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Billie and her buddies: Miss Holiday with Art Tatum, Oscar Pettiford and Big Sid Catlett, circa 1944. Judging by the flags, this might have been taken in England. The photographer was film maker Gjon Mili. From the Gems collection
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The banks, the post office, the stock market, schools – they're all closed today. Did you forget? It's a national holiday. Eleanora Fagan's birthday. Better known to you and me as Billie Holiday.
But it's not just Billie's natal day. It's the 100th anniversary of her arrival, born on April 7, 1915, in Philadelphia (you probably thought she was born in Baltimore, just like I did, but no – she just grew up there). So I thought it appropriate that Gems do something to mark the occasion. I have some 60 Holiday records and a dozen or so CD sets, but nearly everything I have is available (and that's not bad!). So what can I offer you Gems fans that you don't already got in your collections? Hmmm ...
In poking around on the web, I noticed the the first ESP Billie Holiday release – the one with that "deer-in-the-headlights" cover – is hard to come by because Bernard Stollman had to withdraw it. I guess the Billie Holiday Estate objected to the cover image (it's not hard to see why). The music on the album comes from Boris Rose's tapes, performances from 1949-52, and they are all excellent. So, you may have this recording, but you may not have the cover. To celebrate Lady Day's centennial, here's cover and contents, just as they were initially released back in 1972 or so.
I bought this back in my college days, so there is a bit of surface noise (in addition to stuff that was inherently part of any ESP pressing). But I think you'll enjoy the performances regardless of a few pops and clicks. By the way, this is a rare legitimate Boris Rose release, one with song titles, credits, timings, the works. ESP must have insisted that he play it straight for once.
As always, the files were ripped right from the precious vinyl. Enjoy, and happy 100th, Billie!
The Lady Lives
Billie Holliday
Boris Rose airchecks, 1949-52; ESP 3002A
Just Jazz Concert, Pasadena, CA; June 2, 1949
1. My Man
2. Miss Brown to You
Horace Henderson, p; Lips Page, tp; Eddie Condon(?), g.
Eddie Condon Show, New York, NY; August 27, 1949
3. Keeps on Rainin'
4. Lover Man
5. I Cover the Waterfront
Art Ford Show; August 27, 1949 (same date as above, may be incorrect)
6. All of Me
Apollo Theater, New York, NY; May 24, 1950
7. You're My Thrill
Storyville, Boston, MA; October 31, 1951
8. He's Funny That Way
9. Billie's Blues
10. Miss Brown to You
Apollo Theater, New York, NY; 1952
11. My Man
Apollo Theater, New York, NY; December 10, 1952
12. Tenderly
Find it here: https://www.mediafire.com/?uakfqp8wcihyjik
I sure enjoyed this and all your blog. It's a pleasure to find blog like this one that share the music for the sake of it (and my God, no passwords!). as a fledgling jazz lover I admire your work and your collection of course. Thanks a lot and keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteGlad to have you as a visitor, Jinete. What is this music for but to share, right? Gems tries to bring many recordings that have been lost over the years to fans who might never get to hear them otherwise. And many great artists, too. More to come!
Delete100 years Lady day! photo was not taken in England but taken on stage at the met in n.y.city on 18.01.1944 during the first Esquire jazz concert that we all love and know!
ReplyDeleteKeep boppin´
marcel
Marcel! You're a font of info! Thanks for that clarification. My second guess, I hasten to add, was indeed the Esquire awards concert, due to the presence of Tatum, Pettiford and Catlett. I believe that was one of Oscar's first gigs in NYC -- not a bad place to start out. But how do we explain the Brit flags in the background? I confess they are what threw me off the Esquire attribution.
DeleteGreat share, David! I look forward to hearing this one soon. I'm sure you tuned in to the great Lady Day celebration at WKCR. It was a wonderful tribute for her 100th anniversary of her birth. Did you do anything on your show in honor of her? Regardless, this share is a fine tribute to her on her birthday. Thank you for sharing and for running such a fantastic and unique blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words, JC. Unfortunately, I missed KCR's tribute. I'm sure Brother Schaap offered up some fascinating rarities in addition to insightful (and long-winded!) commentary. I did do a tribute to Billie on my show (which you can hear via the link on the right of this page), featuring her 1956 Carnegie Hall concert with narration by Gilbert Millstein. Weird but interesting. This ESP download has Billie working with Horace Henderson. Who knew they collaborated?
DeleteI'll have to check out your tribute show. Thank you for the heads-up on where to find it. Yes, I had no idea that Billie and Horace Henderson collaborated. I thought I heard his name a time or two during the KCR broadcasts, but I kept telling myself that I couldn't be hearing that right. Now, I have proof that they did play together. Fascinating!
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