Billie Holiday - First Issue: Great American Songbook

For this double-disc set commemorating her American postage stamp (and patterned after Ella Fitzgerald's Songbook series), Verve compiled two discs of Billie Holiday covering the best of American popular song, from Ellington to Gershwin to Berlin to Porter and others. Though most of the material comes from the late '50s, when Holiday's voice was often in poor shape, her versions never fail to stir the heart -- often because her voice was in such bad repair. All of the tracks are familiar standards, including light-hearted songs like "A Fine Romance," "Embraceable You," "Prelude to a Kiss," and "I Get a Kick Out of You," as well as darker fare like "But Not for Me," "Stormy Weather," "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)," and "I Got a Right to Sing the Blues." ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Bell Bass Al Cohn Sax (Tenor) Alvin Stoller Drums Barney Kessel Guitar Barry Galbraith Guitar Ben Webster Sax (Tenor) Ben Young Research Benny Carter Sax (Alto) Billie Holiday Vocals Billy Bauer Guitar Billy Byers Trombone Billy Taylor Piano Bobby Tucker Piano Budd Johnson Sax (Tenor) Charlie Shavers Trumpet Chico Hamilton Drums Chris Albertson Liner Notes Cozy Cole Drums Danny Bank Sax (Baritone) Ed Shaughnessy Drums Flip Phillips Sax (Tenor) Freddie Green Guitar Gordon Jee Design, Director Gus Johnson Drums Hank Jones Piano Harry "Sweets" Edison Trumpet Herb Ellis Guitar Herman Leonard Photography James Gavin Sequencing, Selection Jimmy Rowles Piano Joe Mondragon Bass Joe Newman Trumpet Joe Wilder Trumpet John Simmons Bass Kenny Burrell Guitar Larry Bunker Drums Lenny McBrowne Drums Leonard Gaskin Bass Leroy Lovett Director Michael Lang Compilation Supervisor Milt Hinton Bass Norman Granz Producer Oscar Peterson Piano, Organ Osie Johnson Drums Paul Quinichette Sax (Tenor) Peter Pullman Notes Editing, ? Phil Schaap Research, Restoration, Remastering Ray Brown Bass Ray Ellis Arranger, Conductor, Producer Ray Ellis Orchestra Performer Red Callender Bass Red Mitchell Bass Richard Seidel Executive Producer Shawn Wilson-Bunyan Design Coordinator, ? Tony Scott Clarinet Willie Smith Sax (Alto) Wynton Kelly Piano