Billie Holiday - The Complete Commodore Recordings (Remastered) (1991/2022)

2 bonus tracks. Billie Holiday was probably the most lyrical and expressive female vocalist in jazz history. This set compiles her complete sessions for the legendary Commodore label. Made between Billie’s contracts for Columbia/Okeh and Decca, these recordings present her in top form, backed by excellent small groups featuring such names as Frankie Newton, Freddie Webster, Tab Smith, Vic Dickenson, Eddie Heywood, and Sidney Catlett. Among the highlights of the set are Billie’s first version of the shocking “Strange Fruit”, which she used to conclude her stage performances, as well as readings of famous standards she would never record again, such as “As Time Goes By” and “I’ll Be Seeing You”. Two rare tracks which constitute Billie’s only recordings with the Artie Shaw and with the Paul.

PERSONNEL
BILLIE HOLIDAY, vocals on all tracks, with
Collective personnel: Frankie Newton, Doc Cheatham, Freddie Webster (tp), Tab Smith, Lem Davis (as, ss), Kenneth Hollon, Stanley Payne (ts), Vic Dickenson (tb), Sonny White, Eddie Heywood (p), Jimmy McLin, Teddy Walters (g), Johnny Williams, John Simmons (b), Eddie Dougherty, Sidney Catlett (d).

New York, 1939-1944.

(*) BONUS TRACKS
CD 2[2]: Billie Holiday (vcl) with Artie Shaw and His Orchestra.
New York, July 24, 1938. Studio recording for RCA Victor.
CD 2[23]: Billie Holiday (vcl) with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra.
Los Angeles, June 12, 1942. Studio recording for Capitol Records.

CD ONE
01 STRANGE FRUIT
02 YESTERDAYS
03 FINE AND MELLOW
04 I GOTTA RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES
05 STRANGE FRUIT[alt. take]
06 YESTERDAYS[alt. take]
07 I GOTTA RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES[alt. take]
08 HOW AM I TO KNOW?
09 MY OLD FLAME
10 I'LL GET BY
11 I COVER THE WATERFRONT
12 HOW AM I TO KNOW?[alt. take 1]
13 HOW AM I TO KNOW?[alt. take 2]
14 HOW AM I TO KNOW?[alt. take 3]
15 MY OLD FLAME[alt. take 1]
16 MY OLD FLAME[alt. take 2]
17 MY OLD FLAME[alt. take 3]
18 I'LL GET BY[alt. take]
19 I COVER THE WATERFRONT[alt. take 1]
20 I COVER THE WATERFRONT[alt. take 2]
21 I COVER THE WATERFRONT[alt. take 3]
22 I'LL BE SEEING YOU
23 I'LL BE SEEING YOU[alt. take 1]
24 I'LL BE SEEING YOU[alt. take 2]

CD TWO
01 I'M YOURS
02 EMBRACEABLE YOU
03 AS TIME GOES BY
04 I'M YOURS[alt. take 1]
05 I'M YOURS[alt. take 2]
06 EMBRACEABLE YOU[alt. take 1]
07 EMBRACEABLE YOU[alt. take 2]
08 AS TIME GOES BY[alt. take]
09 HE'S FUNNY THAT WAY
10 LOVER COME BACK TO ME
11 I LOVE MY MAN (aka BILLIE'S BLUES)
12 ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET
13 HE'S FUNNY THAT WAY[alt. take 1]
14 HE'S FUNNY THAT WAY[alt. take 2]
15 HE'S FUNNY THAT WAY[alt. take 3]
16 HE'S FUNNY THAT WAY[alt. take 4]
17 LOVER COME BACK TO ME[alt take 1]
18 LOVER COME BACK TO ME[alt. take 2]
19 LOVER COME BACK TO ME[alt. take 3]
20 I LOVE MY MAN (aka BILLIE'S BLUES)[alt. take 1]
21 I LOVE MY MAN (aka BILLIE'S BLUES)[alt. take 2]
22 ANY OLD TIME
23 TRAVTIN' LIGHT