Search - Billie Holiday :: Lady Sings the Blues (Reis) (Rstr) (Dig)

Long overdue reissue of original 1956 album

LisaMC | East Central IL USA | 11/06/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was overjoyed to see this on Amazon. I first got the album on vinyl back around 1981. It was a Japanese import on so-called virgin vinyl, the best of the lot back then. Then I waited and waited and waited for it to come out on CD. I had almost thought I was waiting in vain. My mother gave me a CD called Lady Sings The Blues back in the 90s, which had the same cover, but turned out to be vol. 4 in the Billie Holiday Story. A major disappointment, since the original album is so wonderful.



Thank you to whoever finally got smart and released the original, with no stupid addons. This does not need bonus tracks, indeed they would seriously detract from it.



This album is from 1956, three years before Miss Holiday died at the age of 44, a sad and criminal loss to the world. Her voice is definitely the worse for wear here, but the passion and sheer artistry shine forth in spite of vocal limitations. Every song is a winner, and the order is important to the whole listening experience, which is why I was so upset at the other release, which had some of these songs, but not all. It is a concept album ahead of its time.



Lady in Satin, the next one, is prime, but this one, imho, is better, because Holiday's backing is by jazz musicians and not an orchestra, and seems more realistic to me. I don't have her Last Recordings yet, so can't comment on them. But if you want one Billie Holiday recording in your collection, this should be it. If you want more, get this, and then get some of her earlier stuff, when her voice was strong and before drugs and alcohol took their toll on her.



This version is definitely a desert island disc, assuming a desert island would have electricity. Make no mistake, get this one and not the one that looks just like it. You won't be sorry."

Great music but missed opportunity with the product

Digger Dan | 11/04/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is not the first time this timeless album has been available on CD. Polygram issued it in the late 1990s (from memory) with three extra tracks from one of the two recording sessions that made up the original release. At least two of those are worth listening to. I couldn't hear any difference in the sound quality between this "Originals" CD and the earlier issue, and the earlier one actually has more information. In fact, Verve has been lazy with this one - no essay, no additional photos - so I rate it a missed opportunity. Doesn't stop me from being pleased I bought this second CD - the cover has the colours right and the music is indeed sublime. My favourite Billie by far."