Billie Holiday: The Complete Decca Recordings

Billie Holiday: The Complete Decca Recordings Artist: Billie Holiday
Label: Verve
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Format: Box set
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 2


UPC: 011105060127
EAN: 0011105060127
ASIN: B000003N36


Release Date: 1991-10-01

Billie Holiday: The Complete Decca Recordings


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Tracks:

  1. Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be)?
  2. No More
  3. No More (Alternate)
  4. That Ole Devil Called Love
  5. Don't Explain (First Version)
  6. Big Stuff (First Version)
  7. Don't Explain
  8. Big Stuff (Second Version)
  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 (Previously Unissued Breakdown And Chatter)
  15. Big Stuff (Previously Unissued 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. The Blues Are Brewin'
  22. Guilty (Previous Unissued Alternate)
  23. Guilty (Previously Unissued Breakdown And Chatter)
  24. Guilty
  25. Deep Song
  26. There Is No Greater Love

Tracks:

  1. Easy Living
  2. Solitude (Previously Unissued Alternate)
  3. Solitude
  4. Weep No More
  5. Girls Were Made To take Care of Boys
  6. I Love You Porgy
  7. My Man (Mon Homme) (Previously Unissued Alternate)
  8. My Man (Mon Homme)
  9. Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do (Previously Unissued Alternate)
  10. Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do
  11. Baby Get Lost
  12. Keeps On 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
  17. My Sweet Hunk O' Trash
  18. Now Or Never
  19. You're My Thrill
  20. Crazy He Calls Me
  21. Please Tell Me Now
  22. Somebody's On My Mind
  23. God Bless The Child
  24. This Is Heaven To Me

Similar Items:

  1. The Complete Commodore Recordings
  2. The Complete Verve Studio Master Takes
  3. Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia (1933-1944)
  4. Lady in Autumn: The Best of the Verve Years
  5. The Commodore Master Takes

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. <I>--Stuart Broomer</I>

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Peak Perfection!.......2006-06-08

This is Lady Day at her peak and is probably the definitive collection showcasing how phenomenal a talent she was as a vocalist. As the title implies these are pretty much all her surviving tracks cut for the Decca label from 1944 to 1950 when she was in her peak vocal form and the songs here are a white-knuckle rollercoaster ride of emotions. There weren't many other vocalists anywhere near Billie's prowess at this time and her delivery runs the gamut of emotions from wistful sadness, to savage beauty, to a warm embrace. Many of her signature songs are here: "Lover Man," "Don't Explain," "'Taint Nobody's Business If I Do," "God Bless The Child," and "Good Morning Heartache." Some have complained that it is not a truly "complete" recordings package, but many of the original recordings were lost or destroyed years ago. If I had to chose a starting point for Billie Holiday you'd be hard pressed to pick a better choice than this set.

4 out of 5 stars Wonderful music, but wish for a track sequencing change.......2005-12-22

Billie Holiday's great talent and music has been adequately reviewed elsewhere. My comments are directed at the packaging of the songs. First, I give the music and performances 5 stars. The sound quality is excellent considering the vintage, especially on the originally released tracks. However, I have a suggestion for track sequencing and disc packagaging, thus the 4 star rating. My preference is that this set be repackaged as a 3 disc set, but remain priced as a 2 disc set with the 3rd disc listed as a bonus disc. I'd rather have a 3rd disc that comprises the early and unreleased versions of the songs.

I followed my own suggestion and re-sequenced the 2 discs into a 3 disc set by burning new copies on my computer. I am much happier with the outcome, and love listening to the original released versions of songs without experiencing a duplication of titles. This presents the music in a way I think the artist would have preferred and greatly enhances the experience for me. When I'm in the mood for the additional material, the 3rd disc I created includes the early versions and previously unreleased tracks to give me the illusion of being present at the recording sessions. I find this a much more satisfying way to experience this great music.

5 out of 5 stars INSUPERABLE.......2005-05-22

What more can be said about this box-set that other reviewers haven't said yet? Lady Day at her best, with an absolute control of her voice; marvelous performances; unsurpassable sound quality; a booklet with all the information that you'll ever need... If any release deserves six stars, is this one. Don't doubt it, buy it and prepare to enjoy Billie Holiday at her most brilliant moment!!

5 out of 5 stars How can you live without his..........2004-08-30

The most essential cd set on the planet, I couldn't go a single week without pulling this beautiful set out and listening to her pure no-hold back from the heart singing. Beuatifulk string arrangements and a hautning voice. Simple beautiful jazz vocals.

5 out of 5 stars

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  3. Complete Collection ~ Les Baroques
  4. Death Tone ~ Hive Mind
  5. Flag ~ Various Artists
  6. Pancake 31 ~ Jeff Dahl
  7. Greatest Hits of the 70's, Vol. 1 ~ Various Artists
  8. Rollin' Rock: Got the Sock, Vol. 1 ~ Various Artists
  9. Rollin' Rock: Got the Sock, Vol. 2 ~ Various Artists
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Sound of Emotion ~ Gregg Karukas

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Message to Our Folks ~ The Art Ensemble of Chicago

Explorer: Java - Court Gamelan 3 ~ Various Artists

O Melhor De: Sob Me Dida ~ Fafa De Belem

Dbjali ~ Youcef el Oujdi

Sarod for Harmony ~ Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Saheb

Luiz Carlos da Vila ~ Luiz Carlos Da Vila

Jodler in Gold: Die Schönsten Jodler Der Berge ~ Various Artists