Billie Holiday - Billie's Best

There is no end in sight to the debate over Billie Holiday's career as a vocalist: Is the essence of her art to be found in her early recordings for Columbia or in the recordings she made for Verve at the end of her short and, by all accounts, miserable life? The early work finds her in clearer voice and singing with energy and conviction, while in the later recordings her voice is ravaged, yet more soulful and perhaps more nuanced. In 1992 Verve made its case for the latter position by releasing a monumental ten-disc box set containing everything Holiday recorded for the company between 1945-1959, and simultaneously released this 16-track sampler as a palliative to those who didn't have 150 dollars lying around. Nothing here will settle the argument for good, but this album does offer a good cross section of the latter part of her career, from the small-ensemble work with pianists Oscar Peterson and Jimmy Rowles to a nice performance of "All the Way" with an orchestra conducted by Ray Ellis. This probably should not be anyone's only Billie Holiday album, but it's a valuable, and at times moving, document of the end of a sad but illustrious career. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Bell Bass Alvin Stoller ?, Drums Barney Kessel Guitar (Electric) Ben Webster Sax (Tenor) Benny Carter Sax (Alto) Billie Holiday Vocals Billy Bauer Guitar (Electric) Billy Taylor Piano Bobby Tucker Piano Budd Johnson Sax (Tenor) Charlie Shavers Tenor (Vocal), Trumpet Chico Hamilton ?, Drums Cliff Preiss Producer, Assistant Producer Cozy Cole Drums David Lau Design Ed Shaughnessy Drums Flip Phillips Sax (Tenor) Freddie Green Guitar Gus Johnson Drums Hank Jones Piano, Cello Harry "Sweets" Edison Trumpet, Tenor (Vocal) Herb Ellis Guitar (Electric) Janet Putnam Harp Jimmy Rowles Piano Joe Benjamin Bass Joe Mondragon Bass Joe Newman Trumpet, Tenor (Vocal) John Simmons Bass Kenny Burrell Guitar (Electric) Larry Bunker Drums Lenny McBrowne Drums, ? Leonard Gaskin Bass Leroy Lovett Director Michael Bays Art Direction Michael Lang Sequencing Oscar Peterson Piano Osie Johnson Drums Paul J. Hoeffler Photography Paul Quinichette Sax (Tenor) Peter Pullman Assistant Producer, Producer Phil Schaap Producer, Research, Remastering, Restoration, Assistant Producer Ray Brown Bass Ray Ellis Arranger, Conductor Red Callender Bass Red Mitchell Bass Robin Carson Photography Romeo Penque Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Alto), Bass, Clarinet Tom "Curly" Ruff Remastering Tony Scott Clarinet Willie Smith Sax (Alto) Wynton Kelly Piano