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Since the range of recording dates for Verve Records' Billie Holiday compilation The Definitive Collection stretches from her first session in 1935 to her last in 1958, it might be supposed that the album attempts to live up to its ambitious name. In fact, however, this disc is really a selection of 18 highlights from the portion of Holiday's catalog controlled by Verve's parent company, Universal Music, which is to say her work for Commodore, Decca, Clef, and Verve itself between 1939 and 1956, with a couple of tracks licensed from her mid-'30s work for Brunswick (now owned by Sony BMG); a track she recorded under a pseudonym for Capitol (now controlled by EMI) in 1942; and a track from her final album, Lady in Satin, released by Columbia (another Sony BMG label). Although the bulk of these performances date from the '40s, the chronological sequence gives a sense of Holiday's vocal development over the years, as her craft improved and the technical quality of her voice deteriorated. Many of her better-known songs are included, with the caveat that "God Bless the Child," "Billie's Blues," "Easy Living," "Solitude," "My Man," and "I Cover the Waterfront" are re-recordings. (Annotator Bill Dahl states the case made by some listeners that the later versions are superior to the earlier ones.) Absent a merger of the remaining major record labels, it may be impossible to attempt a comprehensive, not to mention "definitive," collection of Holiday's career peaks on a single disc. This one is not a bad attempt, but it still basically represents only a part of the story.
© William Ruhlmann /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.
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.
Johnny Mercer, Author - Billie Holiday, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ron McMaster, Producer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sonny Clark, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Red Mitchell, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Raney, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Elaine Leighton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Carl Drinkard, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Feather, Writer, AssociatedPerformer - Beryl Booker, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Red Norvo, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, MainArtist - Jimmy Munday, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jim Mundy, Composer - James Oliver "Trummy" Young, Composer - Buddy De Franco, Clarinet, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1942 Blue Note Records, a division of Capitol Records Inc., Courtesy of Capitol Records, under license from EMI Music Special Markets Blue Note(R) is a registered trademark of Capitol Records, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Eddie Heywood, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Milt Gabler, Producer - Jimmy Sherman, ComposerLyricist - James Davis, ComposerLyricist - Roger J. "Ram" Ramirez, ComposerLyricist - Camarata, Conductor
℗ 1945 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Arthur Herzog Jr., ComposerLyricist - Camarata, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1946 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Ervin M. Drake, ComposerLyricist - Ervin Drake, ComposerLyricist - DAN FISHER, ComposerLyricist - Irene Higginbotham, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1946 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Duke Ellington, Composer - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Irving Mills, Author - Milt Gabler, Producer - Bob Haggart, Conductor - Eddie Delange, Author
℗ 1947 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Leo Robin, Author - Ralph Rainger, Composer - Milt Gabler, Producer - Bob Haggart & His Orchestra, Orchestra
℗ 1947 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
George Gershwin, ComposerLyricist - Ira Gershwin, ComposerLyricist - Mundell Lowe, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dubose Heyward, ComposerLyricist - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Bob Haggart, Musical Director - Bobby Tucker, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - John Levy, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Denzil Best, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1949 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mundell Lowe, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Jacques Charles, ComposerLyricist - Maurice Yvain, ComposerLyricist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Bobby Tucker, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - John Levy, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Denzil Best, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Channing Pollock, ComposerLyricist - Albert Lucien Willemetz, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1949 UMG Recordings, Inc.
George Duvivier, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Nottingham, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Mundell Lowe, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Milt Gabler, Producer - Rudy Powell, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Buster Harding, Unknown, Other - Porter Grainger, ComposerLyricist - George Dorsey, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Buck Clayton, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - George Matthews, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Everett Robbins, ComposerLyricist - Dickie Wells, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Horace Henderson, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Shadow Wilson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Emmett Berry, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Sol Moore, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1949 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Gordon Jenkins, Conductor - Milt Gabler, Producer - Jay Gorney, Composer - Sidney Clare, Author
℗ 1949 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Sy Oliver, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Milt Gabler, Producer - Maceo Pinkard, ComposerLyricist - DORIS TAUBER, ComposerLyricist - William Tracey, ComposerLyricist - Sy Oliver & His Orchestra, Orchestra
℗ 1950 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Red Callender, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Barney Kessel, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Harry "Sweets" Edison, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ann Ronell, ComposerLyricist - Chico Hamilton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Tucker, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Willie Smith, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1955 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Johnny Mercer, Author - Red Callender, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Barney Kessel, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Billie Holiday, MainArtist - Harry "Sweets" Edison, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Van Heusen, Composer - Chico Hamilton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Tucker, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Willie Smith, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1956 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Wynton Kelly, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Quinichette, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Burrell, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Herbie Nichols, ComposerLyricist - Tony Scott, Producer, Clarinet, AssociatedPerformer - Charlie Shavers, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Scott Orchestra, Orchestra - Aaron Bell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Lennie McBrowne, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1956 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Wynton Kelly, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Quinichette, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Burrell, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Arthur Herzog Jr., ComposerLyricist - Tony Scott, Clarinet, AssociatedPerformer - Charlie Shavers, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Norman Granz, Producer - Aaron Bell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Lennie McBrowne, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1956 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billie Holiday, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Edward Heyman, ComposerLyricist - Al Cohn, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Green, ComposerLyricist - Carl Drinkard, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Carson Smith, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Burrell, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Chico Hamilton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Scott, Clarinet, AssociatedPerformer - Buck Clayton, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1956 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Since the range of recording dates for Verve Records' Billie Holiday compilation The Definitive Collection stretches from her first session in 1935 to her last in 1958, it might be supposed that the album attempts to live up to its ambitious name. In fact, however, this disc is really a selection of 18 highlights from the portion of Holiday's catalog controlled by Verve's parent company, Universal Music, which is to say her work for Commodore, Decca, Clef, and Verve itself between 1939 and 1956, with a couple of tracks licensed from her mid-'30s work for Brunswick (now owned by Sony BMG); a track she recorded under a pseudonym for Capitol (now controlled by EMI) in 1942; and a track from her final album, Lady in Satin, released by Columbia (another Sony BMG label). Although the bulk of these performances date from the '40s, the chronological sequence gives a sense of Holiday's vocal development over the years, as her craft improved and the technical quality of her voice deteriorated. Many of her better-known songs are included, with the caveat that "God Bless the Child," "Billie's Blues," "Easy Living," "Solitude," "My Man," and "I Cover the Waterfront" are re-recordings. (Annotator Bill Dahl states the case made by some listeners that the later versions are superior to the earlier ones.) Absent a merger of the remaining major record labels, it may be impossible to attempt a comprehensive, not to mention "definitive," collection of Holiday's career peaks on a single disc. This one is not a bad attempt, but it still basically represents only a part of the story.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 22 track(s)
- Total length: 01:10:30
- Main artists: Billie Holiday
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Verve Reissues
- Genre: Jazz Vocal Jazz
© 2008 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2008 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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