The Real...Billie Holiday

What can I say about the magnificence of Lady day that hasn't been said before? You get many of her Columbia sides on these three discs.. just great.. check out her duet with Johnny Mercer on "Jeepers Creepers" BUT, unless you are familiar with JM's voice, if Billie didn't call him out by name you wouldn't know who the male vocalist was because there is no information what so ever as to who is playing on the sessions. On the same song Mercer calls to "Dr Leo Watson" so we know who the black scat singer is on this live track. Yes, "live".. but where and when? Was Watson also playing "bone" on this date? This is left for us to guess or research but it is usually the kind of thing I'd like to see as I am listening to the song and taking an interest. I don't feel like Googling. My whole point here is, as wonderful as the music is, there is really sod all information available in this release. Still 5 stars though.. I couldn't give Lady Day anything less... and the price is low. If we want booklets full of info and pix we have to buy the box sets at three times the price. I'm playing it as I write and... God, this is GOOD.

Billie Holiday has got so much class and elegance about her as an individual and charismatic singer. This is a fantastic listen for a couple of hours or so. The American people had a lot of time for her she is up there with the best of musical brilliance.

No strange fruit?

Good

Great sounds!!

what a lady, what a voice, packed full of emotion and pain, as if she had lived every word, a must buy collection

Fantastic collection, great selection of tracks. Drawn to this cd after hearing her music featured on a film, not dissapointed!

Absolutely first class , music at its best.I ill be looking for more music fro this era either by this artist or others.