Bob_Bobson Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Don't know if this is the right forum or not, but I'm looking for a good representative box set of Billie Holiday's best. I see countless boxed sets on Amazon, but I wanted to cut to the chase with Organissimo experts on which was the best to START with (i.e., I'm not necessarily looking for a 10-disc encyclopedia of her work). Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinmce Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 (edited) You can buy the majority of her material in 3 or 4 sets: The Complete Columbia: http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Day-Complete-Columbia-Golden/dp/B0029XIWCY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328713477&sr=8-1 The Complete Decca: http://www.amazon.com/Billie-Holiday-Complete-Decca-Recordings/dp/B000003N36/ref=pd_sim_m_2 The Complete Commodore: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Commodore-Recordings-Billie-Holiday/dp/B0000001NM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328713665&sr=8-1 The Complete Verve: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Billie-Holiday-Verve-1945-1959/dp/B0000046P3/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1328713604&sr=8-7 While the Columbia set does run 10 discs, it is among the greatest of all jazz box sets and for $25 it's a no-brainer. Master Take editions are available for all but the Decca. There's also this monster which pulls most of this together in master takes: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Masters-1933-Billie-Holiday/dp/B005NNJK0K/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1328713714&sr=8-5 Start with the Columbia, but get them all! Edited February 8, 2012 by colinmce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 This is good advice. There are those distinct periods, and that's a good way to explore BIllie's work. Odds are if you enjoy one of these sets you'll enjoy them all. From an audiophile standpoint there are possibly better choices, but I personally haven't been disappointed by these sets in any significant way and I have them all. Recently I picked up the Hip-O Select Commodore and Decca Master sets and that is a very nice set. May be a nice introduction unless you are quite familiar with 'thirties jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnivore Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 absolutely - start with the Columbia and then, later, get the Decca - then the Commodore. There's loads of good stuff on the Verve but her voice, by this time, is in bad shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clunky Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 I started with the Verves ( bacause that's all that was available at the time) and nearly lost interest in her. The Columbia sessions are the way to go. Avoid the late 80s CDs of this material as the sound is poor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 If you want an overview, the Hippo Select "Ultimate Collection" covers her entire career and also has a DVD with her best film/tv performances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazztrain Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Not to be pedantic, but most of the material on the Complete "Columbia" set is from Brunswick (for the Teddy Wilson led dates) and from Vocalion (for most of the Holiday led sessions). The Teddy Wilson sessions are also available on a series of Teddy Wilson cds on hep (which include non-vocal tracks as well as those with other vocalists). They include master takes as well as alternates. These early sides, to me, are probably her most compelling and least mannered work. absolutely - start with the Columbia and then, later, get the Decca - then the Commodore. There's loads of good stuff on the Verve but her voice, by this time, is in bad shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 If you want an overview, the Hippo Select "Ultimate Collection" covers her entire career and also has a DVD with her best film/tv performances. Good suggestion, that is a very nice set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon8 Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 An excellent one-disc selection of her best - and most swinging - Columbia sides : "Getting Some Fun Out of Life"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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