The Best Of Billie Holiday (Intersound) Review

07/13/2005 7:35 AM, AMG


Pulled from old 78s, this isn't the place to start your Billie Holiday collection by a long shot. But this two-disc set is a pretty great overview of Lady Day's rise to greatness, featuring her own early sessions as well as her guest spots on a number of small- and big-band sides. Disc one finds her working with Teddy Wilson, Count Basie, Artie Shaw, and Eddie Heywood, while the second disc continues the thread with more sides with Wilson and Heywood, plus stray tracks with Paul Whiteman, Frankie Newton, and on her own. A nice chunk of early Lady Day. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide