Search - Billie Holiday :: The Quintessential Billie Holiday, Vol.3: 1936-1937

Another Classic under Her Belt

Peter | East of Los Angeles | 02/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recently discovered Billie's early stuff from the 1930s. Now I know why critics have refered to Billie's work from that decade as her golden era, it is such a joy listening to her from that time. I've started buying the Quintessential CDs and have yet to be disappointed. Just when I thought volumes #4 and #5 couldn't be equalled, along comes #3 and it's right up there. It comes as a shock at first hearing Billie swing with a lot of spunk and she does it differently than Ella. The way Billie swings sounds unconventional like she's improvising to the beat and tempo of the band; also the way she stretches certain words and notes, but always in tune to the beat. It's hard to describe it, you have to listen to these recordings to experience what I'm describing. Great tracks pop up here. My favorites are "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" (about as far from Judy Garland's version as you can get), "Pennies from Heaven" "Why Was I Born" "I Must Have That Man" and "You Showed Me the Way". "You Showed Me..." was penned by none other than Billie's peer and fellow rival---Ella Fitzgerald. It's beautifully written and performed. Only gripe is sound quality could be better. I've said it before that Sony should start remastering these Quintessential volume CDs. They're too good and valuable to let stand as it is."

Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra

Sasha | at sea...sailing somewhere | 06/22/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A third volume in priceless "Columbia" quintessential program follows young and vibrant Billie Holiday through 1936. when she was "discovered" by John Hammond (who later discovered Aretha Franklin,Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen).On this CD we can hear for the first time not just vocal chorus by Billie (as before) but songs were recorded under "Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra" which was the first step to stardom she achieved later on.Benny Goodman,Lester Young,Ben Webster,Teddy Wilson and Buck Clayton are just some of the jazz giants here - highlits are "Pennies From Heaven","This Year's Kisses" and wonderful,loving tribute to Louis Armstrong,"I Cant Give You Anything But Love".Strangely that in his usualy perfect liner notes Michael Brooks didnt mention that song "You showed Me The Way" was written by another young singer,Ella Fitzgerald.On Billie's first studio recordings Ethel Waters bitterly remarked that young singer sounds like her shoes are hurting,and in the meantime she developed beautiful,relaxed style that made her name immortal while hardly anyone remebers Ethel Waters anymore."