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Billie Holiday

Though hailed as the pre-eminent jazz singer, Billie Holiday was also known for the tragic lifestyle that led to her early death in 1959. Geoffrey Smith picks his favourite recordings from a great and complex career.

First broadcast in November 2013.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 9 Nov 2014 00:00

Music Played

  • Billie Holiday

    One, Two, Button Your Shoe

    Performer: Bunny Berigan. Performer: Irving Fazola. Performer: Cozy Cole.
    • Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra.
    • Columbia.
  • Billie Holiday

    Back In Your Own Backyard

    • Integrale.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
  • Billie Holiday

    The Man I Love

    • Lady Day - The Best of Billie Holiday.
    • Columbia.
  • Billie Holiday

    I Can't Face The Music

    Performer: Oscar Peterson. Performer: Ray Brown. Performer: Joe Newman.
    • The Unforgettable Lady Day.
    • Verve.
  • Billie Holiday

    Billie's Blues

    • The Legacy 1933 - 1958.
    • Columbia.
  • Billie Holiday

    Me, Myself and I

    Performer: Freddie Green. Performer: Lester Young. Performer: Jimmy Sherman. Performer: Buck Clayton.
    • The Legacy.
    • Columbia.
  • Billie Holiday

    Fine and Mellow

    • Billie Holiday Ken Burns Jazz.
    • Verve.
  • Billie Holiday

    When You're Smiling

    • Integrale.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
  • Billie Holiday

    All Of Me

    • Lady Day The Best of Billie Holiday.
    • Columbia.
  • Billie Holiday

    Lover Man

    Performer: Toots Camarata and His Orchestra.
    • Billie Holiday Jazz.
    • Verve.
  • Billie Holiday

    What A Little Moonlight Can Do

    • The Unforgettable Lady Day.
    • Verve.
  • Billie Holiday

    This Year's Kisses

    Performer: Teddy Wilson. Performer: Lester Young.
    • Billie Holiday The Legacy 1933 - 1958.
    • Columbia.
  • Billie Holiday

    Easy Living

    • The Legacy 1933 - 1958.
    • Columbia.
  • Billie Holiday

    For All We Know

    • Billie Holiday The Legacy.
    • Columbia.
  • Billie Holiday

    Miss Brown To You

    Performer: Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra.
    • Billie Holiday The Legacy.
    • Columbia.
  • Billie Holiday

    Miss Brown to You

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Teddy Wilson, p; Benny Goodman, cl; Roy Eldridge, t; Ben Webster, ts; John Trueheart, g; John Kirby, b; Cozy Cole, d. 2 July 1935.

    Composer: Robin, Whiting, Rainger

    • The Legacy.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • C3K 47724. Tr. 4 (2.58).
  • Billie Holiday

    Billie's Blues

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Bunny Berigan, t; Artie Shaw, cl; Joe Bushkin, p; Dick McDonough, g; Pete Peterson, b; Cozy Cole, d. 10 July 1936.

    Composer: Holiday

    • The Legacy.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • C3K 47724 Tr.13 (2.37).
  • Billie Holiday

    One, Two, Button Your Shoe

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Bunny Berigan, t; Irving Fazola, cl; Clyde Hart, p; Dick McDonough, g; Artie Bernstein, b; Cozy Cole, d, spoken. 29 September 1936.

    Composer: Johnston, Burke

    • The Legacy.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • C3K 47724 TR. 16 (2.41).
  • Billie Holiday

    This Year's Kisses

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Lester Young, ts; Teddy Wilson, p, ldr; Buck Clayton, t; Benny Goodman, cl; Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones. 25 January 1937.

    Composer: Berlin

    • The Legacy.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • C3K 47726. Tr.1 (3.07).
  • Billie Holiday

    Easy Living

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Buck Clayton, t; Buster Bailey, cl; Lester Young, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Freddie Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d. 1 June 1937.

    Composer: Robin, Rainger

    • The Legacy.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • C3K 47726. Tr. 13 (3.02).
  • Billie Holiday

    Me, Myself and I

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Lester Young, ts; Ed Hall, cl; Jimmy Sherman, p; Buck Clayton, t; Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d. 15 June 1937.

    Composer: Gordon, Roberts, Kaufman

    • The Legacy.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • C3K 47726. Tr. 15 (2.35).
  • Billie Holiday

    When You鈥檙e Smiling

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Lester Young, ts; Benny Morton, tb; Buck Clayton, t; Teddy Wilson, p; Freddie Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d. 6 January 1938.

    Composer: Shay, Goodwin, Fisher

    • Integrale.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • FA 154. Tr. 3 (2.50).
  • Billie Holiday

    Back in Your Own Backyard

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Lester Young, ts; Benny Morton, tb; Buck Clayton, t; Teddy Wilson, p; Freddie Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d. 12 January 1938..

    Composer: Jolson, Rose, Dreyer

    • Integrale.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • FA 154. Tr. 11 (2.38).
  • Billie Holiday

    The Man I Love

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Buck Clayton, Harry Edison, t; Earl Warren, Jack Washington, as; Lester Young, ts; Joe Sullivan, p; Freddie Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d. 13 December 1939.

    Composer: G & I Gershwin

    • Lady Day.
    • Columbia.
    • COL 504722 2. D2, Tr. 8 (3.03).
  • Billie Holiday

    All of Me

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Lester Young, ts; Shad Collins, t; Leslie Johnakins, Eddie Barefield, as; Eddie Heywood, p; John Collins, g; Ted Sturgis, b; Kenny Clarke, d. 21 March 1941.

    Composer: Simons, Marks

    • Lady Day.
    • Columbia.
    • COL 504722 2. D2, TR. 18 (3.48).
  • Billie Holiday

    Lover Man

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Russ Case, t; Jack Cressey, Hymie Schertzer, as; Larry Binyon, Paul Ricci, ts; Dave Bowman, p; Carl Kress, g; Haig Stephens, b; Johnny Blowers, d; six unknown strings. 4 October 1944.

    Composer: Davis, Ramierez, Sherman

    • Ken Burns Jazz.
    • Verve.
    • 549 081-2. Tr. 13 (3.14).
  • Billie Holiday

    I Can't Face the Music

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Paul Quinichette, ts; Joe Newman, t; Oscar Peterson, p; Barney Kessel, g; Ray Brown, b; J.C. Heard, d. 1952.

    Composer: Bloom, Koehler

    • The Unforgettable Lady Day.
    • Verve.
    • MG V-8338-2. S3/6 (3.14).
  • Billie Holiday

    What a Little Moonlight Can Do

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Oscar Peterson, p; Charlie Shavers, t; Ray Brown, b; Ed Shaughnessy, d. 1954.

    Composer: Woods

    • The Unforgettable Lady Day.
    • Verve.
    • MG V-8338-2. S3/5 (3.11).
  • Billie Holiday

    Fine and Mellow

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Ben Webster, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, ts; Doc Cheatham, Roy Eldridge , t; Gerry Mulligan, bs; Vic Dickenson, tb; Mal Waldron, p;. Performer: Danny Barker, g; Milt Hinton, b; Osie Johnson, d. 8 December 1957..

    Composer: Gabler, Holiday

    • Ken Burns Jazz.
    • Verve.
    • 549 081-2. Tr. 18 (8.00).
  • Billie Holiday

    For All We Know

    Performer: Billie Holiday, v; Mel Davis, Billie Butterfield, Bernie Glow, t; Urbie Green, tb; Gene Quill, as; Hank Jones, p; Barry Galbraith, g; Milt Hinton, b; Osie Johnson, d;. Performer: unknown string section, harp, choir; Ray Ellis, arr, cond. 19 February 1958.

    Composer: Lewis, Coots

    • The Legacy.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • C3K 47727. Tr. 22 (2.52).

Broadcasts

  • Sun 3 Nov 2013 00:00
  • Sun 9 Nov 2014 00:00

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