ProJazz.net

Billie Holiday is heard at her absolute best on this attractive two-CD set. During her period on Decca, Lady Day was accompanied by strings (for the first time), large studio orchestras, and even background vocalists, so jazz solos from her sidemen are few. But her voice was at its strongest during the 1940s (even with her personal problems) and to hear all 50 of her Decca performances (including alternate takes and even some studio chatter) is a real joy (Scott Yanow/AllMusic).

Track listing:

Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) 3:18
No More 2:48
No More (Alternate) 3:06
That Ole Devil Called Love 2:55
Don’t Explain (First Version) 2:57
Big Stuff (First Version) 2:29
Don’t Explain 3:24
Big Stuff (Second Version) 3:00
You Better Go Now 2:37
What Is This Thing Called Love 3:07
Good Morning Heartache 3:08
No Good Man (Previously Unissued Alternate) 3:24
No Good Man 3:08
Big Stuff (Previously Unissued Breakdown And Chatter) 0:22
Big Stuff (Previously Unissued Third Version) 2:47
Big Stuff 2:32
Baby, I Don’t Cry Over You (Previously Unissued Alternate) 3:13
Baby, I Don’t Cry Over You 3:12
I’ll Look Around (Previously Unissued Alternate) 3:16
I’ll Look Around 3:15
The Blues Are Brewin’ 3:03
Guilty (Previously Unissued Alternate) 2:53
Guilty (Previously Unissued Breakdown And Chatter) 1:07
Guilty 3:14
Deep Song 3:13
There Is No Greater Love 2:57
Easy Living 3:12
Solitude (Previously Unissued Alternate) 3:14
Solitude 3:10
Weep No More 3:21
Girls Were Made To Take Care Of Boys 3:13
I Loves You Porgy 2:57
My Man (Mon Homme) (Previously Unissued Alternate) 3:10
My Man (Mon Homme) 2:57
‘Tain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do (Previously Unissued Alternate) 3:17
‘Tain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do 3:21
Baby Get Lost 3:15
Keeps On A-Rainin’ 3:16
Them There Eyes 2:50
Do Your Duty 3:16
Gimme A Pigfoot (And A Bottle Of Beer) 2:45
You Can’t Lose A Broken Heart 3:15
My Sweet Hunk O’ Trash 3:20
Now Or Never 3:17
You’re My Thrill 3:25
Crazy He Calls Me 3:05
Please Tell Me Now 3:14
Somebody’s On My Mind 2:57
God Bless The Child 3:10
This Is Heaven To Me 2:51

_________________

Recording Date:
October 4, 1944 – March 8, 1950