This is cracking value with over 80 of her tracks from two thirds of her studio album output. Most of the output was in fact `compilation' albums. These were issued before her first studio album in 1952 - mainly from all of her singles which were issued from 1934 to 1946. The rest were issued after her death. This set features 8 of her 12 original studio albums. The albums' span from 1952 to 1957. She died in 1959, aged just 44. `Solitude' is a re-release of her first album `Billie Holiday Sings.'
BH had just two number one singles. Her number one in the R&B charts, `Trav'lin' Light,' is on what I consider to be the best album of the collection - `Lady Sings the Blues.' Of course, her biography, and eventually the film of her life (Diana Ross) came from this album's title.
Her best two albums of this collection are thought to be (All Music ratings) the aforementioned, `Lady Sings' and `Music for Touching.'
The album `Velvet Mood' is apparently `out of print' and so this set is just about the only place that you can get it. BH had such a strong, almost gritty voice which was so distinctive. The support musicians are just wonderful - quality all round.
A lot of the songs on here are from the `American Song Book.' At times I found them rather one paced, samey or a little too low key but it seems that this was the style of the day. I would have preferred a little more up tempo stuff over the piece but I did enjoy listening to such a great musical icon.
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Thespionic
All You Need to Know About Billie
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 June 2013Verified Purchase
Matt
Great Voice, Great Songs
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 July 2014Verified Purchase
Katcis
Good quality sound
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 January 2021Verified Purchase
Dennis Hurrell
in excellent condition, i have throughly enjoyed listening to it
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 July 2014Verified Purchase
WizBiz
Billie at her best
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 May 2018Verified Purchase
