Billie Holiday Buying Guide

Billie Holiday  was born Eleanora Fagan in Baltimore, Maryland on April 7, 1915.

Although her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues,  contains many vivid stories of Holiday's early life, most of its facts were later discovered to be inaccurate. But all you have to do is listen to one of her many songs to learn about this remarkable vocalist: "Don't Explain, " "God Bless the Child, " and of course, "Lady Sings the Blues. " Holiday's pitch and phrasing was unlike any other vocalist's in that not only could she hold you with almost every note, but she had the ability to go deeper than the lyrics of a song and paint pictures of her own fascinating, yet tortured life's journey.

We lost our "Lady Day"  on July 17, 1959 at the age of 44. Although her life was cut short due to racism and drug abuse, Billie Holiday's unique voice and unparalleled style have made her an important figure not only in popular music, but in American culture. 

Discography

Billie Holiday Sings  Verve Records reissued this 1956 classic under a new name, "Solitude ," with six additional songs, including the Rodgers and Hart tune, "Blue Moon, " Cole Porter 's "You'd Be So Easy to Love, " and the hauntingly beautiful "(In My) Solitude. "	An Evening with Billie Holiday  Almost the entire album is devoted to a lost love and a broken heart with songs like "Stormy Weather, " "Lover Come Back to Me, " "I Can't Face the Music, " and "My Man. "	Lady Sings the Blues  With Harry "Sweets" Edison and Charlie Shavers sharing trumpet duty and Wynton Kelly on piano, this is one of Holiday's finest Verve recordings. Songs like "Good Morning Heartache"  and "God Bless the Child"  have become important standards in popular music.	Body and Soul  Tenor saxophonist Ben Webster was one of many fine jazz musicians on this classic album, which includes songs like "Moonlight in Vermont, " "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off, " "Darn That Dream, " and the title track, "Body and Soul. "	Songs for Distingué Lovers  Teaming up with jazz musicians like trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison and tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, this album brings you classic ballads, but with Holiday's unique spin on songs like Cole Porter 's "Just One of Those Things, " "Stars Fell on Alabama, " and Gershwin 's "Love Is Here to Stay. "

All or Nothing at All  Holiday gives us her take on popular standards such as Irving Berlin 's "Cheek to Cheek"  and "Say It Isn't So. " However, she also revisits a few jazz classics like Duke Ellington 's "Sophisticated Lady. " With her phrasing and trills, Holiday makes each song undeniably her own.	Lady in Satin  Her final studio album was released in 1958, a year before her death. Although her voice is more gravely due to long years of drug abuse, Holiday's phrasing and sheer emotion stands out even moreso on songs like "I'm a Fool to Want You, " "You've Changed, " "But Beautiful, " and "For All We Know. "	Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport  Recorded live at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1957, this wonderful recording features performings from perhaps two of (if not) the greatest jazz vocalists who ever lived--Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.	At Monterey 1958  Recorded during the first year of the Monterey Jazz Festival, it was both Holiday's first and last appearance at the festival. She's backed by a number of great musicians including baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and jazz musican Benny Carter.	Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933–1944  Released in 2001, this 10-disc box set features not only "Lady Day 's" original recordings, but alternative versions and outtakes as well. This wonderful compilation also includes essays written by some of today's artists that she's inspired including Tony Bennett,  Jill Scott,  Abbey Lincoln,  and Elvis Costello.

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External Links

• Wikipedia.org: General overview of the life and music of Billie Holiday.