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Songs for DistinguÃ© Lovers [12 Tracks]

Artist: Billie Holiday
Total time: 32:56
Availability: In stock
Item #: 20415545

Your Price: $14.98

Review

During the six days and four sessions covered by this 1997 CD (which in its original form consisted of six songs), Billie Holiday recorded 18 titles; a dozen of the best are here, although "Comes Love" is unaccountably missing. This were the last series of extensive small-group recordings that Lady Day would make in the studios. Although her voice was largely shot at this point, she puts so much feeling into some of the lyrics that one can often overlook her dark sound. The all-star band (trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, pianist Jimmie Rowles, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Red Mitchell, and Alvin Stoller or Larry Bunker on drums) is a major asset, and there are plenty of short solos for Edison, Webster and Kessel. Holiday does her best on such numbers as "A Foggy Day," "One for My Baby," "Just One of Those Things" and "I Wished on the Moon," and there are plenty of haunting moments, even if one could tell (even at the time) that the end was probably drawing near for the singer. The music is still well worth having, although completists will prefer a collection with all 18 songs, while beginners should sample Holiday's Columbia and Decca output first. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Track Listing

1. Day In - Day Out	6:45
2. Foggy Day	4:39
3. Stars Fell on Alabama	4:26
4. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)	5:37
5. Just One of Those Things	5:29
6. I Didn't Know What Time It Was	6:00
7. Let's Call the Whole Thing Off	3:27
8. I Wished on the Moon	3:29
9. They Can't Take That Away from Me	4:13
10. Body and Soul	6:25
11. Moonlight in Vermont	3:53
12. Love Is Here to Stay	3:41

Details of This Recording

Label: Verve
Credits:
Additional Info:
Styles:
- Vocal Jazz
- Traditional Pop
- Swing
- Ballads
- Classic Female Blues

Day In, Day Out; A Foggy Day; Stars Fell on Alabama; One for My Baby (and One More for the Road); Just One of Those Things; I Didn't Know What Time it Was; Let's Call the Whole Thing Off; I Wished on the Moon; They Can't Take That Away From Me; Body and Soul; Moonlight in Vermont; Love Is Here to Stay.

Billie Holiday, Vocals; Harry ''Sweets'' Edison, Trumpet; Ben Webster, Sax; Jimmy Rowles, Piano; Barney Kessel, Guitar; Red Mitchell, Bass; Alvin Stoller, Drums.

Read About This Recording

During the 1950's, the legendary Billie Holiday's voice gradually changed, becoming lower, darker and more emotional. Her underrated Verve recordings found her matched with top swing stylists and exploring superior American popular songs. This CD, expanded from the original six selections to a dozen, teams Lady Day with trumpeter Harry Sweets Edison, tenor-saxophonist Ben Webster and a rhythm section that includes pianist Jimmie Rowles and guitarist Barney Kessel in January of 1957. Holiday always put a great deal of meaning into the words she interpreted and one can hear her really digging into the lyrics of such songs as One For My Baby, Just One Of Those Things, I Wished On the Moon and Body And Soul. A memorable outing.

-Scott Yanow

Spotlight

Holiday always put a great deal of meaning into the words she interpreted and one can hear her really digging into the lyrics of such songs as One For My Baby, Just One Of Those Things, I Wished On the Moon and Body And Soul. A memorable outing.