Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
54 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I love Billie Holiday and have for a long time.
Her voice haunts my soul every time I hear it, it reminds me of the first time I heard it in a cafe in Soho London, time seem to stand still as she sang "Strange Fruit".
This box set is a perfect start to her music and you can see the all other music from jazz to hip hop flowing through it, if you have never heard her sing then I plead with you to buy this boxset and start a journey that will take you to new highs.
A good start to female jazz vocals and from the queen herself.
Her voice haunts my soul every time I hear it, it reminds me of the first time I heard it in a cafe in Soho London, time seem to stand still as she sang "Strange Fruit".
This box set is a perfect start to her music and you can see the all other music from jazz to hip hop flowing through it, if you have never heard her sing then I plead with you to buy this boxset and start a journey that will take you to new highs.
A good start to female jazz vocals and from the queen herself.
56 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
These days albums like this get overlooked; the modern generation don't even care to wonder "who is Billie Holiday?" as they clamour for the newest releases by Lady GaGa, Beyonce, and Britney Spears, practically squealing for anything with a (albeit annoying) beat and a catchy tagline rather than any music with real meaning, class or soul.
Those who know Billie's work, this album is definately THE essential (although definately not completed) collection of some her most profound and earliest works. For those who do not know the music of the legendary "Lady Day", it is worth knowing that the measley few pounds this album will cost would be well spent for your musical education.
Billie Holiday struggled through more hardships than any woman should ever have to face in her tragically short life. Depression, drugs, alcoholism, rape, questionable paternity, poverty, prostitution, spousal abuse, and finally a very early death at the young age of 44.
It has always felt that perhaps it is due to all these things, that her voice carried with such resonance, and why the lyrics can carve a way into you right down to the bone. With every tiny warble, with every sweet high note, with every soft low rasp, Billie Holiday takes you on a powerfully emotional journey with her. Although much of the songs in this collectin are slightly soft, sad and bluesy, there are several up-beat tracks to tap your toes to, and bring a little whimsical smile to your lips. She will teach you what love is, what heartache is, what happiness and joy are, and most importantly, teach you that the life of a woman was just as complicated then as it is now.
Not only are the vocal performances on this album stunning, but the music itself is truly incredible - dating from the mid 1930's to the 40s, it is some of the finest examples of the music of the swing era I've heard to date.
One of my favourite things from this collection is that all the songs remain intact and while are distinctly clear, they're not overly digitally remastered. These CD's sound like you're playing them in an old record player, they have that soft muted tone 1930's sound about them. Closing my eyes, I could almost imagine being right there in the era, hearing it right then on a record player. I think just the way they were always intended to be heard.
A wonderful album, wonderful music to chill out and de-stress to, and great value for money as you get 60 songs in this set. This is a GREAT starter to someone who is just becoming a fan of the legend herself.
Those who know Billie's work, this album is definately THE essential (although definately not completed) collection of some her most profound and earliest works. For those who do not know the music of the legendary "Lady Day", it is worth knowing that the measley few pounds this album will cost would be well spent for your musical education.
Billie Holiday struggled through more hardships than any woman should ever have to face in her tragically short life. Depression, drugs, alcoholism, rape, questionable paternity, poverty, prostitution, spousal abuse, and finally a very early death at the young age of 44.
It has always felt that perhaps it is due to all these things, that her voice carried with such resonance, and why the lyrics can carve a way into you right down to the bone. With every tiny warble, with every sweet high note, with every soft low rasp, Billie Holiday takes you on a powerfully emotional journey with her. Although much of the songs in this collectin are slightly soft, sad and bluesy, there are several up-beat tracks to tap your toes to, and bring a little whimsical smile to your lips. She will teach you what love is, what heartache is, what happiness and joy are, and most importantly, teach you that the life of a woman was just as complicated then as it is now.
Not only are the vocal performances on this album stunning, but the music itself is truly incredible - dating from the mid 1930's to the 40s, it is some of the finest examples of the music of the swing era I've heard to date.
One of my favourite things from this collection is that all the songs remain intact and while are distinctly clear, they're not overly digitally remastered. These CD's sound like you're playing them in an old record player, they have that soft muted tone 1930's sound about them. Closing my eyes, I could almost imagine being right there in the era, hearing it right then on a record player. I think just the way they were always intended to be heard.
A wonderful album, wonderful music to chill out and de-stress to, and great value for money as you get 60 songs in this set. This is a GREAT starter to someone who is just becoming a fan of the legend herself.
57 of 66 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Billie Holiday is simply one of the best jazz singers of the day, and remains a legend today in spite of having recieved no technical training. Her inimitable voice produces an acute and dramaticly intense sound. It is hard to imagine that this is the same women who had to be dragged physically to her first recording session, due to an attack of nerves. 'Strange Fruit' is perhaps the most famous song in this collection, written about the racist lynchings in the American South that were still very much a reality when she sang it. Her voice cuts angrily through the song with an anguish which feels very potently real. There are also tenderer moments, Holiday's love songs are some of the most moving you'll ever hear 'The man I love' and and 'I can't give you anything but love' are keynotes, but all the tracks on this box set have much to recommend them. This is music with real feeling, beautifully expressed and sung wonderfully well by a woman in her artistic prime.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Songs, Great Voice, Great Value
This collection of 3 CDs of Bille Holiday's work is fantastic value.
All the songs come from the 1930s and 1940s. Read more
All the songs come from the 1930s and 1940s. Read more
Published 2 months ago by wolf
Beautiful Masterpiece
Bought the soundtrack off Amazon immediately after watching the film. I have listened to this soundtrack many times over, the music by Hans Zimmer is phenominal. Read more
Published 3 months ago by jesseharvey
Billie Holiday
Although I have many Billie Holiday albums there are a lot of tracks and takes on here that I haven't heard before so delighted to add this to my collection.
Published 9 months ago by hot5and7
THE ESSENTIAL BILLIE HOLIDAY
THERES ANYI LOVE BILLIE SO MY REVIEW WILL BE OF NO USE TO ANYONE,I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THERES PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE NOT HEARD BILLIE SING AT SOME POINT BUT IF THATS THE... Read more
Published 19 months ago
well happy
i am really happy with my cd and how quick it got here many thanks. m
Published 20 months ago by mel
Lovely album
I really love this album, so many great tracks and a great place to start if you're looking for an introduction to Lady Day's music.
Published 24 months ago by David Ashford
Great soundtrack
I was a little bit bored over Christmas and 'The Holiday' just so happened to be on. The film is your typical romantic comedy but the music is absolutely excellent. Read more
Published on 10 April 2010 by C. T. Maddison
Very good.
Very good. I have a particular fondness for old school blues, some jazz and a little swing. Billie Holiday was one of the very best. Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2009 by Mr. A. M. HOGG
This is what music supposed to be
It's so sad that there's nothing like this is being produced anymore. The music is what MUSIC supposed to be: powerful, soulful, joyful, relaxing, entertaining, pleasuring...
Published on 23 Jun 2004 by Onur
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
