Customer Reviews

Jazz at the Philharmonic: The Billie Holiday Story, Vol. 1

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This CD is probably one of the most played I have of Billie's and I have a LOT. The label has done a terrific job of getting things that are on lots of CDs, on THIS one alone. Acetate discs were used for some remastering, and it is evident, but equally evident is Billie in front of an audience! They literally go wild, at the mere suggestion of a song. Her versions of "No Greater Love" and "I Cover The Waterfront" are the DEFINITIVE ones here. Her voice was never so beautiful, floating through the air at Carnegie Hall, the audience in a quiet hush listening to history being made. This CD also ends with the last two songs Billie ever sang, "Lover Man" and "What a Little Moonlight." Great voice, great sound, great night! This gives you a complete picture, and a lovely one of that, of the great artist in concert. There is no other CD like this one!

I am a huge fan of Billie's and this recording is just great in every way. First, it is live, and as another reviewer mentioned, you can actually hear the audience cheering and catcalling, thrilled to be listening - it is almost as if one is sent back in time and we're there, too! Second, it is a compiltion of performances through the years, so we get Billie soaring, gliding, and struggling from the early 40's through the late 50's. A must have, to be sure!!! "You'd better go now," "There is no greater love," and most especially "Travlin' light" are beyond great. They're mythical and light as a feather. You cannot go wrong with ANY of the Verve Billie's and this one is a super introduction to one of music's most complex and moving performers. We love you, Billie.

This is a great collection of some of Billie's best, very well selected, sequenced and engineered. Just enough of the old
gramophone sound remains to give it that blues quality without detracting from its enjoyment.

I've never heard the Compact Disc version of this LP, and I'm sure it's nearly just as fantastic, but when I found this record in my attic, and put it on my turntable, it was like time stopped, and I heard the most passionate music my ears have heard for years.