Billie Holiday: Lady Sings The Blues

Vocals - Billie Holiday Harry Edison Trumpet Chico Hamilton Drums Wynton Kelly Piano Barney Kessel Guitar Willie Smith Alto Saxophone Charlie Shavers Trumpet Aaron Bell Bass,Bass Guitar Kenny Burrell Guitar Red Callender Bass,Bass Guitar Paul Quinichette Tenor Saxophone Willie "The Lion" Smith Alto Saxophone Bobby Tucker Piano Leonard Brown Drums Anthony Sciacca Clarinet Leonard Browne Drums

1) Lady Sings the Blues 2) Trav'lin Light 3) I Must Have That Man 4) Some Other Spring 5) Strange Fruit 6) No Good Man 7) God Bless the Child 8) Good Morning Heartache 9) Love Me or Leave Me 10) Too Marvelous for Words 11) Willow Weep for Me 12) I Thought About You

Taken from a pair of sessions taped during 1955-1956, Lady Sings the Blues finds Holiday in top form and backed by the sympathetic likes of tenor saxophonist Paul Quinichette, trumpeters Charlie Shavers and Harry Edison, pianist Wynton Kelly, and guitarists Kenny Burrell and Barney Kessel. And while these autumnal sides bear some of the frayed vocal moments often heard on Holiday's '50s Verve sides, the majority here still ranks with her best material. This is especially true of the cuts from the June 1956 date, which produced unparalleled versions of "No Good Man," "Some Other Spring," and "Lady Sings the Blues." See why many fans prefer the "worn out" Holiday heard here to the more chipper singer featured on those classic Columbia records from the '30s.

Price: $13.98