• List Price: $14.99  
• Your Price: $14.99
• In Stock: [{"available":"0"}]

You must login to place orders.




Not purchasing for a business? See our consumer site.

When, in 1956, no less a vocalist than Frank Sinatra said that Billie Holiday was "one of the most important influences on American popular singing" he could have been speaking anytime between the release of her earliest recordings in the 1930s right up to the present, as 'Lady Day' as she is often referred, remains a name that comes up time and again when contemporary vocalists - notably female ones - list their biggest inspirations. However, as well as being such a dynamic and emotional interpreter of Jazz and Blues music, Billie lived a quite incredible life, despite passing away at the early age of 45 following cirrhosis of the liver bought on by her heavy drinking. Her harrowing story - one that includes rape, prostitution, drug abuse, heavy drinking, arrest and time spent in jail at just 11 years old - is one that all those who enjoy her music should be familiar with. This 4 CD set includes a double CD of Billie Holiday's superb music, including a number of the songs she composed herself such as 'God Save The Child' and Strange Fruit' along with almost 50 other classic cuts. The other two discs feature a spoken word biography of Billie during which the listener will become much more familiar with the life story of this American legend, leading to a greater understanding of where her passion and pain emanated from, factors which certainly contributed to her quite exceptional artistic prowess. Completed with detailed liner notes on her music, her recordings and on her life, all packaged in deluxe slipcase, this collection works as both a starting point for those new to Billie Holiday and to the veteran collector who requires a reminder of everything that made Billie Holiday the woman she was.

Track Listing