Customer Reviews

The Quintessential Billie Holiday, Vol.3: 1936-1937

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It's hard for me to think of many other songbirds who could ever even hope to match the incredible Billie Holiday. As others have noted, Billie's voice in the 1930s was absolutely wonderful although of course there were other high points in her career. This particular CD has quite a strong collection of Billie's songs recorded in 1936 and 1937; her fans will not be disappointed. This is also a terrific starter CD for people just discovering the artistry of Billie Holiday. The quality of the sound is actually rather good considering the age of these recordings; and that's excellent.

The album starts with Billie outdoing even herself on "Who Loves You?" Her voice is as clear as a bell and I'm completely charmed. Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra provide the prefect musical accompaniment to Billie's vocals and it all holds its own very well. "Pennies from Heaven" features Billie squarely front and center--which is more than quite all right by me! She delivers this without a single superfluous note and that's really impressive. "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" shines bright; and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" amazes me--this music is all THAT good. Billie swings brightly to deliver this in a way that makes it sound fresh and new as only she could; and her own orchestra works wonders for this number, too. Irving Berlin must have been proud; Billie does great justice to "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm!" "If My Heart Could Only Talk" shines brighter than silver and gold combined when Billie performs this faultlessly; and how's about that use of the brass in the musical arrangement we get from Billie's musicians?

"Please Keep Me in Your Dreams" gets a spirited treatment; Billie sounds just wonderful. Her orchestra also provides a wondrous musical accompaniment. "He Ain't Got Rhythm" pairs Billie again with Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra; "He Ain't Got Rhythm" gets the royal treatment from Billie and it's a highlight of this album. "Why Was I Born?" is outstanding in every way; Billie delves deep into this ballad to make it sublime and she succeeds every step of the way! "I Must Have That Man" shows just how well Billie could interpret the lyrics of any tune while Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra play a solid musical arrangement; and "You Showed Me The Way" has another elegant piano arrangement that, when combined with the brass, is heavenly. When Billie is singing the lyrics to "You Showed Me the Way," this number really takes flight! "Sentimental & Melancholy" stuns me with its beauty; and the CD ends with Billie Holiday performing "My Last Affair" again with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra. "My Last Affair" has Billie right in the spotlight as always and she never falters, either!

Overall, The Quintessential Billie Holiday, Vol.3: 1936-1937 is a fine CD to say the very least; and I recommend it for Billie Holiday fans. Newcomers to Billie's singular artistry will become her fans after hearing just a few numbers on this CD; and that's grand. THANK YOU, BILLIE for everything you gave to us!

Recently discovered Billie's early stuff from the 1930s. Now I know why critics have refered to Billie's work from that decade as her golden era, it is such a joy listening to her from that time. I've started buying the Quintessential CDs and have yet to be disappointed. Just when I thought volumes #4 and #5 couldn't be equalled, along comes #3 and it's right up there. It comes as a shock at first hearing Billie swing with a lot of spunk and she does it differently than Ella. The way Billie swings sounds unconventional like she's improvising to the beat and tempo of the band; also the way she stretches certain words and notes, but always in tune to the beat. It's hard to describe it, you have to listen to these recordings to experience what I'm describing. Great tracks pop up here. My favorites are "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" (about as far from Judy Garland's version as you can get), "Pennies from Heaven" "Why Was I Born" "I Must Have That Man" and "You Showed Me the Way". "You Showed Me..." was penned by none other than Billie's peer and fellow rival---Ella Fitzgerald. It's beautifully written and performed. Only gripe is sound quality could be better. I've said it before that Sony should start remastering these Quintessential volume CDs. They're too good and valuable to let stand as it is.

A third volume in priceless "Columbia" quintessential program follows young and vibrant Billie Holiday through 1936. when she was "discovered" by John Hammond (who later discovered Aretha Franklin,Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen).On this CD we can hear for the first time not just vocal chorus by Billie (as before) but songs were recorded under "Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra" which was the first step to stardom she achieved later on.Benny Goodman,Lester Young,Ben Webster,Teddy Wilson and Buck Clayton are just some of the jazz giants here - highlits are "Pennies From Heaven","This Year's Kisses" and wonderful,loving tribute to Louis Armstrong,"I Cant Give You Anything But Love".Strangely that in his usualy perfect liner notes Michael Brooks didnt mention that song "You showed Me The Way" was written by another young singer,Ella Fitzgerald.On Billie's first studio recordings Ethel Waters bitterly remarked that young singer sounds like her shoes are hurting,and in the meantime she developed beautiful,relaxed style that made her name immortal while hardly anyone remebers Ethel Waters anymore.

Recently discovered Billie's early stuff from the 1930s. Now I know why critics have refered to Billie's work from that decade as her golden era, it is such a joy listening to her from that time. I've started buying the Quintessential CDs and have yet to be disappointed. Just when I thought volumes #4 and #5 couldn't be equalled, along comes #3 and it's right up there. It comes as a shock at first hearing Billie swing with a lot of spunk and she does it differently than Ella. The way Billie swings sounds unconventional like she's improvising to the beat and tempo of the band; also the way she stretches certain words and notes, but always in tune to the beat. It's hard to describe it, you have to listen to these recordings to experience what I'm describing. Great tracks pop up here. My favorites are "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" (about as far from Judy Garland's version as you can get), "Pennies from Heaven" "Why Was I Born" "I Must Have That Man" and "You Showed Me the Way". "You Showed Me..." was penned by none other than Billie's peer and fellow rival---Ella Fitzgerald. It's beautifully written and performed. Only gripe is sound quality could be better. I've said it before that Sony should start remastering these Quintessential volume CDs. They're too good and valuable to let stand as it is.