Billie Holiday

2 LPs ON 1 CD + 2 BONUS TRACKS

5 STARS DOWN BEAT MAGAZINE

This release contains two complete albums recorded by the great Billie Holiday for Norman Granz: Music for Torching with Billie Holiday (Clef MGC-669), and Velvet Mood (Clef MGC-713). Both LPs were recorded during the same 1955 sessions and received five-star ratings in Down Beat magazine.

Billie is backed here by an all-star sextet including Harry “Sweets” Edison, Benny Carter, Jimmy Rowles, and Barney Kessel. The only existing complete alternate take from the dates, as well as a nearly complete alternate of the same title, have been added here as a bonus.

PERSONNEL:

BILLIE HOLIDAY, vocals
HARRY “SWEETS” EDISON, trumpet
BENNY CARTER, alto sax
JIMMY ROWLES, piano
BARNEY KESSEL, guitar
JOHN SIMMONS, bass
LARRY BUNKER, drums

Hollywood, August 23 & 25, 1955.

Original recordings produced by Norman Granz.

[1-8] Originally issued as Music For Torching
[9-16] Originally issued as Velvet Mood
*Bonus Tracks: From the same sessions, but not included on the original LP.

INCLUDES 16-PAGE BOOKLET

TRACKS:

01. It Had To Be You
02. Come Rain Or Come Shine
03. I Don’t Want To Cry Anymore
04. I Don’t Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You
05. A Fine Romance
06. Gone With The Wind
07. I Get A Kick Out Of You
08. Isn’t This A Lovely Day?
09. Prelude To A Kiss
10. When Your Lover Has Gone
11. Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone
12. Nice Work If You Can Get It
13. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues
14. What’s New?
15. I Hadn’t Anyone Till You
16. Everything I Have Is Yours
17. A Fine Romance [Tk 2; Alt Tk]*
18. A Fine Romance [Tk 5; Incomplete Alt Tk] *

Total Time: 77:08