The music Billie Holiday created includes some of the most beautiful works in jazz. Luckily a lot of her music was captured for prosterity and it lives on. Billie was an outsider, who had the gift of getting inside everyone with the capacity to hear the message she was giving. In jazz as in any other art, much is ephemeral and temporary, but Billie Holiday's work is an enduring legacy. As is proved in the 99 tracks of this 4CD set.
The Lady Sings - Holiday, Billie
Disc 1
1. I Wished On The Moon 3:05
2. What A Little Moonlight Can Do 2:58
3. Miss Brown To You 3:01
4. A Sunbonnet Blue 2:50
5. It's Like Reaching For The Moon 3:19
6. These Foolish Things 3:16
7. I Cried For You 3:11
8. Did I Remember? 2:49
9. Billie's Blues 2:37
10. A Fine Romance 2:49
11. The Way You Look Tonight 2:59
12. I Can't Give You Anything But Love 3:26
13. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 2:46
14. This Year's Kisses 3:08
15. Why Was I Born? 2:48
16. I Must Have That Man 2:53
17. My Last Affair 3:07
18. Carelessly 3:06
19. How Could You? 2:29
20. Moanin' Low 3:02
21. Mean To Me 3:06
22. Foolin' Myself 2:59
23. Easy Living 3:00
24. I'll Never Be The Same 3:02
25. Me, Myself And I 2:32
Disc 2
1. A Sailboat In The Moonlight 2:48
2. He's Funny That Way 2:37
3. Nice Work If You Can Get It 3:07
4. My Man 3:00
5. When You're Smiling 2:48
6. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me 2:43
7. On The Sentimental Side 3:02
8. Back In Your Own Backyard 2:39
9. When A Woman Loves A Man 2:23
10. You Go To My Head 2:52
11. I'm Gonna Lock My Heart And Throw Away The Key 2:07
12. The Very Thought Of You 2:44
13. I Can't Get Started 2:46
14. Say It With A Kiss 2:33
15. That's All I Ask Of You 2:55
16. Dream Of Life 2:43
17. More Than You Know 3:06
18. Sugar 2:45
19. Strange Fruit 3:07
20. Yesterdays 3:20
21. Fine And Mellow 3:12
22. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues 2:49
23. Some Other Spring 2:59
24. Them There Eyes 2:48
25. Night And Day 2:59
Disc 3
1. The Man I Love 3:03
2. You're Just A No Account 2:56
3. Ghost Of Yesterday 2:36
4. Body And Soul 2:57
5. What Is This Going To Get Us? 2:39
6. Laughing At Life 2:53
7. Time On My Hands 3:02
8. I Hear Music 2:38
9. Practice Makes Perfect 2:37
10. Let's Do It 2:55
11. Romance In The Dark 2:13
12. All Of Me 3:00
13. God Bless The Child 2:54
14. Am I Blue? 2:48
15. Solitude 3:12
16. Love Me Or Leave Me 3:18
17. Mandy Is Two 2:58
18. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie 3:01
19. Until The Real Thing Comes Along 3:07
20. Trav'lin' Light 3:15
21. How Am I To Know? 2:44
22. My Old Flame 3:02
23. I'll Get By 2:58
24. I Cover The Waterfront 3:30
25. I'll Be Seeing You 3:30
Disc 4
1. I'm Yours 3:15
2. Embraceable You 3:15
3. As Time Goes By 3:11
4. He's Funny That Way 3:15
5. Lover Come Back To Me 3:19
6. Billie's Blues 3:07
7. On The Sunny Side Of The Street 3:01
8. Lover Man 3:21
9. That Old Devil Called Love 2:52
10. Don't Explain 3:20
11. You Better Go Now 2:42
12. What Is This Thing Called Love? 3:14
13. Good Morning Heartache 3:08
14. Big Stuff 2:32
15. There Is No Greater Love 2:59
16. I Loves You Porgy 2:57
17. Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do 3:21
18. Baby Get Lost 3:16
19. Them There Eyes 2:50
20. Gimme A Pigfoot And A Bottle Of Beer 2:45
21. Now Or Never 3:18
22. You're My Thrill 3:24
23. Crazy He Calls Me 3:04
24. Somebody's On My Mind 2:55
Discography
DISC ONE - This Years Kisses
Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Roy Eldridge, tp; Benny Goodman, cl (-1); Ben Webster, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; John Trueheart, g; John Kirby, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, February 2, 1935.
17766-1 I WISHED ON THE MOON (-1) Brunswick 7501
17767-1 WHAT A LITTLE MOONLIGHT CAN DO (-1) Brunswick 7498
17768-1 MISS BROWN TO YOU (-1) Brunswick 7501
17769-1 A SUNBONNET BLUE Brunswick 7498
Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Jonah Jones, tp; Johnny Hodges, as; Harry Carney, cl, bs; Teddy Wilson, p; Lawrence Lucie, g; John Kirby, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, June 30, 1936.
19495-2 ITâ??S LIKE REACHING FOR THE MOON Brunswick 7702
19496-2 THESE FOOLISH THINGS Brunswick 7699
19498-2 I CRIED FOR YOU Brunswick 7729
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Bunny Berigan, tp; Artie Shaw, cl; Joe Bushkin, p; Dick McDonough, g; Pete Peterson, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, July 10, 1936.
19535-1 DID I REMEMBER? Vocalion/Okeh 3276
19538-1 BILLIEâ??S BLUES Vocalion/Okeh 3288
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Bunny Berigan, tp; Irving Fazola, cl; Clyde Hart, p; Dick McDonough, g; Artie Berstein, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, September 29, 1936.
199971-1 A FINE ROMANCE Vocalion/Okeh 3333
Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Irving Randolph, tp; Vido Musso, cl; Ben Webster, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Allen Reuss, g; Milt Hinton, b; Gene Krupa, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, October 21, 1936.
20107-2 THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT Brunswick 7762
Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Jonah Jones, tp; Benny Goodman, cl; Ben Webster, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Allen Reuss, g; John Kirby, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, November 19, 1936.
20293-1 I CANâ??T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT LOVE Brunswick 7781
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Jonah Jones, tp; Edgar Sampson, cl, as; Ben Webster, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Allen Reuss, g; John Kirby, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, January 12, 1937.
20507-1 Iâ??VE GOT MY LOVE TO KEEP ME WARM Vocalion/Okeh 3431
Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Buck Clayton, tp; Benny Goodman, cl; Lester Young, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, January 25, 1937.
20569-2 THIS YEARâ??S KISSES Brunswick 7824
20570-1 WHY WAS I BORN? Brunswick 7859
20571-2 I MUST HAVE THAT MAN Brunswick 7859
Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Henry â??Redâ?Allen, tp; Cecil Scott, cl; Prince Robinson, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; James McLin, g; John Kirby, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, February 18, 1937.
20701 MY LAST AFFAIR Brunswick 7840
Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Cootie Williams, tp; Johnny Hodges, as; Harry Carney, cl, bs; Teddy Wilson, p; Allen Reuss, g; John Kirby, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, March 31, 1937.
20911-3 CARELESSLY Brunswick 7867
20912-1 HOW COULD YOU? Brunswick 7867
20913-1 MOANINâ?? LOW Brunswick 7877
Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Buck Clayton, tp; Buster Bailey, cl; Johnny Hodges, as; Lester Young, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Alen Reuss, g; Artie Bernstein, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, May 11, 1937.
21120-1 MEAN TO ME Brunswick 7903
Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Buck Clayton, tp; Buster Bailey, cl; Lester Young, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, June 1, 1937.
21217-1 FOOLINâ?? MYSELF Brunswick 7911
21218-1 EASY LIVING Brunswick 7911
21219-2 Iâ??LL NEVER BE THE SAME Brunswick 7926
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Buck Clayton, tp; Edmond Hall, cl; Lester Young, ts; James Sherman, p; Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, June 15, 1937.
21249-2 ME, MYSELF AND I Vocalion/Okeh 3593
DISC TWO - STRANGE FRUIT
Same personnel and date as â??ME, MYSELF AND Iâ?
21250-1 A SAILBOAT IN THE MOONLIGHT Vocalion/Okeh 3605
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Buck Clayton, tp; Buster Bailey, cl; Lester Young, ts; Claude Thornhill, p; Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, September 13, 1937.
21689-1 HEâ??S FUNNY THAT WAY Vocalion/Okeh 3748
Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Buck Clayton, t; Prince Robinson, cl; Vido Musso, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Allen Reuss, g; Walter Page, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, November 1, 1937.
21982-1 NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT Brunswick 8015
21984-1 MY MAN Brunswick 8008
Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Buck Clayton, tp; Benny Morton, tb; Lester Young, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, January 6, 1938.
22194-3 WHEN YOUâ??RE SMILING Brunswick 8070
22195-4 I CANâ??T BELIEVE THAT YOUâ??RE IN LOVE WITH ME Brunswick 8070
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Same personnel as above.
New York, January 12, 1938.
22282-2 ON THE SENTIMENTAL SIDE Vocalion 3947
22283-1 BACK IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD Vocalion 4029
22284-1 WHEN A WOMAN LOVES A MAN Vocalion 4029
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Bernard Anderson, tp; Buster Bailey, cl; Babe Russin, ts; Claude Thornhill, p; John Kirby, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, May 11, 1938.
22921-1 YOU GO TO MY HEAD Vocalion 4126
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Charlie Shavers, tp; Buster Bailey, cl; Ben Webster, ts; Claude Thornhill, p; Allen Reuss, g; John Kirby, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, June 23, 1938.
23467-1 THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU Vocalion 4457
23468-1 I CANâ??T GET STARTED Vocalion 4457
Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Harry James, tp; Benny Morton, tb; Edgar Sampson, Benny Carter, as; Lester Young, Herschel Evans, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Al Casey, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, October 31, 1938.
23687-1 SAY IT WITH A KISS Brunswick 8270
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Charlie Shavers, tp; Tyree Glenn, tb; Chu Berry, ts; Sonny White, p; Al Casey, g; John Williams, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, January 20, 1939.
23992-1 THATâ??S ALL I ASK OF YOU Vocalion 4631
23993-1 DREAM OF LIFE Vocalion 4631
Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Roy Eldridge, tp; Ernie Powell, cl, ts; Benny Carter, as, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Danny Barker, g; Milt Hinton, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, January 30, 1939.
24046-1 MORE THAN YOU KNOW Brunswick 8319
24047-1 SUGAR Brunswick 8319
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Frankie Newton, tp; (-1), Tab Smith (-1), ss, as; Kenneth Hollon, Stanley Payne, ts; Sonny White, p; Jimmy McLin, g; John Williams, b; Eddie Dougherty, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, April 20, 1939.
24403-B STRANGE FRUIT (-1) Commodore 526
24404-A YESTERDAYS Commodore 527
24405-A FINE AND MELLOW (-1) Commodore 526
24406-B I GOTTA RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES (-1) Commodore 527
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Charlie Shavers, tp; Tab Smith, as; Kenneth Hollon, Stanley Payne, ts; Sonny White, p; Bernard Addison, g; John Williams, b; Eddie Dougherty, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, July 5, 1939.
24877-A SOME OTHER SPRING Vocalion 5021
24879-A THEM THERE EYES Vocalion 5021
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Buck Clayton, Harry Edison, tp; Earl Warren, as; Jack Washington, as, bs; Lester Young, ts; Joe Sullivan, p; Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, December 13, 1939.
26341-A NIGHT AND DAY Vocalion 5377
DISC THREE â?? GOD BLESS THE CHILD
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Same personnel and date as â??Night and Dayâ?.
26342-A THE MAN I LOVE Vocalion 5377
26343-A YOUâ??RE JUST A NO ACCOUNT Vocalion 5302
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Roy Eldridge, tp; Jimmy Powell, Carl Frye, as; Kermit Scott, ts; Sonny White, p; Lawrence Lucie, g; John Williams, b; Harold â??Docâ? West, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, February 29, 1940.
26572-A GHOST OF YESTERDAY Vocalion 5609
26573-A BODY AND SOUL Vocalion 5481
26574-A WHAT IS THIS GOING TO GET US? Vocalion 5481
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Roy Eldridge, tp; Bill Bowen, Joe Eldridge, as; Kermit Scott, Lester Young, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; J.C. Heard, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, June 7, 1940.
26902-A LAUGHING AT LIFE Okeh 5719
26903-A TIME ON MY HANDS Okeh 5991
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Roy Eldridge, tp; Georgie Auld, Don Redman, as; Don Byas, Jimmy Hamilton, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; John Collins, g; Al Hall, b; Kenny Clarke, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, September 12, 1940.
28618-1 I HEAR MUSIC Okeh 5831
28620-1 PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Okeh 5806
Billie Holiday acc. by Eddie Heywood and his Orchestra : Shad Collins, tp; Leslie Johnakins, Eddie Barefield, as; Lester Young, ts; Eddie Heywood, p; John Collins, g; Ted Sturgis, b; Kenny Clarke, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, March 21, 1941.
30458-1 GOD BLESS THE CHILD Okeh 6270
30459-1 AM I BLUE? Columbia 37586
30460-1 SOLITUDE Okeh 6270
Billie Holiday, acc. by Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra : Emmett Berry, tp; Jimmy Hamilton, cl; Hymie Schertzer, as; Babe Russin, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Al Casey, g; John Williams, b; J.C. Heard, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, August 7, 1941.
31004-1 LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME Okeh 6369
Same personnel as above, but Gene Fields, g; replaces Casey.
New York, February 10, 1942.
32406-1 MANDY IS TWO Columbia CL 2428
32407-1 ITâ??S A SIN TO TELL A LIE Columbia 6163
32408-1 UNTIL THE REAL THING COMES ALONG Columbia 37493
Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra : Monty Kelly, Larry Neill, Don Waddilove, tp; Skip Layton, Murray McEachern & other, tb; Alvy West, Dan dâ??Andrea, Lennie Hartman and other, cl, as, ts; Buddy Weed, p; Mike Pingitore, g; Artie Shapiro, b; Willie Rodriguez, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
Los Angeles, June 12, 1942.
CAP 30-A TRAVâ??LINâ?? LIGHT Capitol 116
Billie Holiday acc. by Eddie Heywood and his Orchestra : Doc Cheatham, tp; Vic Dickenson, tb; Lem Davis, as; Eddie Heywood, p; John Simmons, b; Teddy Walters, g; Sid Catlett, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, March 25, 1944.
A4742-3 HOW AM I TO KNOW? Commodore C-569
A4743-1 MY OLD FLAME Commodore C-569
A4744-1 Iâ??LL GET BY Commodore C-533
A4745-2 I COVER THE WATERFRONT Commodore C-559
Same personnel as above, but omit Walters, g.
New York, April 1, 1944.
A4750-1 Iâ??LL BE SEEING YOU Commodore C-553
DISC FOUR - LOVER MAN
Same date and personnel as â??Iâ??LL BE SEEING YOUâ?.
A 4751-1 Iâ??M YOURS Commodore C 585
A 4752-2 EMBRACEABLE YOU Commodore C 7520
A 4753-1 AS TIME GOES BY Commodore C 7520
Billie Holiday, voc. acc. by : Eddie Heywood, p; John Simmons, b; Sid Catlett, d.
New York, April 8, 1944.
A 4754-2 HEâ??S FUNNY THAT WAY Commodore C-569
A 4755-2 LOVER COME BACK TO ME Commodore C-559
A 4755-2 BILLIEâ??S BLUES Commodore C-614
A 4757-1 ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET Commodore C-614
Billie Holiday with Toots Camarata and his Orchestra : Russ Case, tp; Hymie Schertzer, Jack Cressey, as; Larry Biniyon, Paul Ricci, ts; Dave Bowman, p; Carl Kress, g; Haig Stephens, b; Johnny Blowers, d; Six Strings, Toots Camarata, arr, cond; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, October 4, 1944.
72404 LOVER MAN Decca 23391
Same personnel as above, but Dave Harris, ts, replaces Ricci; George Wettling, d, replaces Blowers.
New York, November 8, 1944.
72497 THAT OLD DEVIL CALLED LOVE Decca 23391
Billie Holiday with Bob Haggart and his Orchestra : Joe Guy, tp; Bill Stegmeyer, cl, as; Hank Ross, Armand Cambros, ts; Stan Webb, bs; Sammy Benskin, p; Tiny Grimes, g; Bob Haggart, b, cond; Specs Powell, d; six strings; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, August 14, 1945.
73006 DONâ??T EXPLAIN Decca 23565
73009 YOU BETTER GO NOW Decca 23483
73009 WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE? Decca 23565
Billie Holiday with Bill Stegmeyerâ??s Orchestra : Gordon Griffin, Joe Guy, tp; Bill Stegmeyer, as, cond; Hank Ross, Bernie Kaufman, Armand Cambros, ts; Joe Springer, p; Tiny Grimes, g; John Simmons, b; Sid Catlett, d; 4 strings; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, January 22, 1946.
73300 GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE Decca 23676
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Joe Guy, p; Joe Springer, p; Tiny Grimes, g; Billy Taylor, b; Kelly Martin, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, March 13, 1946.
73440 BIG STUFF Decca 23463
Billie Holiday with Bob Haggart and his Orchestra : Billy Butterfield, tp; Bill Stegmeyer, cl, as; Toots Mondello, Al Klink, as; Hank Ross, Art Drellinger, ts; Bobby Tucker, p; Dan Perry, g; Bob Haggart, b, cond; Bunny Shawker, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, February 13, 1947.
73793 THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE Decca 23853
Billie Holiday and her Orchestra : Bobby Tucker, p; Mundell Lowe, g; John Levy, b; Denzil Best, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, December 10, 1948.
74652 I LOVES YOU PORGY Decca 24638
Billie Holiday with Buster Hardingâ??s Orchestra : Jimmy Nottingham, Buck Clayton, Emmett Berry, tp; Dickie Wells, George Matthews, tb; Rudy Powell, George Dorsey, as; Lester Young, Joe Thomas, ts; Sol Moore, bs; Horace Henderson, p; Mundell Lowe, g; George Duvivier, b; Shadow Wilson, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, August 17, 1949.
75147 AINâ??T NOBODYâ??S BUSINESS IF I DO Decca 24726
75148 BABY GET LOST Decca 24726
Billie Holiday with Sy Oliver and his Orchestra : Bernie Privin, Tony Faso, Dick Vance, tp; Henderson Chambers, Mort Bullman, tb; George Dorsey, Johnny Mince, as; Budd Johnson, Fred Williams, ts; Eddie Barefield, bs, cl; Horace Henderson, p; Everett Barksdale, g; George Duvivier, b; Cozy Cole, d; Sy Oliver, arr, cond; Billie Holiday, voc.
August 29, 1949.
75204 THEM THERE EYES Decca 24745
Billie Holiday with Sy Oliver and his Orchestra : Shad Collins, Buck Clayton, Bobby Williams, tp; George Stevenson, Henderson Chambers, tb; George Dorsey, Pete Clark, as; Budd Johnson, Freddie Williams, ts; Dave McRae, bs; Horace Henderson, p; Everett Barksdale, g; Joe Benjamin, b; Wallace Bishop, d; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, September 8, 1949.
75242 GIMME A PIGFOOT AND A BOTTLE OF BEER Decca 24947
Billie Holiday with Sy Oliver and his Orchestra : Bernie Privin, tp; Sid Cooper, Johnny Mince, as; Art Drellinger, Pat Niazza, ts; Billy Kyle, p; Everett Barksdale, g; Joe Benjamin, b; Jimmy Crawford, d; Billy Holiday, voc.
New York, September 30, 1949.
75344 NOW OR NEVER Decca 24947
Billie Holiday with Gordon Jenkinsâ?? Orchestra : Bobby Hackett, tp; Milt Yaner, cl, as; John Fulton, cl, ts; Bernie Leighton, p; Tony Mottola, g; Jack Lesberg, b; Bunny Shawker, d; strings; Billie Holiday, voc.
New York, October 19, 1949.
75421 YOUâ??RE MY THRILL Decca 24796
75422 CRAZY HE CALLS ME Decca 24796
75423 SOMEBODYâ??S ON MY MIND Decca 24857