Track Listing

1. Easy Living
2. What Is This Thing Called Love?
3. Solitude
4. You're My Thrill
5. Them There Eyes
6. No More
7. God Bless the Child
8. My Man
9. Don't Explain
10. There Is No Greater Love
11. 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness if I Do
12. You Better Go Now
13. Big Stuff
14. Good Morning Heartache
15. I Loves You, Porgy [From Porgy and Bess]
16. Guilty
17. Lover Man
18. They Can't Take That Away from Me
19. That Ole Devil Called Love

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14577 in Music
• Brand: Verve
• Released on: 1995-06-06
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Amazon.com
There's no such thing as a genuine Billie Holiday greatest-hits collection--her career was split among too many labels for that--but this single-disc distillation of the Complete Decca Recordings 2 CD set (recorded between 1944 and 1950) is pretty solid. Holiday's in fine vocal form (though her accompaniment is undistinguished easy-listening stuff; the choir on "God Bless the Child" is a bit frustrating), and the songs are arranged to work as an album rather than chronologically. She transcends the ideas of torch songs, of blues, of ballad singing--her version of "Lover Man" exemplifies erotic despair, tormented and aroused at once--and even the lesser-known tracks here are pleasant surprises, like a Leonard Bernstein song. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews

Lady Day at her heart-breaking, slow-burning best.
This album was my introduction to Lady Day, and what an intro. From the first slowly slinky phrases of 'Easy Living' there's hardly a duff moment. IMHO, the one misguided moment is the inclusion of a version of 'God Bless The Child' with a schmaltzy choir intro. If you can forgive that, there's plenty here to delight and seduce the vocal jazz newbie. 'Solitude' and 'Good Morning, Heartache' are *beyond* torch songs: Holiday's small, wounded-bird cry works its way under your skin and settles into your soul. The leisurely, easy 'You're My Thrill' is seduction by sound, evoking small, smoky, dimly lit nightclubs, a half-empty whisky glass, the scent of Gitanes on someone's hair...pure magic. Holiday's knack of hitting those notes like a human trumpet (a trick which might not sound appealing, but has to be heard to be believed) is showcased brilliantly on 'Them There Eyes'. 'Don't Explain' is an entirely adult love song, love with none of the jagged edges smoothed off, and no shadows to hide the truth in.

All in all, this is an album made for listening to late at night, in semi-darkness, with a summer breeze bearing the sounds of the city drifting through the window. If you can't get that, then try putting it on, shutting your eyes and letting Lady Day take you away. You won't regret it.

Album title is a terrible misnomer
For newcomers to Billie Holiday and for those who want one CD that represents her work, this is not the CD to buy. Much of Billie's greatness was her rapport with musicians, and on this CD, Billie is on one world and the musicians on another. Aside from the atrocious arrangements, Billie can be heard rushing through her tunes, clipping her phrases, not having any musical space to breathe life into these songs. This CD is a total rip-off. If I could only have one Billie Holiday collection, it would be the old one on Columbia/Sony, "God Bless The Child." Good luck finding it, as it seems to be out of print.

Great sound quality
I've heard many Billie Holiday CDs and this is one of the better ones. The sound quality is fantastic. 19 of her very best hits. I recommend this to both new and old Holiday fans.