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The other thing I noticed, was that the songs in the complete set were presented at sometimes very different listening (loudness) levels, which makes it almost impossible to create a self made CD, because you'd have to run to the stereo set and adjust the loudness level.But the most important thing (which is why I'm writing this review) is: All my favorite, "positive" love songs are contained in this "Love Songs" CD. (Maybe buy just the one song). This "Love Songs" (No 1) is a perfect collection of almost all of Billie Holiday's positive, happy love songs, plus some slightly masochistic, yet beautiful ones, as "My Man". Lester Young's playing behind Billie is just unbelieveably tender and loving, with such a wonderful improvisation. I have 33 Billie Holiday CDs, by every studio, but If I had none, and somone would offer me a gift of either the Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia, or this single "Love Songs" CD, I would prefer the latter.I highly recommend it. I'm only really missing two songs, "It's like reaching for the moon", and especially the beloved "Without your love", both of which could be construed as being "negative" love songs, because she really is only mourning or hoping without the fulfillment of love in sight. Unfortunately the recording quality of this song is much dimmer and more muffled than all the others in the complete set, which may be why it's not contained in any "best of" collections, but please listen to it, from beginning to end, if you ever get the chance.
All the songs after "My Man" have a wonderful sequence, one flows into the next, and the person who put together the sequence on this CD has created a work of art in itself. AFter loving this very CD so much, I purchased the Complete Set of Billie Holidays songs for Columbia, and listened to each song and made notations so I could burn for myself a CD of all of her positive love songs, then a CD 2 of her what I called (in my notations) "Negative Love Songs" (mournful, masochistic, lost love etc, all of which I appreciate, too), and a CD 3 of all other good songs.I noticed two things: there are many songs in the complete set that I really don't like, because they have dumb words and forgettable melodies (although all of them are worth listening at least once). Anyway, I LOVE this "Love Songs" CD for sale her. I really, really love "Without your love". He is really making love to her (singing). I can't stop listening to this CD (which I've owned since 1996 (with another cover, but identical content). It puts me in a wonderful, positive mood every time I listen to it.
She is a fan of this artist, and was wanting this for a long time. Gave it as a gife to her. She loves it.
This one is a must-have if you want to assemble a top-flight Billie Holiday collection. The best treat in this candy dish is hearing her sing with Count Basie on the piano, in THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME. All the recordings were made between 1935-1942 when her perfect natural voice was still like a bell, and her musical instincts were in full bloom. Unlike her later recordings, there is no sign of the sad toll her lifestyle took on her voice. The Sony remasterings are brilliant and even, and very far above the so-so quality of most Lady Day anthologies - don't pass this one up. A NOTE ABOUT THE ALBUM COVER ART - Take a look at the second version of the cover art with Holiday's portrait - this is the cover of the CD we picked up.
Many of these sessions were led by Teddy Wilson (the leader with whom she is most closely associated during this period), who led on nearly half of the selections on this CD, and features legends like Ben Webster, Lester Young, and Buck Clayton.The songs are of a higher quality than many of the pieces Holiday was given to record during her earliest recording years (probably due to the strength of her fame by the mid-1930s), and her renditions of 'All of Me', 'You Go to My Head', 'The Very Thought of You', and 'The Way You Look Tonight', are comparable with any versions of these standards. Along with 'Lady in Autumn' this is probably the best compilation of Billie Holiday's work. (It should be noted that Holiday's gift was so unique that she didn't have to 'learn' her craft: her earliest recordings are classics (a distinction even the great Ella Fitzgerald doesn't enjoy, as Ella's best recordings didn't begin until the 1950s)).These performances represent Holiday's voice in its physical prime, and her sound is so profound that even the exceptional soloists and session musicians cannot upstage her, though she really gets a run for her money on 'The Way You Look Tonight'. Superbly remastered, it is arguably the finest representation of jazz singing in this period EXCEPT for Lady's other recordings during this time. The reason for this is not only Billie Holiday's extraordinary sound (which defined jazz singing with each note), but the quality of the musicians who accompanied her. My personal favorite on this CD, it features marvelous reed solos (especially trumpet and the opening clarinet solo) and an impeccable rhythm session with Milt Hinton on bass, Gene Krupa on drums, and Teddy Wilson on piano. Indeed, it is worth purchasing the CD just to hear Holiday's fellow musicians.This CD belongs in any credible jazz collection, and is a wonderful entry for anyone wanting exposure to the best music of this period.
Anybody who loves jazz and the blues cannot be without this Billie Holiday CD. I love it. I can listen to it all day. It's a pleasure to hear great jazz and such an incredible voice.
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