Billie Holiday - Complete Decca Recordings [New CD] Spain - Import

2-CD SETCONTAINS 3 PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED TRACKS5 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDEBillie Holiday is heard at her absolute best on this 2-CD set, which comprises her complete Decca recordings, made at her musical zenith between 1944 and 1950.During her time with the label, Lady Day was accompanied by strings and studio orchestras for the first time in her career. Her voice was at its strongest in those years, and among the high points here are her original versions of songs which Billie would keep in her repertoire, such as “Lover Man” (Holiday’s biggest selling record), “Don’t Explain,” and “Good Morning Heartache”.This collection also contains two studio duets with Louis Armstrong. Three previously unissued alternate takes are presented here for the first time ever.BILLIE HOLIDAY, vocals on all tracks, plus:Orchestras conducted by Toots Camarata, Bob Haggart, Billy Kyle,John Simmons, Sy Oliver, Buster Harding, and Gordon Jenkins, among others.FEATURING:Louis Armstrong (tp, vcl), Lester Young, Budd Johnson (ts), Toots Mondello (as),Buck Clayton, Joe Guy, Shad Collins (tp), Tiny Grimes, Mundell Lowe (g),Billy Kyle, Bobby Tucker, Horace Henderson (p),Joe Benjamin, George Duvivier (b), Kenny Clarke, Cozy Cole (d),among others.Recorded in New York and Los Angeles between 1944 & 1950.CD 1: Total Time: 79:1001 LOVER MAN (OH, WHERE CAN YOU BE?)02 NO MORE03 NO MORE [alt tk]04 THAT OLE DEVIL CALLED LOVE05 THAT OLE DEVIL CALLED LOVE [alt tk] (*)06 DON’T EXPLAIN [first version]07 BIG STUFF [first version]08 DON’T EXPLAIN09 BIG STUFF [second version]10 YOU BETTER GO NOW11 WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE12 GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE13 NO GOOD MAN [alt tk]14 NO GOOD MAN15 BIG STUFF [breakdown]16 BIG STUFF [third version]17 BIG STUFF18 BABY I DON’T CRY OVER YOU [alt tk]19 BABY I DON’T CRY OVER YOU20 I’LL LOOK AROUND [alt tk]21 I’LL LOOK AROUND22 THE BLUES ARE BREWIN’23 GUILTY [alt tk]24 GUILTY [breakdown]25 GUILTY26 DEEP SONG [breakdown] (*)27 DEEP SONG28 THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE [alt tk] (*)(*) PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED ALTERNATE TAKESCD 2: Total Time: 79:2101 THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE02 EASY LIVING03 SOLITUDE [alt tk]04 SOLITUDE05 WEEP NO MORE06 GIRLS WERE MADE TO TAKE CARE OF BOYS07 I LOVES YOU PORGY08 MY MAN [MON HOMME] [alt tk]09 MY MAN [MON HOMME]10 ‘TAIN’T NOBODY’S BUSINESS IF I DO [alt tk]11 ‘TAIN’T NOBODY’S BUSINESS IF I DO12 BABY GET LOST13 KEEPS ON A-RAININ’14 THEM THERE EYES15 DO YOUR DUTY16 GIMME A PIGFOOT (AND A BOTTLE OF BEER)17 YOU CAN’T LOSE A BROKEN HEART18 MY SWEET HUNK O’ TRASH19 NOW OR NEVER20 YOU’RE MY THRILL21 CRAZY HE CALLS ME22 PLEASE TELL ME NOW23 SOMEBODY’S ON MY MIND24 GOD BLESS THE CHILD25 THIS IS HEAVEN TO ME