BILLIE HOLIDAY: LADY SINGS THE BLUES [CD]

NEW MINI-LP PAPERSLEEVE GATEFOLD REPLICAS WITH OBI5 STARS DOWNBEAT MAGAZINEINCLUDES 9 BONUS TRACKSThe recordings included on the classic album "Lady Sings the Blues" come from two different studio dates, a Bcomplete session recorded in 1956, and four tunes from a 1954 date. Five additional tracks were also recorded at the latter session. Three of them later surfaced on compilation LPs, and have been added here following the 12 tracks from the original album. (The other two tunes –which, according to discographies, consist of new versions of Billie’s classics “I Cried For You” and “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” – were never issued and are now considered lost.)With the addition of these three bonus tracks, this release contains all known surviving recordings from the second session. The emphasis on both dates is placed on Billie’s singing. Although important musicians are present (Charlie Shavers, Tony Scott, Paul Quinichette and Wynton Kelly, on the 1956 session, and Harry “Sweets” Edison, Willie Smith and Barney Kessel, on the 1954 date), little room is left for any instrumental improvisation. Billie’s voice is clearly the showcased instrument here, which as Miles Davis stated, sounded like a horn anyway. In order to compensate this release also included most of a 1955 session as a bonus. Billie is backed here by her friend Tony Scott and trumpeter Charlie Shavers, both of whom have ample solo space on the date (only a final reading of “Ain’t Misbehavin’” had to be left off due to time limitations).PERSONNEL:BILLIE HOLIDAY, vocals on all tracks, plus:Collective personnel: Charlie Shavers, Harry “Sweets” Edison (tp), Tony Scott (cl, arr), Paul Quinichette, Budd Johnson (ts), Willie Smith (as), Bobby Tucker, Wynton Kelly (p), Kenny Burrell (g), Aaron Bell (b), Chico Hamilton, Lennie McBrowne (d), among others.New York & Los Angeles, 1954-56.TRACKS:01) TRAV’LIN’ LIGHT02) I MUST HAVE THAT MAN!03) SOME OTHER SPRING04) LADY SINGS THE BLUES05) STRANGE FRUIT06) GOD BLESS THE CHILD07) GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE08) NO GOOD MAN09) LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME10) TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS11) WILLOW WEEP FOR ME12) I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU13) P.S. I LOVE YOU (*)14) SOFTLY (*)15) STORMY BLUES (*)16) SAY IT ISN’T SO (**)17) I’VE GOT MY LOVE TO KEEP ME WARM (**)18) I WISHED ON THE MOON (**)19) ALWAYS (**)20) EVERYTHING HAPPENS TO ME (**)21) DO NOTHING TILL YOU HEAR FROM ME (**)(*) From the same sessions, but not included on the original LP.(**) Bonus tracks.TOTAL TIME: 77:52 Min.