Billie Holiday: The Complete Decca Recordings [BOX SET]

Billie Holiday

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 1, 1991)
• Original Release Date: October 1, 1991
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B000003N36
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,686 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Holiday recorded for Decca between 1944 and 1950, a period in which she was at the heights of both her popularity and her vocal powers. The music is less jazz-oriented in its backing than were the earlier Columbia and Commodore or later Verve recordings, but these are superb vocal performances, including matchless renderings of "Lover Man," "Don't Explain," and "Solitude." Holiday achieved the highest level that torch singing has ever known, creating consummately expressive, almost etched renditions that are richly nuanced, often enhanced by tasteful string arrangements. Holiday's deepest musical sources are strongly evident in songs associated with Bessie Smith, including the earthy "Gimme a Pigfoot (and a Bottle of Beer)," and two spirited duets with Louis Armstrong. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TRULY the BEST of Billie Holliday, October 22, 2002

By	Bill Mydo "Founder of the Bill Mydo Institute... (Twin Peaks, WA) - See all my reviews

No arguments here with any of the other reviewers. I give this set 5 stars because they don't have 6.

This box set truly captures Billie Holliday at the peak of her craft. Her voice never sounds better. Secondly, the arrangements are fantastic and rarely have I heard musical accompaniment that so masterfully compliments and highlights a singer's voice. Finally, the tracks are impeccably mastered and recorded. The original recordings are wonderful and they don't use modern sound technology to clean up the recordings to the point they sound stale and sanitized. The sound quality is rich and truthful; yet no annoying hiss or other imperfections.

I believe Billie was at the height of her popularity during the Decca era and she never gets better musicians to work with or a better selection of songs to "interpret." This is after the "tin pan alley" era and before Billie gets strung out and jazzed out with sparse arrangements and accompaniments.

Simply put, this is the best music ever recorded, by one of the 20th Century's greatest artists.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential collection, beautifully remastered, June 23, 1998

By A Customer

I heard my first Billie Holiday recording in college in the 60s. It was a double LP called "The Billie Holiday Story" on the Decca label, in "enhanced stereo". I fell in love with her voice and bought the album, which I proceeded to play so often that the grooves wore down. So it was with extreme pleasure and anticipation that I read of this CD set, which contains all of the tracks from the LPs, as well as all of Billie's other recordings for Decca. The digital remastering is superb, and to hear the songs in their original monaural sound instead of the "re-channeled" stereo of the LPs is a revelation.

At first, I was tempted to program around the numerous alternate tracks, but as time went on, I was very glad that the producers included everything. Listen to the alternate of "No More", rescued from the MCA Japan vaults; despite substandard sound, the power of Billie's voice comes through, with nuances which make it quite different from the recording which was released. It's fascinating to hear the four takes of "Big Stuff", a show tune by Leonard Bernstein, as Billie finally manages to make it her own.

And of course all her truly great recordings from this era are here: "Lover Man," "Solitude", "My Man", and more. The package includes extensive notes and recording information. This is an outstanding and loving tribute to one of the greatest singers of the 20th century.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, November 5, 2001

By	G. Sawaged (Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is a wonderful 2cd box set which does exactly what box sets should do. There is a wealth of alternate takes and previously unreleased songs. We even get to hear the great Louis Armstrong duet "My sweet hunk o' trash", in which he sings the "f" word, as in "F... 'em, baby". It was later withdrawn and "sanitized", but we get to hear the original. Also we get some breakdowns and studio chatter, always a curiosity for true fans of any artist, as it makes them seem more human. The 40 page booklet is great, and includes loads of photos, and 2 essays, one by Milt Gabler (Billie's Decca producer), and the other by Steve Lasker, the producer of this set. Also there are interesting comments on the source materials and a Bibliography. This is one box set that no fan of Billie's should be without.