The Complete Decca Recordings (1944)

About this title: Billie Holiday is heard at her absolute best on this attractive two-CD set. During her period on Decca, Lady Day was accompanied by strings (for the first time), large studio orchestras, and even background vocalists, so jazz solos from her sidemen are few. But her voice was at its strongest during the 1940s (even with her personal problems) and to hear all 50 of her Decca performances (including alternate takes and even some studio chatter) is a real joy. Among the high points of this essential set are her original versions of "Lover Man" (Holiday's biggest selling record), "Don't Explain," ... read more

Tracks:

1. Lover Man [Davis/Ramirez/Sherm]
2. No More [Camarata/Russell]
3. No More [Alternate Take] [Camarata/Russell]
4. That Ole Devil Called Love [Fisher/Roberts]
5. Don't Explain [First Version] [Herzog/Holiday]
6. Big Stuff [Bernstein]
7. Don't Explain [Second Version] [Herzog/Holiday]
8. Big Stuff [Bernstein]
9. You Better Go Now [Graham/Reichmer]
10. What Is This Thing Called Love? [Porter]
11. Good Morning Heartache [Drake/Fisher/Higgin]
12. No Good Man [Previously Unissued Alternate] [Fisher/Gallop/Higgi]
13. No Good Man [Fisher/Gallop/Higgi]
14. Big Stuff [Breakdown and Chatter] [Bernstein]
15. Big Stuff [Third Version] [Bernstein]
16. Big Stuff [Bernstein]
17. Baby, I Don't Cry Over You [Previously Unissued Alternate] [Krouse]
18. Baby, I Don't Cry Over You [Krouse]
19. I'll Look Around [Previously Unissued Alternate] [Cory/Cross]
20. I'll Look Around [Cory/Cross]
21. The Blues Are Brewin' [Alter/DeLange]
22. Guilty [Previously Unissued Alternate] [Akst/Kahn/Whiting]
23. Guilty [Previously Unissued Breakdown and Chatter] [Akst/Kahn/Whiting]
24. Deep Song [Cory/Cross]
25. There Is No Greater Love [Jones/Symes]
26. Easy Living [Rainger/Robin]
27. Solitude [Previously Unissued Alternate] [DeLange/Ellington]
28. Solitude [DeLange/Ellington]
29. Weep No More [Adair/Jenkins]
30. Girls Were Made to Take Care of Boys [Blane]
31. I Loves You, Porgy [Gershwin/Gershwin]
32. My Man [Previously Unissued Alternate] [Charles/Pollack/Wil]
33. My Man [Charles/Pollack/Wil]
34. 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do [Previously Unissued Alternate] [Grainger/Prince/Wil]
35. 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do [Grainger/Prince/Wil]
36. Baby Get Lost [Feather/Moore]
37. Keeps on A-Rainin' [Kortlander/Williams]
38. Them There Eyes [Pinkard/Tauber/Trac]
39. Do Your Duty [Wilson]
40. Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer) [Wilson]
41. You Can't Lose a Broken Heart [Johnson/Miller]
42. My Sweet Hunk O' Trash [Johnson/Miller]
43. Now or Never [Holiday/Lewis]
44. You're My Thrill [Clare/Gorney]
45. They Can't Take That Away from Me [Gershwin/Gershwin]
46. Please Tell Me Now [Clawson/Pope]
47. Somebody's on My Mind [Herzog/Holiday]
48. God Bless the Child [Herzog/Holiday]
49. This Is Heaven to Me [Reardon/Schweikert]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.