Billie Holiday

The Complete Commodore Recordings (99149)

The Complete Commodore Recordings View larger

The Complete Commodore Recordings

Billie Holiday

American Jazz Classics

8436559469104

AJC 167117

99149

JAZZ

2

CD 14,96 €

2-CD SET

INCLUDES 2 BONUS TRACKS

20-PAGE BOOKLET

Billie Holiday was probably the most lyrical and expressive female vocalist in jazz history. This set compiles her complete sessions for the legendary Commodore label. Made between Billie’s contracts for Columbia/Okeh and Decca, these recordings present her in top form, backed by excellent small groups featuring such names as Frankie Newton, Freddie Webster, Tab Smith, Vic Dickenson, Eddie Heywood, and Sidney Catlett. Among the highlights of the set are Billie’s first version of the shocking “Strange Fruit”, which she used to conclude her stage performances, as well as readings of famous standards she would never record again, such as “As Time Goes By” and “I’ll Be Seeing You”.

Two rare tracks which constitute Billie’s only recordings with the Artie Shaw and with the Paul

PERSONNEL:

  • BILLIE HOLIDAY, vocals on all tracks, with:
  • Collective personnel: Frankie Newton, Doc Cheatham, Freddie Webster (tp), Tab Smith, Lem Davis (as, ss), Kenneth Hollon, Stanley Payne (ts), Vic Dickenson (tb), Sonny White, Eddie Heywood (p), Jimmy McLin, Teddy Walters (g), Johnny Williams, John Simmons (b), Eddie Dougherty, Sidney Catlett (d).
  • New York, 1939-1944.
  • (*) BONUS TRACKS:
  • CD 2 [2]: Billie Holiday (vcl) with Artie Shaw and His Orchestra.
  • New York, July 24, 1938. Studio recording for RCA Victor.
  • CD 2 [23]: Billie Holiday (vcl) with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra.
  • Los Angeles, June 12, 1942. Studio recording for Capitol Records.

TRACKS:

  • CD ONE (78:17 min)
  • 01 STRANGE FRUIT
  • 02 YESTERDAYS
  • 03 FINE AND MELLOW
  • 04 I GOTTA RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES
  • 05 STRANGE FRUIT [alt. take]
  • 06 YESTERDAYS [alt. take]
  • 07 I GOTTA RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES [alt. take]
  • 08 HOW AM I TO KNOW?
  • 09 MY OLD FLAME
  • 10 I'LL GET BY
  • 11 I COVER THE WATERFRONT
  • 12 HOW AM I TO KNOW? [alt. take 1]
  • 13 HOW AM I TO KNOW? [alt. take 2]
  • 14 HOW AM I TO KNOW? [alt. take 3]
  • 15 MY OLD FLAME [alt. take 1]
  • 16 MY OLD FLAME [alt. take 2]
  • 17 MY OLD FLAME [alt. take 3]
  • 18 I'LL GET BY [alt. take]
  • 19 I COVER THE WATERFRONT [alt. take 1]
  • 20 I COVER THE WATERFRONT [alt. take 2]
  • 21 I COVER THE WATERFRONT [alt. take 3]
  • 22 I'LL BE SEEING YOU
  • 23 I'LL BE SEEING YOU [alt. take 1]
  • 24 I'LL BE SEEING YOU [alt. take 2]
  • CD TWO(76:45 min)
  • 01 I'M YOURS
  • 02 EMBRACEABLE YOU
  • 03 AS TIME GOES BY
  • 04 I'M YOURS [alt. take 1]
  • 05 I'M YOURS [alt. take 2]
  • 06 EMBRACEABLE YOU [alt. take 1]
  • 07 EMBRACEABLE YOU [alt. take 2]
  • 08 AS TIME GOES BY [alt. take]
  • 09 HE'S FUNNY THAT WAY
  • 10 LOVER COME BACK TO ME
  • 11 I LOVE MY MAN (aka BILLIE'S BLUES)
  • 12 ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET
  • 13 HE'S FUNNY THAT WAY [alt. take 1]
  • 14 HE'S FUNNY THAT WAY [alt. take 2]
  • 15 HE'S FUNNY THAT WAY [alt. take 3]
  • 16 HE'S FUNNY THAT WAY [alt. take 4]
  • 17 LOVER COME BACK TO ME [alt take 1]
  • 18 LOVER COME BACK TO ME [alt. take 2]
  • 19 LOVER COME BACK TO ME [alt. take 3]
  • 20 I LOVE MY MAN (aka BILLIE'S BLUES) [alt. take 1]
  • 21 I LOVE MY MAN (aka BILLIE'S BLUES) [alt. take 2]
  • 22 ANY OLD TIME
  • 23 TRAVTIN' LIGHT