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The Essential Billie Holiday
 
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The Essential Billie Holiday [Box set]

~ Billie Holiday
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
Price: £3.98 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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The Essential Billie Holiday + Gold - All Her Greatest Hits + The Very Best of Nina Simone
Price For All Three: £13.94

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Product details

  • Audio CD (2 Sep 2002)
  • Number of Discs: 3
  • Format: Box set
  • Label: Soho
  • ASIN: B000077JRZ
  • Other Editions: MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 3,012 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

    Popular in these categories:

    #5 in  Music > Jazz > Vocalists > Female
    #10 in  Music > Easy Listening > Nostalgia
    #10 in  Music > Blues > Delta & Country Blues

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Disc: 1
1. I can't give you anything but love
2. Loverman
3. Back in your own backyard
4. Your mother's son-in-law
5. Miss Brown to you
6. On the sunny side of the street
See all 20 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. God bless the child
2. I'll get by
3. Them there eyes
4. Some other spring
5. These foolish things
6. Don't explain
See all 20 tracks on this disc
Disc: 3
1. They can't take that away from me
2. The man I love
3. Fine and mellow
4. The mood that I'm in
5. Mean to me
6. I can't get started
See all 20 tracks on this disc

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Customer Reviews

5 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Strange Fruit...the greatest song ever, 2 Jun 2006
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.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Flawlessly timeless music, 1 Jun 2009
By Dismal Angel "Ash" (Scotland) - See all my reviews
  
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.
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44 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Lady Sings The Blues, 24 Mar 2003
By A Customer
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Most excellent.
Very good. I have a particular fondness not for old school blues and jazz, and Billie Holiday was one of the very best. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. A. M. HOGG

5.0 out of 5 stars 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... Read more
Published on 23 Jun 2004 by 10ur

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