What a Little Moonlight Can Do - Billie Holiday, Woods, H.
Miss Brown to You - Billie Holiday, Rainger, R.
If You Were Mine - Billie Holiday, Malneck, M.
These 'N' That 'N' Those - Billie Holiday, Fairchild, E.
You Let Me Down - Billie Holiday, Dubin, A.
Spreadin' Rhythm Around - Billie Holiday, Koehler, T.
Life Begins When You're in Love - Billie Holiday, Brown, L.
It's Like Reaching for the Moon - Billie Holiday, Lewis, A.
These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You) - Billie Holiday, Maschwitz, E.
I Cried for You - Billie Holiday, Arnheim, G.
Did I Remember? - Billie Holiday, Adamson, H.
No Regrets - Billie Holiday, Ingraham, R.
Summertime - Billie Holiday, Gershwin, G.
Billie's Blues - Billie Holiday, Holiday, B.
A Fine Romance - Billie Holiday, Fields, D.
One, Two, Button Your Shoe - Billie Holiday, Burke, J.
Easy to Love - Billie Holiday, Porter, C.
The Way You Look Tonight - Billie Holiday, Fields, D.
Pennies from Heaven - Billie Holiday, Burke, J.
Track Listings (20) - Disc #2
That's Life I Guess - Billie Holiday, DeRose, P.
I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Billie Holiday, Fields, D.
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm - Billie Holiday, Berlin, I.
He Ain't Got Rhythm - Billie Holiday, Berlin, I.
This Year's Kisses - Billie Holiday, Berlin, I.
Why Was I Born? - Billie Holiday, Hammerstein, O. II
I Must Have That Man - Billie Holiday, Fields, D.
The Mood That I'm In - Billie Holiday, Sherman, A.
You Showed Me the Way - Billie Holiday, Fitzgerald, E.
My Last Affair - Billie Holiday, Johnson, H.
Moanin' Low - Billie Holiday, Dietz, H.
Where Is the Sun? - Billie Holiday, Lee, D.
Let's Call the Whole Thing Off - Billie Holiday, Gershwin, G.
They Can't Take That Away from Me - Billie Holiday, Gershwin, G.
Don't Know If I'm Comin' or Goin' - Billie Holiday, Fein, L.
I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You) - Billie Holiday, Ahlert, F.
Mean to Me - Billie Holiday, Ahlert, F.
Foolin' Myself - Billie Holiday, Lawrence, J.
Easy Living - Billie Holiday, Rainger, R.
I'll Never Be the Same - Billie Holiday, Kahn, G.
Track Listings (20) - Disc #3
Me, Myself and I - Billie Holiday, Gordon, I.
A Sailboat in the Moonlight - Billie Holiday, Loeb, J.
Without Your Love - Billie Holiday, Lange, J.
Trav'lin' All Alone - Billie Holiday, Johnson, JC
He's Funny That Way - Billie Holiday, Moret, N.
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Billie Holiday, Gershwin, G.
Things Are Looking Up - Billie Holiday, Gershwin, G.
My Man - Billie Holiday, Charles, J.
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man - Billie Holiday, Hammerstein, O. II
When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You) - Billie Holiday, Fisher, M.
On the Sentimental Side - Billie Holiday, Burke, J.
When a Woman Loves a Man - Billie Holiday, Hanighen, B.
You Go to My Head - Billie Holiday, Coots, J.F.
I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (And Throw Away the Key) - Billie Holiday, Eaton, J.
The Very Thought of You - Billie Holiday, Noble, R.
I Can't Get Started - Billie Holiday, Duke, V.
More Than You Knoe - Billie Holiday, Eliscu, E.
Sugar - Billie Holiday, Mitchell, S.
Long Gone Blues - Billie Holiday, Holiday, B.
Some Other Spring - Billie Holiday, Herzog, A.
Track Listings (20) - Disc #4
Them There Eyes - Billie Holiday, Pinkard, M.
Swing! Brother, Swing! - Billie Holiday, Bishop, W.
Night and Day - Billie Holiday, Porter, C.
The Man I Love - Billie Holiday, Gershwin, G.
Body and Soul - Billie Holiday, Eyton, F.
Falling in Love Again - Billie Holiday, Hollander, F.
Laughing at Life - Billie Holiday, Kenny, C.
Time on My Hands (You in My Arms) - Billie Holiday, Adamson, H.
St. Louis Blues - Billie Holiday, Handy, W.C.
Loveless Love - Billie Holiday, Handy, W.C.
Let's Do It - Billie Holiday, Porter, C.
Georgia on My Mind - Billie Holiday, Carmichael, H.
All of Me - Billie Holiday, Marks, G.
God Bless the Child - Billie Holiday, Herzog, A.
Am I Blue? - Billie Holiday, Akst, H.
I Cover the Waterfront - Billie Holiday, Green, J.
Love Me or Leave Me - Billie Holiday, Donaldson, W.
Gloomy Sunday - Billie Holiday, Javor, L.
It's a Sin to Tell a Lie - Billie Holiday, Mayhew, B.
Until the Real Thing Comes Along - Billie Holiday, Cahn, S.
Billie Holiday's story is so huge, her artistry so vast, and her impact so incalculable, that even attempting to corral a representative sampling of it within a single collection of recordings is an overwhelming, perhaps f... more »oolhardy task. Many have tried, of course, and literally hundreds of options of varying quality and legitimacy, scattered across dozens of labels, are available to the consumer. Neophytes, or those not willing to commit to a gargantuan listening session, can settle for any number of single- or double-CD best-ofs that adequately present Holiday's most important, better-known music.« less
Billie Holiday's story is so huge, her artistry so vast, and her impact so incalculable, that even attempting to corral a representative sampling of it within a single collection of recordings is an overwhelming, perhaps foolhardy task. Many have tried, of course, and literally hundreds of options of varying quality and legitimacy, scattered across dozens of labels, are available to the consumer. Neophytes, or those not willing to commit to a gargantuan listening session, can settle for any number of single- or double-CD best-ofs that adequately present Holiday's most important, better-known music.
CD Reviews
Best Legacy re-master yet
R. Heath | Sydney Australia | 10/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What has not been advertised regarding this release is that the tracks on these 4 Cds have been again re-mastered and now offer the best sound yet from Legacy. Whilst the Teddy Wilson/Billie Holiday series on the UK Hep label (mastered by John R T Davies) still probably have the edge this new box has a much fuller sound than on the previous mastering on the 10 cd box and the various individual compilations that followed circa 2002. The sheer precence of the vocals in particular is very satisfying, and there appears to be more instrumental depth and better bass reproduction - although there is also a small price to pay in that surface noise is a bit prominent on some selections."
Good Introduction
Kevin J. Roberts | 10/01/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The 10 CD complete Columbia Box set is very good, but the packaging on that one tends to discourage listening, and it probably just sits on the shelf if anyone has it. I can understand the marketers saying that 4CD sets sell well, but why not fill the CDs completely, as they already have all tracks remastered. Why only 20 tracks per disc, when 25+ tracks will easily fit on every CD? If you don't have any classic Columbia recordings, get this. But don't ask why Strange Fruit is not on this set. It was never on Columbia, as Columbia would not allow her to record it. The masters at SONY would've done well to pay for the rights to include it, but maybe the current corporate owners wouldn't allow it. That brings to mind, can anyone guess where the "artist's royalties" from the sale of Billie Holiday recordings go? Probably right into corporate pockets. Ain't that a shame? They should go to a program to help abused young women!!"
Good Fit
attentive listener | Joysey | 10/09/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you're a fan of Lady Day, you probably already know that these Columbia recordings are weighted almost as heavily as Louis Armstrong's Hot 5s and 7s in the jazz heavy weight arena. Their unique aural beauty is a foregone conclusion.
I originally owned volume 2, 3 and 5 of the Quintessential series then upgraded to the 2 CD, "Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday". Problem was, this stuff is so good, I just could not seem to get enough. Having said that, the 10 CD complete seemed a bit much. Like I said, this is a real good fit. See what a little moonlight can do."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1