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Although many of Billie Holiday's recordings for Commodore and Decca are often overlooked -- at least in comparison to the songs that bookend her career (for Columbia and Verve) -- they include some of her best work, beginning at the end of the '30s with "Strange Fruit" and stretching to the end of the '40s with "God Bless the Child." In 1939, Billie Holiday was a jazz sensation without a hit record. She gained that hit record, and began her journey to musical immortality, when her label Columbia refused to record "Strange Fruit," and jazz fan Milt Gabler welcomed her to his aficionado label, Commodore. Gabler recorded Holiday often over the next ten years, both at Commodore and through his work at Decca in the mid-to late '40s. While on Commodore, Holiday focused on downcast ballads, including "I Cover the Waterfront" and "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues" (dubbed "loser" songs by Gabler), but she also excelled with warm and affectionate material too, "Embraceable You" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street." Regardless of the material, her backing consisted of small groups usually led by a pair of saloon-sound maestros: Doc Cheatham on trumpet and Eddie Heywood on piano. That sound was in for a switch when Holiday moved to Decca, however, beginning with another big hit, "Lover Man," a pop ballad with the full crossover treatment -- strings and all. (Gabler had no compunction about false notions of purity, and he happily recorded Holiday with strings and backing choruses whenever the song demanded it.) Even more than her work for Commodore, Holiday's work for Decca was melancholy and resigned in the extreme, with sterling treatments of yet more loser songs: "Don't Explain," "Good Morning Heartache," "You Better Go Now," and "What Is This Thing Called Love." Individually, the songs are excellent, and as a package, The Complete Commodore & Decca Masters can hardly be beat. It's a splendid accompaniment to similar sets devoted to Billie Holiday's Columbia and Verve output, and while completists will bemoan the lack of the many alternate takes -- most of the Commodore sides have two alternate takes for each master recording, available elsewhere -- this is all the war-years Billie Holiday one could hope for.
© John Bush /TiVo
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Sonny White, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - John Williams, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Milt Gabler, Producer - Lewis Allan, ComposerLyricist - Tab Smith, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra, MainArtist - Frank Newton, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Dougherty, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Stanley Payne, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1939 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Lewis Allan, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jerome Kern, Composer - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - John Williams, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Otto Harbach, Author - Milt Gabler, Producer - Tab Smith, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Newton, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Dougherty, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy McLin, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stanley Payne, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1939 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jerome Kern, Composer - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Otto Harbach, Author - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sonny White, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Williams, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Milt Gabler, Producer - Tab Smith, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra, MainArtist - Frank Newton, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Dougherty, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1939 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Harold Arlen, ComposerLyricist - Ted Koehler, ComposerLyricist - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1939 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sonny White, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Harold Arlen, ComposerLyricist - Ted Koehler, ComposerLyricist - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - John Williams, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Milt Gabler, Producer - Ted Smith, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Newton, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Dougherty, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Kenneth Hollon, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy McLin, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stan Payne, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1939 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Gordon Jenkins, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1990 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Gordon Jenkins, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Gordon Jenkins, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Dorothy Parker, ComposerLyricist - Sidney Catlett, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Vic Dickenson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Doc Cheatham, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Jack King, ComposerLyricist - Teddy Walters, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lem Davis, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Arthur Johnston, ComposerLyricist - Sam Coslow, ComposerLyricist - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1990 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Arthur Johnston, ComposerLyricist - Sam Coslow, ComposerLyricist - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1991 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Arthur Johnston, ComposerLyricist - Sam Coslow, ComposerLyricist - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sidney Catlett, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Arthur Johnston, ComposerLyricist - Sam Coslow, ComposerLyricist - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Vic Dickenson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Heywood, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Doc Cheatham, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - John Simmons, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Lem Davis, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sidney Catlett, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Roy Turk, ComposerLyricist - Fred E. Ahlert, ComposerLyricist - Vic Dickenson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Heywood, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Doc Cheatham, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - John Simmons, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Teddy Walters, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lem Davis, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Roy Turk, Author - Fred E. Ahlert, Composer
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Edward Heyman, ComposerLyricist - Johnny Green, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1990 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Edward Heyman, ComposerLyricist - Johnny Green, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Edward Heyman, ComposerLyricist - Johnny Green, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1991 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sidney Catlett, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Edward Heyman, ComposerLyricist - Johnny Green, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Vic Dickenson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Heywood, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Doc Cheatham, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - John Simmons, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Teddy Walters, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lem Davis, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Sammy Fain, Composer - Irving Kahal, Author - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1990 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sidney Catlett, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sammy Fain, Composer - Irving Kahal, Author - Milt Gabler, Producer - Vic Dickenson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Heywood, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Doc Cheatham, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - John Simmons, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Teddy Walters, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lem Davis, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Sammy Fain, Composer - Irving Kahal, Author - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1980 UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 2
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - E.Y. HARBURG, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer - John W. Green, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1990 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - E.Y. HARBURG, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer - John W. Green, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1980 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - E.Y. HARBURG, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer - John W. Green, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Author - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1990 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Author - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Author - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1980 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Herman Hupfeld, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Herman Hupfeld, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer
℗ 1980 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Neil Moret, ComposerLyricist - Richard A. Whiting, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Heywood, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1980 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Neil Moret, ComposerLyricist - Richard A. Whiting, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Heywood, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1991 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Neil Moret, ComposerLyricist - Richard A. Whiting, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Heywood, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Neil Moret, ComposerLyricist - Richard A. Whiting, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Heywood, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1990 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sidney Catlett, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Neil Moret, ComposerLyricist - Richard A. Whiting, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Heywood, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Simmons, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Oscar Hammerstein II , ComposerLyricist - Sigmund Romberg, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Eddie Heywood, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1991 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Oscar Hammerstein II , ComposerLyricist - Sigmund Romberg, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Eddie Heywood, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Eddie Heywood, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Eddie Heywood, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1990 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sidney Catlett, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Oscar Hammerstein II , ComposerLyricist - Sigmund Romberg, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Eddie Heywood, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Simmons, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Eddie Heywood, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sidney Catlett, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Dorothy Fields, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy McHugh, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Eddie Heywood, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Simmons, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Oscar Hammerstein II , ComposerLyricist - Sigmund Romberg, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1980 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Although many of Billie Holiday's recordings for Commodore and Decca are often overlooked -- at least in comparison to the songs that bookend her career (for Columbia and Verve) -- they include some of her best work, beginning at the end of the '30s with "Strange Fruit" and stretching to the end of the '40s with "God Bless the Child." In 1939, Billie Holiday was a jazz sensation without a hit record. She gained that hit record, and began her journey to musical immortality, when her label Columbia refused to record "Strange Fruit," and jazz fan Milt Gabler welcomed her to his aficionado label, Commodore. Gabler recorded Holiday often over the next ten years, both at Commodore and through his work at Decca in the mid-to late '40s. While on Commodore, Holiday focused on downcast ballads, including "I Cover the Waterfront" and "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues" (dubbed "loser" songs by Gabler), but she also excelled with warm and affectionate material too, "Embraceable You" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street." Regardless of the material, her backing consisted of small groups usually led by a pair of saloon-sound maestros: Doc Cheatham on trumpet and Eddie Heywood on piano. That sound was in for a switch when Holiday moved to Decca, however, beginning with another big hit, "Lover Man," a pop ballad with the full crossover treatment -- strings and all. (Gabler had no compunction about false notions of purity, and he happily recorded Holiday with strings and backing choruses whenever the song demanded it.) Even more than her work for Commodore, Holiday's work for Decca was melancholy and resigned in the extreme, with sterling treatments of yet more loser songs: "Don't Explain," "Good Morning Heartache," "You Better Go Now," and "What Is This Thing Called Love." Individually, the songs are excellent, and as a package, The Complete Commodore & Decca Masters can hardly be beat. It's a splendid accompaniment to similar sets devoted to Billie Holiday's Columbia and Verve output, and while completists will bemoan the lack of the many alternate takes -- most of the Commodore sides have two alternate takes for each master recording, available elsewhere -- this is all the war-years Billie Holiday one could hope for.
© John Bush /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 45 track(s)
- Total length: 02:24:23
- Main artists: Billie Holiday
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: GRP
- Genre: Jazz Vocal Jazz
© 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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