Search - Billie Holiday :: Songs for Distingue Lovers (Reis)

Lady at her best

franklin kameny | washington, dc United States | 09/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i am a 25 y'o black male i must say i have over 35 billie holiday cds and this one is # 2 on my list her voice is at it's best i think she did a good job at picking this songs to me billie holiday is the voice of jazz"

Unbelievable delivery!

Cynthia Glenn | Seattle, WA United States | 11/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like/appreciate alternative interpretations of songs.. BUY THIS CD! It made an immediate impression on me. I found it in the used bin after looking at it full price and I am soooo happy I did. First off the other reviewers are correct; tracks 1-6 create a mood unto themselves and are the original album. Track #7 and on are fun but are in a totally different mood. Second, if you are a jazz beginner, or appreciate more traditional interpretations of songs, you may not love this right off the bat. Billie is taking songs that have been sung hundreds of times before and putting her own inimitable stamp on them. She hints at meanings not originally there, turns melodies around, and in general gives these songs a new twist that no one to this day can match. If you are familiar with Ella Fitzgerald or Sarah Vaughn--they are going to offer you a more "pure" delivery. I love those singers too.. but Billie Holiday rises to a whole new plane on this album. She's singing in a way only she can.. and the only word I can think of to describe it is ART."

Classic does Billie proud!

S. Baird | Baton Rouge, LA United States | 06/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Distingué Lovers isn't one of Billie's most highly praised recordings, but superb sonics aside, It's always been one of my favorites. It starts out with one of the finest performances of "Day In, Day Out" on record setting the mood for a sequence of six great interpretations of five more classic standards to follow. (Sorry, no bonus tracks on this particular CD.)



Classic Records, a small label that caters to audiophiles, has here - as they typically do- provided listeners who care about sound quality with what is probably the best you'll ever get to hear from this master tape. The value for this one has increased steadily since it went out of print about 5 years ago, so readers are well-advised to snap this one up whenever they appear here on Amazon."