Billie Holiday

HIGH-DEFINITION PREMIUM VINYL

180 gram VINYL – AUDIOPHILE PRESSING

4 STARS ALL USIC GUIDE

Billie Holiday is heard at her absolute best on this album. For these Decca sessions, she was accompanied by strings and large studio orchestras for the first time in her career. Her voice was at its strongest during the1940s, and among the many high points here are her original versions of “Lover Man” (Holiday’s biggest selling record), “Don’t Explain,” and “Good Morning Heartache.” Holiday’swork here is often melancholy and resigned in the extreme, with sterling treatments of forlorn songs, such as “You Better Go Now,” and “What Is This Thing Called Love?”

PERSONNEL:

• ON TRACKS A1-A2:
• Toots Camarata & His Orchestra: Russ Case (tp), Hymie Schertzer, Jack Cressey (as), Larry Binyon, Paul Ricci (ts), Dave Bowman (p), Carl Kress (g), Haig Stephens (b), Johnny Blowers (d), plus six strings, Toots Camarata (arr, cond).
• New York, October 4, 1944.

• ON TRACK A3:
• Same as above except Dave Harris (ts) replaces Ricci & George Wettling (d) replaces Blowers.
• New York, November 8, 1944

• ON TRACKS A4-A6:
• Bob Haggart & His Orchestra: Joe Guy (tp), Bill Stegmeyer (as), Hank Ross, Armand Camgross (ts), Stan Webb (bar), Sammy Benskin (p), Tiny Grimes (g), Bob Haggart (b, cond), Specs Powell (d), Morris Lefkowitz, Frank Siefiels, George Serloff, Leo Kruczek, Charles Jaffe (vln), Armand Kaproff (viola).
• New York, August 14, 1945.

• ON TRACKS A7-A8:
• Bill Stegmeyer & His Orchestra: Chris Griffin, Joe Guy (tp), Bill Stegmeyer (as, cond), Hank Ross, Bernie Kaufman, Armand Camgross (ts), Joe Springer (p), Tiny Grimes (g), John Simmons (b), Sidney Catlett (d), plus four strings.
• New York, January 22, 1946.

• ON TRACK B1:
• Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra: Joe Guy (tp), Joe Springer (p), Tiny Grimes (g), Billy Taylor, Sr. (b), Kelly Martin (d).
• New York, March 13, 1946.

• ON TRACKS B2-B3: Billy Kyle & His Trio:
• Joe Guy (tp), Billy Kyle (p), Jimmy Shirley (g), Thomas Barney (b), Kenny Clarke (d).
• New York, April 9, 1946.

• ON TRACKS B4-B5:
• John Simmons & His Orchestra: Rostelle Reese (tp), Lem Davis (as), Bob Dorsey (ts), Bobby Tucker (p), John Simmons (b, cond), Denzil Best (d).
• New York, December 27, 1946.

• ON TRACKS B6-B8:
• Bob Haggart & His Orchestra: Billy Butterfield (tp), Bill Stegmeyer (cl, as), Toots Mondello, Al Klink (as), Hank Ross, Art Drellinger (ts), Bobby Tucker (p), Danny Perri (g), Bob Haggart (b, cond), Bunny Shawker (d).
• New York, February 13, 1947.

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. LOVER MAN (Oh, Where Can You Be?)
• A2. NO MORE
• A3. THAT OLE DEVIL CALLED LOVE
• A4. DON’T EXPLAIN
• A5. YOU BETTER GO NOW
• A6. WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE
• A7. GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE
• A8. NO GOOD MAN

• SIDE B
• B1. BIG STUFF
• B2. BABY I DON’T CRY OVER YOUV
• B3. I’LL LOOK AROUND
• B4. THE BLUES ARE BREWIN’
• B5. GUILTY
• B6. DEEP SONG V
• B7. THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE
• B8. EASY LIVING