Billie Holiday was probably the most lyrical and expressive female vocalist in jazz history. This set compiles her complete sessions for the legendary Commodore label. Made between Billie's contracts for Columbia/Okeh and Decca, these recordings present her in top form, backed by excellent small groups featuring such names as Frankie Newton, Freddie Webster, Tab Smith, Vic Dickenson, Eddie Heywood, and Sidney Catlett. Among the highlights of the set are Billie's first version of the shocking "Strange Fruit", which she used to conclude her stage performances, as well as readings of famous standards she would never record again, such as "As Time Goes By" and "I'll Be Seeing You". Two rare tracks, which constitute Billie's only recordings with the Artie Shaw and with the Paul Whiteman orchestras, have been added here as a bonus. Includes 20-page booklet.LP Tracks: Strange Fruit / Yesterdays / Fine And Mellow / I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues / How Am I To Know? / My Old Flame / I’ll Get By / I Cover The Waterfront / I’ll Be Seeing You / I’m Yours / Embraceable You / As Time Goes By / He’s Funny That Way / Lover Come Back To Me / I Love My Man (Aka Billie’s Blues) / On The Sunny Side Of The StreetCD Tracks Tracks: Strange Fruit / Yesterdays / Fine & Mellow / I Got A Right To Sing The Blues / Strange Fruit (Alt.Take) / Yesterdays (Alt.Take) / I Got A Right To Sing The Blues (Alt.Take) / How Am I To Know / My Old Flame / I'll Get By / I Cover The Water Front / How Am I To Know (Alt.Take 1) / How Am I To Know (Alt.Take 2) / How Am I To Know (Alt.Take 3) / My Old Flame (Alt.Take 1) / My Old Flame (Alt.Take 2) / My Old Flame (Alt.Take 3) / I'll Get By (Alt.Take) / I Cover The Water Front (Alt.Take 1) / I Cover The Water Front (Alt.Take 2) / I Cover The Water Front (Alt.Take 3) / I'll Be Seeing You / I'll Be Seeing You (Alt.Take 1) / I'll Be Seeing You (Alt.Take 2) / I'm Yours / Embraceable You / As Time Goes By / I'm Yours (Alt.Take 1) / I'm Yours (Alt.Take 2) / Embraceable You (Alt.Take 1) / Embraceable You (Alt.Take 2) / As Time Goes By (Alt.Take) / He's Funny That Way / Lover Come Back To Me / I Love My Man (Aka Billie's Blues) / On The Sunny Side Of The Street / He's Funny That Way (Alt.Take 1) / He's Funny That Way (Alt.Take 2) / He's Funny That Way (Alt.Take 3) / He's Funny That Way (Alt.Take 4) / Lover Come Back To Me (Alt.Take 1) / Lover Come Back To Me (Alt.Take 2) / Lover Come Back To Me (Alt.Take 3) / I Love My Man (Aka Billie's Blues) (Alt.Take 1) / I Love My Man (Aka Billie's Blues) (Alt.Take 2) / Any Old Time / Trav'lin Light
