The Complete Decca Recordings (compilation album) by Billie Holiday

From TheDude85 04/17/2021 17:50

A Two Disc Compilation covering her entire recorded output for the Decca Records Label, spanning 1944 - 1950, this comprehensive collection features the later years of the mastery of Billie Holiday. You can listen to Holiday's one-take wonders and a few tunes where she struggled to get the exact sound she was looking for. Some would criticize her records in later years when compared with her early 30s releases, but upon further reflection there were several forces at work which set up a different environment for her recordings. In her early career she was often featured in a support role for the Jazz legends she performed with, while in these later years her own voice was the focal point and the Jazz legends were cast in a role to support her. Her substance use in later years would also effect her performances, but do not diminish her greatness as an innovator of phrasing and delivery. Distributed on the GRP Label (Cat# D217027) as part of their GRP Presents The Legendary Masters of Jazz Series this is a must have in your record collection.