Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday's Greatest Hits
$9.49
I grew up listening to some of the great singers such as "Miss Holiday" You feel her pain and her truimph's she lived through her music. She will be remembered through her music forever more. She has been a major trail blazer.

The Complete Commodore & Decca Masters
$54.98

Lady Sings the Blues
$11.98
This is not the first time this timeless album has been available on CD. Polygram issued it in the late 1990s (from memory) with three extra tracks from one of the two recording sessions that made up the original release. At least two of those are worth listening to. I couldn't hear any difference in the sound quality between this "Originals" CD and the earlier issue, and the earlier one actually has more information. In fact, Verve has been lazy with this one - no essay, no additional photos - so I rate it a missed opportunity. Doesn't stop me from being pleased I bought this second CD - the cover has the colours right and the music is indeed sublime. My favourite Billie by far.

Lady in Satin
$7.99
When listening to this record please keep in mind that these songs are some of Holiday's last recordings and were done so with the songstress in less than optimal health. With that said, this album is far superior to "The Last Recordings" where Holiday's voice is so damaged and reduced that listening to it is almost painful. Here, the tone and quality of her voice are diminished but not the power of emotion which she was and is still famous for. "Lady in Satin" is a study in contrast with Billie Holidays life-weary voice slicing through lush and nearly magical backing instrumentation. While some may shake their heads and feel sad for this beloved songstress nearing her final curtain call, I instead took away a new respect. Clearly she approached this project knowing that she was not at her best but still she decided to tackle some of the most demanding material of her career. With everything working against her, she still managed to produce a fine album that cuts straight to the heart. Whatever she may lack in honeyed tones and sweet melodies, she more than makes up for with raw emotion and sheer determination. What you hear here is an authentic moment. There is a smattering of love, a healthy heaping of pain, and pounds of memory and regret. Every emotion that one can feel is somehow embodied in these wrenching tributes to life. Standout tracks for me are "I'm A Fool To Want You", "But Beautiful", "I'll Be Around" and "The End of a Love Affair". But truly, there are no bad tracks on this album. There are singers now in the prime of their lives and mantles covered in awards that can't produce such a powerful and touching array of songs. Holidays vocals are like broken glass and the supporting music is like fine diamonds. At the end of the day both sparkle and shine.