V12 Verve Jazz Masters [Best of]

On first listening to this CD, I agreed with the liner notes. Billie was past her prime, her voice reduced to a shadow of its former self. On second, third, fourth, and thousandth listen I began to understand her particular magic. Whether projecting pure golden affection on tunes like "P.S. I love You," biting pain on "Good Morning Heathache," or playful flirtation on "A Fine Romance," Billie was a true past master of both song and emotion. "God Bless the Child," a tune she wrote herself, is a wonder, ironic and bitter and melodious and moving all at once. Buy this CD, and don't stop at one listen. Lady Day is the real thing.

I am thrilled to see how many different recordings there are of Billie Holiday material. My dismay with all these titles is that I am sure there is an enormous amount of repetition across many issues and reissues ane re-reissues.

As I am not familiar with many of these recordings, I will simply say that this CD and its companion (Verve Jazz Masters 12 and Verve Jazz Masters 47 (Sings Standards) are both excellent choices if you just happen to want a good sampling of Ms. Holliday's works. They are certainly good selections at a low price if you happen to want to find out if you wish to hear more of this renowned artist.

My greatest take on Billie Holiday's interpretations of pop standards is that she really makes you buy into the sentiments of the 'moon, June, spoon' class of song. She is also able to give a remarkable twist to classics which are not nominally Jazz standards.

My favorite is her rendition of the Ogden Nash / Kurt Weill classic song 'Sing Low'. I have heard this done by Lotte Lenya, Barbara Streisand, and Ute Lemper, to pick three very different artists, and I think Ms. Holiday and her arrangers really bring something new to this great song.

If you are simply looking for a good sampling of Ms. Holiday's work, you cannot go wrong with either of these recordings.

A wonderful compilation of some of Billie's best from the years 1952 to 1956. She had a voice that was unique, that really defies the definition of 'a great voice'. She never used scatting, her vocal range was definately limited, and sometimes she sounded slurred and scratchy. She would sing beyond the melody and off the beat and would make it virtually impossible for anyone to sing along with her. But this was Billie. A dynamic and dramatic singer who poured tremendous feeling into her songs. There will never be another like her. This is a wonderful album for those people not too familiar with her singing. The booklet includes an interesting essay on her.