that torch singing has ever known, creating consummately expressive, almost etched renditions that are richly nuanced, often enhanced by tasteful string arrangements. Holiday's deepest musical sources are strongly evident in songs associated with Bessie Smith, including the earthy "Gimme a Pigfoot (and a Bottle of Beer)," and two spirited duets with Louis Armstrong. --Stuart Broomer
Customer Reviews
Powerful stuff (2004-07-15)  This must really have a label with a warning: this is really heavy stuff. Dont think because this is mostly Billie with her orchestra this would be a conventional pop record. By this time in her career, Billie had transformed the art of singing, she was in a category all by her own. Good morning heartache may be my all time favourite Bilie recording. Essential listening for anyone interested in vocal jazz.
TRULY the BEST of Billie Holliday (2002-10-23) No arguments here with any of the other reviewers. I give this set 5 stars because they don't have 6. This box set truly captures Billie Holliday at the peak of her craft. Her voice never sounds better. Secondly, the arrangements are fantastic and rarely have I heard musical accompaniment that so masterfully compliments and highlights a singer's voice. Finally, the tracks are impeccably mastered and recorded. The original recordings are wonderful and they don't use modern sound technology to clean up the recordings to the point they sound stale and sanitized. The sound quality is rich and truthful; yet no annoying hiss or other imperfections. I believe Billie was at the height of her popularity during the Decca era and she never gets better musicians to work with or a better selection of songs to "interpret." This is after the "tin pan alley" era and before Billie gets strung out and jazzed out with sparse arrangements and accompaniments. Simply put, this is the best music ever recorded, by one of the 20th Century's greatest artists.
My favorite Billie! Captures the dark 40's best. (2002-03-06) This is my favorite Billie Holiday of them all. It captures the "film noir" feel of the 40's best of dark, smoke-filled rooms, blinking neon signs over cheap hotels. I expect to see Bogie coming thru the fog any moment. Everyone talks about her earlier Columbia work with small groups, which has more of a swing feel. This one is more dramatic with the 40's type orchestra painting a dark picture on great cuts like: Big Stuff, No More, Don't Explain and of course God Bless The Child. There are many fascinating outtakes as well, each one with a different interpretation.The box is classy with detailed dates, personnel, great photos and Billie's life. A wonderful box set. Ideal for overcast days. This is Billie at her emotional best. Definitely a keeper for life.
Brilliant (2001-11-05) This is a wonderful 2cd box set which does exactly what box sets should do. There is a wealth of alternate takes and previously unreleased songs. We even get to hear the great Louis Armstrong duet "My sweet hunk o' trash", in which he sings the "f" word, as in "F... 'em, baby". It was later withdrawn and "sanitized", but we get to hear the original. Also we get some breakdowns and studio chatter, always a curiosity for true fans of any artist, as it makes them seem more human. The 40 page booklet is great, and includes loads of photos, and 2 essays, one by Milt Gabler (Billie's Decca producer), and the other by Steve Lasker, the producer of this set. Also there are interesting comments on the source materials and a Bibliography. This is one box set that no fan of Billie's should be without.
Quientessial "prototype" for ALL "Box Sets " to follow ... (2000-12-12) The fact that I, an absolute "Lady Day" unabashed "adoree' and preferre'", STILL, after ALL these years, since this "particular box set" was introduced to the "public-at-large" use this as "the absolute standard" by which I measure ALL "boxes" from ANY artist, in Any " musical genre"; I guess, pretty well says it all. The fact that Decca released this absolute jewel: literally uncut; "breakdowns,(multiple) alternativeversions; as well as "her staples"; and then throw in the duets with her personal, long-timeidol, "Satchmo"; (and ain't it GREAT STUFF, and BIG STUFF TOO!!)How much more could you possibly, sublimely, ask for? Then read the accompanying enclosed lovingly-annotated, and documented booklet.I am an avid "collector" of "boxes" in ALL kinds of genres, but no one; nor no other "box" comes anywhere near THIS ONE; on ANY "front or direction". Lady DaySTILL RULES; and this set absolutely proves it unreservedly!Thanks Decca, For the love and guts "to do it up optimely".
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