Billie Holiday Columbia sessions

[John L]

If you would like to hear an additional bit of hyperbole from a Billie/Pres nut, I would say that this may very well be the best box set of music available.

Edited November 20, 2003 by John L

[skeith]

Bol,

I think you did the right thing. The box is about one third alternates and other material that I found I rarely turned to. It's a bit of overkill and also the packaging and particularly the booklet for the box I found to be disappointing. With your 4 cds you have got what you need, I think.

[Bol]

Hmmm... Thanks everyone for your replies. I will think about this. In any case, even if I do get the box set, I won't get it any time soon. Too many CD purchases in the last couple of weeks. Need to slow down for the sake of decency.

[paul secor]

Just want to put a word in for Lady In Satin. Having read conflicting things about this record for many years, I refrained from buying it. I was always curious about it, but no one I knew owned a copy, so I never heard it. A couple of years ago, I read that Jimmy Rowles got angry if he heard someone put it down. For whatever reason, that made me want to hear it, so I bought it. I'm glad I finally am able to hear this music. I can understand the negative reactions I read, although I don't agree with them. Yes, Billie's voice is "shot" (but not gone - the feeling and the phrasing are still there), and yes, the string backgrounds can come off as somewhat sweet (not enough to bother me, though). I can't say that this is my favorite Billie - I honestly don't think I have a favorite Billie Holiday recording - I like to listen to different recordings at different times - but I've enjoyed it whenever I've listened. I have a feeling that Lady In Satin is one that listeners will either love or hate - don't think that there will be a lot of middle ground. I'd be interested in reading other people's reaction to it.

[jazzbo]

Paul, I've been listening to this one lately too. I hated the early cd version of this, and the late nineties was a much better release; somewhere I have an lp copy that I listened to several times in the seventies and just didn't enjoy.

Though I can't say that I like all of Ellis' arrangements, or that I like all of the singing, overall I think this is a very moving album . . . I would say that For Heaven's Sake, I Get Along Well Without You, and I Was a Fool to Want You are my favorite performances. What strikes me about this album lately is how much of Armstrong I hear in her here. I hear Armstrong in her singing throughout her career, but here with her voice in such a diminished capacity (and with her gin drinking capacity nearly reached as well?) I really notice the Armstrong influence and style and SOUND more prominently. Not at all a bad thing, but something I was surprised to hear as I did. BUT in between the last time that I heard Lady In Satin and the most recent hearings I've heard more and more contemporaneous Satch, which may be a reason . . . .

As far as the arrangements, I wish they had Galbraith's "Freddie Green four to the bar" playing up front more often in the sessions. But this is an album that I am very glad that I finally enjoy. It languished neglected in my collection in several versions for a long time.

[street singer]

. . . get it at the best price you can. . .

If anyone's interested, this box is available from Columbia House for $84.99 + shipping/handling. Just over $92 w/ s/h.

[paul secor]

Paul, I've been listening to this one lately too.  I hated the early cd version of this, and the late nineties was a much better release; somewhere I have an lp copy that I listened to several times in the seventies and just didn't enjoy. 

But this is an album that I am very glad that I finally enjoy.  It languished neglected in my collection in several versions for a long time.

Lon,

When I finally heard Lady in Satin, it was the Classic Records LP reissue. I wonder if it would have gotten through to me if I had first heard the music on a mediocre CD reissue. Perhaps, but perhaps not.