Big Bad Billie

[davis]

Anybody have any Billie Holiday music? What do you have?

[Steve F.]

I have this:

The Complete Recordings 1933-1940

51AVX71AV1L._SX300_.jpg

her best stuff, imo.

[davis]

Is 'Gloomy Sunday' in there?

[Steve F.]

IIRC, that's a bit outside of the date that this set covers.

[davis]

there are on my wishlist as possibilities: The Complete Commodore/Decc​a Masters; Ultimate Collection; The Essential Billie Holiday; The Billie Holiday Collection 1935-42; and Great American Songbook. I'm familiar with a bunch of her stuff, and it's okay with me to get a majority of it in one collection and buy something else to get Gloomy Sunday.

[Steve F.]

well, I like her earlier stuff the best (until the early 40s) specifically because she wasn't really a star and tended to record with small jazz combos, which I like more than her with combos and strings, which is what she was doing by the time she hit Decca.

SO: in terms of what is currently in print, your best best if you want the band sound is the complete Columbia recordings (early stuff)

http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Day-Compl...liday+complete

This also has some airchecks and rarities I don't have. AND GLOOMY SUNDAY!

[davis]

I have this:

The Complete Recordings 1933-1940

I found a copy of that, new, on ebay. What I can't find is a list of the songs in that box.
This box - Lady Day: The Complete Columbia Golden Years - is at Amazon and has a lot of songs I know and like. Did she do different versions of some songs for different labels? e.g., how many versions are there of It's Too Hot For Words, I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, The Very Thought of You, Swing Brother Swing, etc.

[Steve F.]

Hi

In terms of studio recordings during that period, there are only the master takes and (often) one alternate take.

There aren't different versions for different labels.

I think you can't do wrong with the one I have, that you are looking at on eBay, based on what you are outlining above.

Hope this helps.

[Steve F.]

It wasn't released on on Columbia, but it's on the set I own, which is what this guy is talking about.

And, honestly, politics and bravery aside, it's not her best singing, imo.

[davis]

This is the box I'm thinking of buying. that is what you have, right Steve? btw, who IS that a photo of (your avatar)?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Billie-Holid...item58a954a8d4

[Steve F.]

Hi,

Yes, that is the one I own and $40 seems like a reasonable price for 8 GREAT CDs to me.

My avatar is of my hero Howlin' Wolf.

Enjoy the set!!!

Glad I could help!!

[davis]

I don't recognize him in that pic. All the performance footage I've seen of him is incredible. I have the Chess box and a few other Wolf CDs. And this http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009D3UN4S/...I12P7NKKPNOTBN on my amazon wishlist

[Steve F.]

That avatar photo is an unusual, extra bad-ass shot of him looking extra bad-ass!

YES: He was quite the performer.

here's a clip for kidz just tuning in

[PeterG]

Is 'Gloomy Sunday' in there?

Yea, but in my state of mind, I'd be too afraid to listen to it I wonder if it's still banned form Hungarian radio stations.

[No Pride]

The only Billie albums I have are "All or Nothing at All" (Verve) and "Lady in Satin" (Columbia). Both from late in her career, but I far prefer AoNaA, which features a 6 piece combo.

[davis]

I finally bought 'Lady Day: The Complete Columbia Golden Years'. 10 discs. I bought Dylan's 'Biograph' back in the day; that was 5 albums/10 sides. I remember being amazed that 5 albums only scratched the surface of Bob's work, including alt takes, outtakes, etc. well, digress I do. looking forward to all that Billie.