The Ultimate Collection

This was bought as a present for my mother in law after she complimented us on our own 3 disk colection of Billie Holiday music. Billie Holiday is one of the finest female vocalists af all time, with a rich voice that gets across emotion, tenderness and grit all at once. She had a range from Blues through to R&B as well as romantic ballads. This collection ticks all the boxes and provides a pretty good in depth look at the music across her career. For those who own no Billie Holiday this is a great way to get a taste of her work before looking a little deeper.

Great collection of her songs over the years

Lady Day ...sublime.

This is cracking value with over 80 of her tracks from two thirds of her studio album output. Most of the output was in fact `compilation' albums. These were issued before her first studio album in 1952 - mainly from all of her singles which were issued from 1934 to 1946. The rest were issued after her death. This set features 8 of her 12 original studio albums. The albums' span from 1952 to 1957. She died in 1959, aged just 44. `Solitude' is a re-release of her first album `Billie Holiday Sings.' BH had just two number one singles. Her number one in the R&B charts, `Trav'lin' Light,' is on what I consider to be the best album of the collection - `Lady Sings the Blues.' Of course, her biography, and eventually the film of her life (Diana Ross) came from this album's title. Her best two albums of this collection are thought to be (All Music ratings) the aforementioned, `Lady Sings' and `Music for Touching.' The album `Velvet Mood' is apparently `out of print' and so this set is just about the only place that you can get it. BH had such a strong, almost gritty voice which was so distinctive. The support musicians are just wonderful - quality all round. A lot of the songs on here are from the `American Song Book.' At times I found them rather one paced, samey or a little too low key but it seems that this was the style of the day. I would have preferred a little more up tempo stuff over the piece but I did enjoy listening to such a great musical icon.

No one sings like Billy either then or now. A great compilation of standards that have been carefully tidied up for the modern listener and are wonderful to hear. A great price for an inportant collection.

Really comprehensive collection of her songs , excellent value for money. Really took me back in time. Love it!

Billie holiday is always a good buy

This was a present for my Dad. It arrived on time and he was happy with it

Molto bello e ben digitalizzato .

ビリーホリデーはレコードを含めて2枚持ってますが これはお得な内容でおすすめ品です 音質も想像以上に良くてびっくり ジャケットのビリーホリデーの写真もなかなか素敵でした

A nice collection of Billie

Que decír de Billie Holiday, impresionante recopilación. Se lo regalé a una amiga sin saber si le gustaría y le ha encantado. Para esos momentos en casa de relax

Discovered by John Hammond in 1933, she was sweeping floors in a brothel. She started singing in Artie Shaw's band but was forbidden to eat with bandmates. Norman Granz signed her to Verve Records in the early 50's. Her accompanists included Ben Webster, Harry Sweets Edison, Barney Kessel, Jimmy Rowles among others. 8 Albums are included in this set, not incomplete, famed Canadian pianist Oscar Peterson played on Solitude album. Her classic "Strange Fruit" had to be issued on another label. God bless the Child was a hit in 1941, also check out Blood, Sweat Version.3 Disks with 22 on disk 1, including Stormy Weather, He's funny that way, Tenderly, Moonglow, How deep is the ocean, Gone with the Wind, disk 2 Blue Moon,, These foolish things, What's New, A Foggy Day, One for my Baby, disk 3 Lady sings the Blues (autobiography movie with Diana Ross), Good Morning Heartache, Willow Weep for Me, Body and Soul and Moonlight in Vermont. 22, 21 and 20 tracks on 3 cd's. Excellent music, backing musicians excellent, this is the ultimate collection.