Lady In Satin

I mean, it's Billie Holiday!

I feel like I'm missing something, because I really don't understand the hype for this album. I don't really like her voice. She's a decent singer, but I wouldn't say great. The orchestra is good, but nothing new is happening. Overall I found this fairly boring tbh.

Rollete. Largo.

Eleanora (aka Lady Day) is basically the best female singer ever, and listening to this is a reminder to anyone who might think otherwise. Even the outtakes and alternate versions add value - which is not usually the case with repackaged versions of old albums! I wish there was more film of her, and even more recorded music, but plan to fully explore her back catalogue when i have time (ie after the list!)

This is the voice of someone who has been through some shit and came through the pain with grace and dignity. Even without knowing the context of this album relative to her career and lifespan, this is an incredible piece of work. I am interested to hear her in her prime!

This was not the jazz I was expecting from one of the greats, and that really affected my first listen. However, the second go round I heard how the orchestration fills in the space around Holiday’s vocals beautifully, and, while this is not Holiday in her prime, her vulnerability connects so well with the songs she’s chosen. Depressingly emotional from an aging, worn out singer at the end of her career.

Not my jam, daddio. Most of the songs sound pretty similar. I know her voice is supposed to be top-notch, but I don't love the singing style. I'm probably just unsophisticated.

Already listened.

Truly the voice of an angel. Would probably be better served soundtracking a night on the town.

Peaceful to listen to but not my thing

My second Billie Holiday album and the one where her appeal and style really resonated with me. The album's comprised of these grainy orchestral passages that back Holiday's raspy vocals. There's a subtle dissonance between the two where it feels like two entirely different sonic planes colliding, almost like technicolor in music form. Nevertheless, it yields very lush results. Vocally, Holiday emits something very tragic and defeated, with a distinct rasp and lowkey quality to her performances and her writing. The lyrics are often contemplative - hinting at the loss of a sour yet meaningful relationship. These ideas are most clearly seen in 'I'm a Fool to Want You' and 'Glad to Be Unhappy'. Beautifully tragic is the best way to describe this album - especially considering it came out shortly before her passing. The feelings of longing, nostalgia, and melancholy illustrated here continue to prove that Holiday was one of the most talented and "scenic" vocalists of the 50s.

Rollete. Largo.

Although Billie Holiday has a timeless voice, I just don't really enjoy the experience of listening to multiple songs about a woman pining for an unavailable man; the themes of this album got old pretty quickly.

This was not a good listen for me. The 'legend' of Billie Holiday is huge, but at least on this recording it didn't come through for me. There were a few places were I found he voice pleasing but we're talking seconds out of this entire album. The 'bonus' material at the end was hard to listen to. I think in general I don't love this style of 'crooner' jazz from the 40's/50's and also I think Billie's voice and body (and life) were just wrecked at this point. It's a sad and somewhat inspiring story but not enough to make the music pleasant haha.

OK album. Billie Holiday has an all-time great and distinct voice, but I didn't think these are the best songs of hers. It was a nice listen overall, but I thought this version of "You Don't Know What Love Is" was lackluster and could have been much better. I would have also preferred jazz arrangement rather than orchestral. ***

I’m familiar with several “classic” Billie Holiday recordings, and I was pretty surprised at how much her voice had deteriorated by the time of these later recordings. But it’s still a really solid recording, even diminished, her voice was solid, and her delivery is captivating. Rounds up to 4, barely.

I have always been a fan of female vocals. I find that music is a perfect emotional outlet, which is why many songs resonate emotionally with their respective fans who are feeling the same. I also find that women are often more in tune with emotions and are able to musically convey this. I am not a huge fan of jazz, but one cannot listen to this album and connect with the world-weary lady. You can feel how sad and run-down by life she feels as she works her way through these songs of love and loss. Her voice is still amazing, although you can hear how years of substance abuse have taken its toll on it. I will listen to more of her catalog to get a taste of her earlier music.

Beautiful, haunting record. I did not know Billie Holiday didn’t make it to the 60s!

Not bad, but I think this music makes all the songs sound too similar.

It's always a bit difficult to rate albums pre-1960s because at those times albums were mostly about throwing songs together and they still didn't have concept of albums that came later. Billie Holiday's album a year before her death shows her really great singing once again. It's a melodic and slow album, however the songs blend together too much, and they sound quite the same. The music accompanies the singing just well but it's all too sugary for my taste. I think I'd love this smooth jazz music in a small dose but to listen to the album in its entirety is a bit too much. I'd give for the singing a high mark but as a whole, it's just average. 2.5/5.

Always love Billie Holiday, but for some reason this album didn't connect with me. All of the songs had the same sort of ethereal jazz background that reminded me of In the Wee Small Hours from Sinatra. Billie is a queen, there is no disputing that, but all the songs of hers that I love were not on this album and I'm not sure if we will get another of hers (or maybe we did, it's been almost 1000 at this point). Either way, I'm glad she made an appearance.

Always appreciate getting an album from the '50s. We haven't had any Billie Holiday, and I have no idea how this ranks in her catalog, but it's pretty good. She's got such an interesting and emotional voice, and she sounds really old, was she old when she made this? Damn, she was 43 I believe, and she died the following year. That makes this hit a bit harder. Apparently drugs and alcohol had damaged her voice quite a bit, which is what I was hearing. Really tragic to be able to tell from a recording that someone isn't doing well, even when hearing it some 65 years later. I'll be keeping a few songs from this one, and I'll have to listen back with that tragic background in mind. Rest in peace to Billie, her talent is undeniable even through the pain. Favorite tracks: For Heaven's Sake, You Don't Know What Love Is, It's Easy to Remember, Glad to Be Unhappy. Album art: Just a picture of Billie, typical '50s style cover. She looks very world-weary though. 3.5/5

Honestly kind of mid. I had high hopes and her voice is great, of course, but the music is boring and the album drags.

Kinda all sounded the same but was nice

Beautifull

What a voice. What a singer. What a lady. What a record.

I love Billie Holiday, at least I can’t say I’ve ever heard a Billie song that I didn’t enjoy. She had one of the all time great voices, and she collaborated with some of the greatest jazz musicians on some really great tunes. That said, I didn’t love this album all that much. It was interesting to hear her late period recordings, but I found this a lot less inspiring that her earlier work and far less interesting than her “boppier” tunes. The End of a Love Affair was really the only song that I truly enjoyed, and otherwise it was interesting only as a chronicle of her declining health (her voice is still lovely but far weaker than earlier).

The songs on this album all sound the same. Beautiful voice, but I’m sure there are better albums that showcase Billie Holiday than this. 2/5

Love her voice

Billie has such a unique voice and listening to her makes me think what it would have been like to see her play live when these albums came out. I read about this album being a stylistic change but wasn't prepared for how sad it was.

Sweet soothing sounds of Billie.

**In-Depth Review of "Lady in Satin" by Billie Holiday** **Introduction** "Lady in Satin" is an album by the legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday, released in 1958. It was her penultimate album and is often regarded as one of her most poignant works. The album was recorded with Ray Ellis and his orchestra, and it stands out not only for its lush orchestration but also for the raw, emotional quality of Holiday's voice at this stage in her career. This review will delve into the lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence of the album, providing a balanced view of its strengths and weaknesses. **Lyrics** The lyrical content of "Lady in Satin" is rich with themes of love, heartbreak, and yearning. Each song on the album tells a story of deep emotional resonance, reflecting Holiday's own turbulent life experiences. 1. **"I'm a Fool to Want You"** - This song, co-written by Frank Sinatra, Jack Wolf, and Joel Herron, opens the album with a haunting portrayal of unrequited love and emotional dependency. Holiday's interpretation adds layers of vulnerability and desperation to the already poignant lyrics. 2. **"For Heaven's Sake"** - A plea for understanding and compassion, this song's lyrics highlight the pain of feeling misunderstood and neglected in a relationship. Holiday's delivery is heartfelt, emphasizing the sorrow and longing embedded in the words. 3. **"You Don't Know What Love Is"** - This track explores the disillusionment and bitterness that come with the end of a romance. The lyrics are a testament to Holiday's ability to convey deep emotional truths through her singing. 4. **"You've Changed"** - The theme of change and lost love is central to this song. The lyrics poignantly capture the sense of betrayal and sadness that accompany a lover's transformation. 5. **"I Get Along Without You Very Well"** - This song, with its ironic twist on coping with heartbreak, showcases Holiday's talent for infusing lyrics with layers of meaning. Her delivery oscillates between bravado and vulnerability. **Music** The musical arrangement of "Lady in Satin" is characterized by lush orchestration, provided by Ray Ellis and his orchestra. The music complements Holiday's voice, creating a rich, atmospheric backdrop that enhances the emotional depth of each song. 1. **Orchestration** - Ellis's arrangements are intricate and meticulously crafted. The use of strings, horns, and woodwinds adds a cinematic quality to the music, elevating the album's overall impact. The orchestration is both supportive and expressive, highlighting Holiday's vocal nuances. 2. **Instrumentation** - The choice of instruments and their interplay are central to the album's sound. The strings, in particular, are prominent, providing a sweeping, almost melancholic undertone to the tracks. The subtle use of brass and woodwinds adds texture and complexity to the arrangements. 3. **Tempo and Rhythm** - The album features a range of tempos and rhythmic styles, from slow ballads to mid-tempo pieces. This variety keeps the listener engaged and allows Holiday to showcase her versatility as a vocalist. **Production** The production of "Lady in Satin" is notable for its clarity and attention to detail. The collaboration between Billie Holiday and Ray Ellis is a key element of the album's success. 1. **Recording Quality** - The recording quality is exceptional for its time, with a warm, intimate sound that brings out the nuances of Holiday's voice. The balance between the vocals and the orchestra is well-maintained, ensuring that neither overshadows the other. 2. **Vocal Production** - Holiday's vocals are recorded with a raw, unvarnished quality that captures the fragility and weariness in her voice. This production choice adds to the emotional intensity of the album, making it a deeply personal listening experience. 3. **Mixing** - The mixing of the album is skillfully done, with each instrument and vocal line clearly defined. The stereo separation and spatial placement of the orchestra create a sense of depth and immersion. **Themes** "Lady in Satin" is thematically rich, exploring complex emotions and relationships. The themes are deeply intertwined with Holiday's own life, adding a layer of authenticity and resonance to the album. 1. **Love and Heartbreak** - The predominant theme of the album is love in its various forms—unrequited, lost, and enduring. Holiday's interpretations of these themes are informed by her own experiences, lending a sense of authenticity and poignancy to the songs. 2. **Yearning and Desperation** - Many of the songs on the album convey a sense of yearning and desperation, reflecting the emotional turmoil of their characters. Holiday's vocal delivery captures these feelings with a raw, unfiltered honesty. 3. **Resilience and Vulnerability** - Despite the album's focus on heartbreak and sorrow, there is also an undercurrent of resilience. Holiday's ability to convey both vulnerability and strength in her performances is a testament to her artistry. **Influence** "Lady in Satin" has had a profound impact on the world of jazz and popular music. The album is a testament to Billie Holiday's enduring legacy and her influence on subsequent generations of musicians. 1. **Vocal Technique** - Holiday's unique vocal style, characterized by her expressive phrasing and emotional depth, has influenced countless singers across genres. Her ability to convey complex emotions through subtle vocal nuances has set a standard for interpretative singing. 2. **Orchestral Jazz** - The album's use of lush orchestration has contributed to the development of orchestral jazz. The collaboration between Holiday and Ellis demonstrated the potential of combining jazz vocals with sophisticated orchestral arrangements. 3. **Emotional Authenticity** - "Lady in Satin" is often cited as a prime example of emotional authenticity in music. Holiday's willingness to lay bare her emotions in her performances has inspired artists to embrace vulnerability and honesty in their own work. **Pros and Cons** **Pros:** 1. **Emotional Depth** - One of the greatest strengths of "Lady in Satin" is its emotional depth. Holiday's ability to convey profound feelings of love, loss, and yearning makes the album a powerful listening experience. 2. **Vocal Performance** - Despite her deteriorating health, Holiday's vocal performance on the album is deeply moving. Her voice, though frayed and weathered, is imbued with a sense of lived experience and emotional truth. 3. **Orchestration** - Ray Ellis's orchestration is masterful, providing a rich, atmospheric backdrop that enhances the emotional impact of the songs. The arrangements are both sophisticated and sensitive to Holiday's vocal delivery. 4. **Production Quality** - The production quality of the album is exceptional, with a clear, intimate sound that brings out the best in Holiday's performances. The balance between the vocals and the orchestra is expertly maintained. **Cons:** 1. **Vocal Deterioration** - Some listeners may find Holiday's deteriorating vocal condition difficult to appreciate. Her voice, though emotionally expressive, lacks the technical precision and clarity of her earlier recordings. 2. **Pacing** - The album's pacing can feel slow at times, with many of the songs being melancholic ballads. This can make the listening experience feel somewhat monotonous if one is not in the right emotional state. 3. **Commercial Appeal** - "Lady in Satin" may not have broad commercial appeal due to its heavy emotional content and Holiday's vocal condition. It is an album that demands attentive listening and emotional investment. **Conclusion** "Lady in Satin" is a poignant and powerful album that stands as a testament to Billie Holiday's artistry and emotional depth. The combination of her raw, expressive vocals and Ray Ellis's lush orchestration creates a deeply moving listening experience. While the album's emotional intensity and Holiday's vocal deterioration may not appeal to everyone, its artistic merit and historical significance are undeniable. "Lady in Satin" remains a landmark in the world of jazz and a fitting tribute to one of the greatest vocalists of all time.

As much as I love Billie Holiday, this one was a miss for me.

Late 1950s jazz with an orchestra. Even though her voice was not at its best by the time she recorded this, her penultimate, album, there's no doubting that she had an amazing voice. Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of this style of music and find it boring.

Not my Music!

One of the greatest singers of the 20th century. The bittersweet way she songs matches these songbook classics well. The jazz accompaniment perfectly matches her voice.

Brilliant.

Nice!

all songs sound similar v nice overall

I feel bad giving this such a low rating but it really doesn't do it for me; background music.

It was jazz, it was Billie Holiday, I liked it

“With no mammy and no pappy … I’m so unhappy … but I’m so glad.” OK, Billie.

This is before I listened to music but I know the name.

not for me, her voice irritates me.

Found this quite boring. Considering that this is mainly about the vocals, she can't even sing that well IMO I guess this is a consequence of me not listening to Billie Holiday before and therefore not being a fan of her work before her voice declined. Judging by this album though I do not get the appeal

Very mellow and enjoyable

I mean ya gotta love Billie

Rich, elegant sound, although a little of this sleepy vibe goes a long way. Holiday's voice is noticeably worse for wear on these songs, but it works well with Ray Ellis' arrangements. Fave Songs: I Get Along Without You Very Well, I'm a Fool to Want You, But Beautiful, For All We Know

Album molto monotono, canzoni tutte uguali e non particolarmente belle. Sentita una sentite tutte.

Beautiful and timeless

Pretty, I guess. Not a lot else.

This was fine! but unfortunately a little boring.

Billie Holiday is pretty incredible but this album just feels like 12 versions of the same song. Fave: You've Changed

Well, first of all Billie Holiday gets a 5, so jot that down. Taking a step back - Is this a sensible pick? I have no idea. I've listened to quite a lot of her stuff, but it all tended to be either best ofs, or massive box sets of everything from a specific label or era, so I don't have much of a sense of which albums are her most important one. I don't think I recognized any of these songs, which maybe means something? I think I'm more used to hearing her with a more stripped back accompaniment, too? These arrangements felt a bit more lush than I'm used to - maybe even a little OTT? Still pretty lovely, of course. Fave tracks - "You Don't Know What Love Is" and "The End of a Love Affair"

Raspy, smooth Jazz. I like it

A very skilled vocalist vocalist with a terrific voice singing songs I would never listen to.

Vocal Jazz fürs Wohnzimmer.

uskomaton elämäntarina...incredible nainen... drug hörhö.. paska albumi gg... huoh njoo 50 luku populaari jazz struktuuri (so boring omg.. so boring(ei ole... ei ole pakko olla)) kiinnostavampaa olisi kuulla aikaisemmasta aikakaudesta kulla henkilön ääntä, vanha akka kuitenkin... (hagravenesque) suurennettu, pyhitetty.... ole pyhä nimi....kurjattu, ristiinnaulittu, ihmisen kehyksessä....miljoona kynttilää palamassa, siitä avusta, jota ei koskaan tullut .... haluat tummemman.... im a fool to want you

I don't want rate this badly as I can get it musically? If this was my Saturday pick, I might like it way more

Undeniably beautiful, but a bit too old fashioned and same-y for me.

These arrangements are not suited to her voice or style.

Billie Holliday tenia una voz preciosa, y las melodías Jazz que la acompañaban eran muy bonitas. Si bien las canciones son bonitas, actualmente escuchar un disco como este es algo aburrido, ya que las canciones son muy planas y parecidas unas a las otras. La edad del disco se nota. Aún así es muy relajante y la musica es estupenda.

It was all fine. But none of the songs really captured my attention. Sure has a unique voice that I don't really love. Probably because I didn't grow up listening to her, so I don't really feel nostalgia on her sound

Classic voice and era. Nice listen to relax and have good vibes.

- absolutely not - every song is boring and sounds the exact same - her voice is irritating - I truthfully did not make it through this whole thing (even without the bonus tracks), but I feel like that's a good thing because my ears would have begun to bleed if I had to listen to another moment of it

- why does she sing like that, it’s kinda annoying - otherwise she makes very beautiful music

Wundervolle Stimme, tolle Balladen.

Gorgeous voice and the orchestra is lovely, though every song sounds exactly like all the rest

This album hooked me right away, from the first lyrics that I heard. Something about Billie Holiday's voice and the melancholy of the music really struck a chord right away for me. A little same-y throughout but beautiful enough for me that I enjoyed the whole thing.

I usually love this kind of music; this cannot be Billie Holiday's best work. I see that it was recorded at the end of her career, perhaps that explains it. Really wanted to like this too.

I think Billie Holiday is really cool. These are very nice recordings... but I'm honestly kind of 3/5 because it's just a little too tame.

Not sure if I listened to the album. Can very much see where Amy Winehouse got her inspo

Notable track: For Heaven’s Sake

I'm always going to be obsessed with Billie Holiday and this is why

Only listened to a few songs. It was good but wasn't feeling it today.

So.. here we go again with the 50's Disney soundtrack POV.. All Jokes aside, as far as music of its time, this is very listenable. This comes from a time where most music was created at the office by the labels, and the artists who were popular were created in a test tube. You can tell there is genuine feelings here, and that this wasn't a product of the system- however, I need more emotion- Idk there's just something off and I can't put my finger on it. The production is AMAZING- there's so many moving pieces at any given time, and just makes these tracks feel SO alive. HOWEVER, there's a lot of sameish songs here, and again with the weird missing emotion in her voice in some instances, it does get repetitive at times. You've changed is such a banger. Solid 6/10

I am not reviewing the extra tracks other than "The end of a love affair" Just knowing that this was her last album before death jesus This is so so sad like she was heartbroken from the hard life she lived and to end on these doldrums of broken promises and relationships is hard and the instrumentation is beautiful here. Listen I know its all covers but Billie Brings a beauty and kinda finality with these. You've changed is such a sad sad song that just takes me back to past loves that have move passed and I have been both the singer and the subject. But beautiful has a great solo in the middle which just crescendos with the flutes ahhh Billie also adds these flutes over some of the songs which make them so much more interesting. I could listen to her voice for hours and I have there is nothing to hate here she came back after 16 years to sing songs outside of her style and it is shown to you from Im a fool to want you

Lady sings - or rather, velvet flows from her voice and wraps around you . A beautiful selection some favorites and some not so much, which makes them jams. Arrangement is sublime. Worth the listen

Welcome to the 1950s! We have music! You won't remember 90% of it but trust me it's there!

Respect to Billie but this isn’t for me. I was bored. It wasn’t bad but it gave me the same feeling I get watching movies from the 50’s. Probably great for the time, but we have moved way past this.

Lovely, but not an everyday listen.

Nothing interesting. Hard to get through

Old school. Relaxing

Didn't know much about Billie Holliday's music but I knew a bit about her rollercoaster life. The angst from said life is there in this album. Her strained and painful vocals are all but apparent. Not entirely my cup of tea, but I can kinda see where she's coming from.

Sunday morning music, wasn't really hitting on Thursday . Felt a little repetitive but it's still Billie holiday

It was good, very chill and laid back. I'm a fool is especially good.

Not riveting, but some easy listening while I was working. Not bad!

I feel like this album was not one of Billie Holiday's best. Her voice wasn't as smooth as it once was (which maybe sounds better to some people), but more importantly I felt every song was the same slow drawn out melancholy sound. Its a good sound but I got over it after seven songs.

I wanted to like this, but I just don’t. Every song sounded exactly the same to me. With a little Wikipedia research, I found out that this is later in her career when she had some drug/health problems. Makes sense.

She has a classic, beautiful voice and a pleasure to listen to. Very nice album.

Hard to see why she's so renowned. Her voice is akin to a Disney character. Sure it's unique but how is it enjoyable?

What Billie Holiday’s voice lost due to age and health issues, it more than made up for with experience and gravitas. There is no-one better at portraying the emotional turmoil of life and love. And if I may rant for a little, I think it’s a shame that we’ve lost the shared cultural heritage of standards. Lady In Satin presents possibly some definitive versions of some, but there are dozens of other interpretations of a lot of these songs, and they’re all fantastic. American’s especially, this is your culture, this is your contributions to art and to the great folk tradition that you’re ignoring. Just, go and listen to some Standards, please

Billie Holiday is great. Beautiful voice supported by a beautiful orchestra. Good crooner music. Can sometimes be boring because all of the songs sound so similar, but they’re all so tender and close-hearted. Standouts: For Heaven’s Sake, For All We Know, It’s Easy to Remember, But Beautiful, I’m a Fool to Love You.

Vocal inflections annoyed me to no end, was a slog to go through. 2/10

Sorry for that, but what the hell have a ruined voice with an uninspired orchestra to do on this list.

Pretty good. I like that standards style from the 50s. Her voice isn't as good as when she was younger, but still pretty great.

Her voice isn't what I expected it to be but the songs are still nice to listen to Best Song: Violets for your furs Worst Song: N/A

Damn, she's got me convinced.

No

Do not like

I was going to say “unpopular opinion” but reading the reviews it looks like it is the consensus. This album is boring - I agree with the comment about the orchestrations sounding like old Disney movies. I’m going to give the benefit of the doubt and say that these songs do nothing for her voice. They are all in one range, and I feel you could swap the backing music from each track and no one would notice.

Sounds like one long song

Unique wavering vocals, I liked some songs but overall a little slow and repetitive for my taste.

Fantastic album

Not for me

This seemed more about the orchestra than Billie Holiday. I think they pair well together, but there’s very little variation throughout the album. 2 stars probably doesn’t do the talent justice.

Quality singer, doubt if I'll seen her out again though.

Really chill and sensual. You can tell her voice has been affected by alcohol/drugs, but somehow it only elevates it here. The backing arrangements do a good job of complementing her voice while still always allowing it to be the focus.

Kind of depressing, broken voice singing some samey songs that get boring fast. It wasn't horrible, but I would never go out of my way to listen to this again.

Old school. Classic

Billie Holiday’s voice is so unique. It’s so soulful and soothing. ❤️

Beautiful, and so appreciated after an hour of Deee-Lite.

Hyllystä löytyy. Onhan tämä tällainen vokaalijatsin kiistaton klassikko, vaikka monien mielestä ei ookaan parasta Ladya esim äänen osalta. 4/5

Hieno laulaja, mutta vähän liian toisteinen levy. Tylsäksi kävi. Eikä tää samalla tavalla itseä lumoa kuin Ella F. Uskon silti, että eläkkeellä tulen tykkäämään.

Laatulevy menneeltä ajalta ja varsinainen mestari taas areenalla. Vieläkään ei tää vokaalijazz kuitenkaan oo omia suosikeita, nii jää nyt 3.5/5

Her next to last album recorded. The last one released in her lifetime. Well past her prime- she sounds very sick. 😞 2 stars

Voz parecida a Louis Armstrong pero en versión mujer.

One long crying song with Disney animals everywhere

Why is she so sad??

Pretty awesome to imagine how much went into making records back in the day. The huge band and arrangements for each song and the attention to detail is amazing. All of that plus Billie Holiday singing on top. Pretty good and a very important album given the context of when it came out and what she was going through.

Kitschig aber smooth

Tiene mejores

A timeless classic that greatly benefited from a much needed remastering.

I like Billie Holiday, but in small doses. A whole album was just too much for me.

Nice unique singing voice, soothing songs that remind me of old Disney movies. I enjoyed the music behind, great horn solos that compliment and aren’t starved for the attention. Songs did blend together a bit. Not my favorite album but overall very nice

pleasant

A pleasant enough album with some jazz standards. Holiday's voice is very mature, and sometimes I'm into her delicate singing, other times not as much. The moments where the album really shines are when the vocals, the orchestra, and the lyrics blend for an enveloping performance. "You Don't Know What Love Is" is very cool & suspenseful. "For All We Know" is a nice combination of plucky guitar, sweeping orchestra with Holiday's voice floating through. Otherwise however, the rest of the songs have the same tempo and mood they're not distinguishable to me. "But Beautiful" only reminded me of other versions I prefer. I didn't care much for the alternate takes at the end of the album, except for the audio story of "End of a Love Affair" was really interesting and made me appreciate the song and the performance more.

Listen at: 10/02/2024

3/5 I didn't really like or dislike any songs, it was pretty good throughout. Billie holiday is very talented as a singer, even with some of her vocal range being gone in this album. Wish there was more variation throughout, most songs blend together.

Nö

Beetje saai

That was absolutely delightful. I listened to it while reading the last few episodes of the Crossed comic books, so it was a wonderful juxtaposition of lush musicality and over sexualized Gore.

Sweet, suffering Jesus! That was a tedious slog of an album. Billie Holiday has an annoying, child-like singing voice & kitschy delivery. She uses this to barf out cringe lyrics over a band playing the most generic, old-ass Disney film-sounding music ever. They repeated this formula on *all* 12 songs. 12 identical songs. 12 identically insufferable songs. It's mental. I was bored silly for the 40+ minutes I listened to this torturous record, apart from the moments that Billie Holiday's voice made me wish I was deaf. It's an album full of love songs, but the only emotion I felt was seething hatred. 👎👎

Very heartfelt album. Her voice isn’t what it once was but it’s still amazing and you can feel the raw emotion in it. Mood is very low key.

Beautiful, timeless, nice listen.

Billie’s voice is just incredible. You can really hear the sadness in the songs. Such a tragic story.

I like the music, could be from an old film. But her voice is grating and it ruins it for me. Apparently she was past her best here - I would like to listen to something older.

Mooie jazz standards. Billie is een legend maar vind haar manier van zingen en melodieën niet altijd even mooi. Prima album, niet bijzonder.

Ella fitzgerald vibes. Voice is coarse. "I'm a fool to want you" is pretty good. Nostalgic. Orchestration is good.

Billie Holiday is a legendary figure who unfortunately died a tragic death. Constant alcohol and drug use had clearly caught up with her, as evidenced by her voice on these recordings; truly a shell of her former self. By the time she died in 1959, her manager successfully embezzled a majority of earnings. She died with but $0.17 in her bank account, equivalent to roughly $7 in today's money. Her most successful recordings from the 30s had been long out of print by this time. She died almost forgotten. That's why this recording is important. It was her swan song. She wanted this record to consist of softer recording, which better suited her voice. I think she succeeded. That's why I really wish I could connect more with these songs. They all kinda sound too similar, but that was what most music was at the time in post-war America, easy listening. I'm still glad I heard this recording and read more into Billie Holiday's life, as I had never listened to any of her music prior to this.

My dad would disown me if I rated this any lower

Despite her voice not being what it once was, her interpretations are full of feeling and nuance. I don’t think any voice can compare to her originality and heart 4.5

She's a legend, and even though I love junkie musicians, I can't get down with Billie. The songs are nice, but the contrast with her voice in later years is more sad than anything else. 2.7

She's the GOAT for a reason. Beautiful album.

This just made me wish I was listening to Aretha or Ella instead the entire time. I just don’t think I like Billie’s voice/inflection, and that paired with some of the blandest slow-oldies ever written did this album no favors.

I swear all albums before 1960 sound like Christmas music even if they have nothing to do with the holidays

slow boring music. resident sleeper as they say. i honestly don’t even love her voice.

Lovely.

Such a beautiful voice, and really nice instrumentation and production as well.

I have a couple main issues with this album. The biggest one is Billie Holiday's singing style. She has a nice voice but she embellishes her long notes with this high pitched falsetto. As if she's using a whammy bar for her singing. Which can be an interesting touch but it's so overused it is like nails on a chalkboard for me. She clearly has masterful control of her voice I just don't like the way it sounds. The second issue is the pacing. The pacing is slow and steady. As a result it really drags on and every song sounds the same. The biggest redeeming quality about this album is the band. If you were to take the instrumentals only I feel like it could pass for a lot of film soundtracks. It's elegant, whimsical, and the only thing bringing this album up from a 1 to a 2 for me.

I get that this album is famous and all that, but her voice is gross here. Ravaged and weak, and shaky and sick. Nope nope nope.

Yeah, she's the real deal. I sometimes put her on non-stop listening for a whole evening and I never grow tired of her voice and intonation.

Gear: Meze 109 PRO Mix: beeindruckend für eine Aufnahme von 1958 - insbesondere falls es tatsächlich kein moderner Remaster ist! Smoothe Vocals gebettet auf samtiger Instrumentierung - passender Albumtitel. Musik: schon schön. aber traurig. ganz schön traurig. Wertung: 😢😢😢(😭)/5

All of the songs are very similar

Wow Billie Holiday, what an all-time absolute stunner!! In every way! The distinctive unique jazz voice, it's so relaxing and beautiful. I just don't know how she even made those sounds with her voice. I especially enjoyed listening to The End of a Love Affair - Audio Story such a cool insight! The only negative is that she sung covers really. I reckon if she were an artist now someone would have written her her own songs which would have been even more epic. A lot of these tracks I only associate with Billie Holiday so I guess that's a big success and says it all really. I can get a bit samey but I don't mind that at all, it's beautiful.

It's hard to know what to say as I respect this music a lot but it doesn't move me that much. The slow jazzy style probably lead onto stuff I love like Arethra Franklin but at times I found it a little.. durgy?! That's OTT but I mean along those lines. Pleasant enough though

Pretty darn beautiful stuff

Not my typical listening for sure but mildly enjoyable. Sad to read about her life but the pain is reflected in her lyrics.

Wunderbar!!! Wenn man einfach mal entspannen möchte, diese Musik und diese Stimme ist einfach nur Balsam.

smooth jazz with a smooth voice. made me want to be dumped so i could use this as my soundtrack.

Good: I am a sucker to some classic soul/jazz/whatever you would call this genre. Just felt really relaxed and pleasant to listen to. Also it felt very open to keep the outtakes in the album, builds an understandable connection with the listener, enjoyable.

Jag skulle gärna vilja vara en person som älskar Billie Holiday. Inte minst för att jag då skulle kunna säga att kag är en person som älskar Billie Holiday till andra. Men tyvärr. Efter ett tag stör jag mig satan på hennes röst. Det finns ett knarr på slutet av alla långa toner som med lite god vilja skulle kunna beskrivas som ett vibrato. Jag tycker dock att det låter för jävligt. Blir faktiskt lite ledsen över att jag inte gillar detta. Men jag kan ju inte låtsas för sakens skull.

Alla låtar låter faktiskt exakt likadana. Detta är ett album med en låt. Passar perfekt som filmmusik. En "kritik" som vi använt många gånger nu. Men om det är så här enformigt, men inte nödvändigtvis asdåligt, så är helheten inte bra. Och med bra så är det alltså bra som filmmusik. Älskar rösten, men det räcker inte.

Hela skivan känns som en enda låt. Det är visserligen en väldigt behaglig låt och funkar bra som bakgrundsmusik i lurarna, men blir inte så spännande i längden.

What a phenomenal way to start 2024! Holiday’s smoky, world-weary voice is the perfect instrument to bring these standards to life.

Ein interessante Stimme aber leider begeisterter mich der Mix aus Jazz, Blues und Swing nicht.aLeider kein spektakulärer Titel aber auch für den nicht Jazz Fan nett zu hören als Hintergrund für einen schönen Bar-Abend.

What a voice.

Totally worth a listen but not very memorable.

Must be a vocal jazz week. Distinctive and pretty great voice, with interesting orchestration weaving sinuously between the phrases. A good vibe for a rainy New Year's Day.

Kinda boring and safe. Didnt like Billies voice as well. Wasnt particularly jazzy as well. I dont wanna sound like an elitist, but this is like jazz for beginners. Overall quite mediocre, but at least it reminded me of Unforgettable from Nat King Cole. Go listen to that album instead, its a lot more soulful. Significant 30/86 Liked 14/86 Added 4/86 NNN Previous one is also NNN

2.5 - If this album was like thirty minutes long, it'd definitely be getting a better score, but it's really repetitive at its full length. I got pretty bored before the album was over.

Billie Holiday. Great as always.

1. im a fool to uuant you - 2 2. for heavenz zake - 1.5 3. you dont knouu uuhat love iz - 1.5 4. i get along - 1 5. for all uue knouu - 1.5 6. violetz for your furz - 1.5 7. youve changed - 1.5 8. itz eazy to remember - 9. but beautiful - 1.5 10. glad to be unhappy - 1 11. ill be around - 1 12. the end of a love affair - 1 13. im a fool to uuant you - 2

Nice background music perhaps when with family or the rare occasion when I feel like listening to very slow stuff but not my cup of tea really.

Favorite Songs: Nothing standing out in my opinion, every song is solid Very calm jazzy album that is great to just put on and listen through.

Sultry and Slick

3.4

The strings and music generally haven’t aged as well as her voice. Which is obviously timeless and perfect. I’d love to let Rick Rubin choose some backing for her vocal tracks. She had to sing so much schmaltz (obviously strange fruit, etc. exceptions, but of like a very specific kind, that also she didn’t write, Lewis Allen/Abel Meeropol did, a conversation for another day). I’d love to hear the songs she’d write with more modern sensibilities. In heaven I look forward to the Billie Holiday + Amy Winehouse duets.

It’s always amazing to hear Billie Holiday sing - it’s like her voice is coming from somewhere in between. I’m a Fool to Want you cut me deep, but the album overall was a little too sleepy to be the tops for me.

not rly my style

Man the music is pretty, but just feels so “everything from this era.” Her voice is warbly and weak sounding. A tough listen.

Not really my style of music, gets quite stale throughout the whole album. Lovely voice however.

I hadn’t actually heard a Billie Holiday album all the way through until this, but definitely need to listen to more. The opening song was absolutely incredible, though unfortunately it didn’t quite stay at the same level throughout. A great mix of songs though and such a distinctive voice (used to great effect maybe 95% of the time with some less convincing wavers) and my god the strings sound lovely

It's different than summer of the other albums I've heard of hers. It seems more delicate and kinda has a different vibe from her earlier recordings. Billie has such a great voice. She could sing nursery rhymes and if be good with it.

Classic sounding soul-jazz type stuff

This feels among music that will be timeless as long as pop culture continues to expose us to sweet, jazzy orchestra and elegant singing. I don't even think it's the Christmas spirit in me; the music is well done. The singing is emotional, crisp, and has engaging lyrics while the composition is super easy to enjoy. Reading that this wasn't her best regarded record at the time of release, I want to listen to what people thought was her best. 8/10

This is the kind of music I have to be in the mood for to really enjoy, but it's hard to go wrong with Billie. 3.5 stars.

Lovely & classic

Never really listened to Billie Holiday before. She's got a great voice, but there's certain stylings she uses that I just don't like. It was a fine listen but not one that I'll likely return to.

Hyvältä kuulostaa laulu. Kuvaava albumin nimi. Joka biisi kyllä kovin samanlainen oskestraaleineen. Mutta kun äänimaailma ja melodiat toimivat vähäisin muutoksin, mitä sitä kauheasti muuttamaan.

Laulajan ääni heijastaa tuskaa - ei sitä helposti sulatettavaa, romanttista tuskaa, josta kappaleiden sanat kertovat, vaan oudompaa, häiritsevää kärsimystä, joka saa meidät pitämään sitä kokevaa henkilöä jopa ällöttävänä. Toisaalta laulun antama vaikutelma ei ole lainkaan luotaantyöntävä, vaan päinvastoin koukuttava - vai ovatko nämä vaikutelmat lähempänä toisiaan kuin yleensä myönnämme? Joka tapauksessa levy jättää kuulijaan jäljen.

Starting to feel more and more absurd about ratings with this one. I like every song on this. I don't think I'd ever listen to more than a couple of them in a row by choice. I would put the full album on at a big hall dinner where I want people to actively seek out old friends & say hello, but be contemplative & not rowdy. Billie Holiday's voice has such a strong centre of gravity that the frilliest of the wind section parts don't detract from the songs. All-timer musical artist for sure and yet I'm only going to give this a 3 music: appreciated. (⌐□ ̮ □)

I was like “Ya I like Billie Holiday, I know what to expect, this will be good.” Two songs I was like “what is happening??” and by the end I was floored. Have since read a bit about the production of the album. Amazing. One of a kind.

Puts me to sleep. Can't enjoy her grovely voice. 1/5

Wow, this was a really old album. They don’t make them like they use to that’s for sure. Billie Holiday’s vocal prowess is admirable, to say the least. The power, depth and vibrato are just incredible. Her tender yet brawny vocals are so exposed and moving that anyone with ears would stop in awe at this album.

Som clássico e tals, anos cinquenta, não eo que mais curto mas tri

Great voice. But not for me this

beautiful

Not hugely my jam, a few moments I found myself getting into this but not enough that I think I would ever listen too again

There is a soulful voice. There are expansive arrangements. It just feels flat. An individual song might feel arresting on the radio but as a collection each just melds into the next.

Her voice is raspier than usual in this album, which is a surprise, but a welcome one nonetheless. She has always been one of my favorite jazz singers, and this record only reinforces that further. Not my absolute favorite work of hers, however.

Billie is great, instrumentation is a little spare on this album

HL: "For Heaven's Sake", "It's Easy to Remember", "I'll Be Around", "I'm a Fool To Want You" November 19th, 2023

I normally love 50's-60's jazz. And while these songs fundamentally are very good, and Billie Holiday has a good voice, I cannot really get myself to enjoy her personal singing style.

Album 229 of 1001 Billie Holiday - Lady in Spain Rating : 4 / 5 Sometimes you just need some mellow vocal jazz. Some days just call for it.

2/5. Holiday's voice is so unique and soothing, an album of slow ballads about heartbreak and loss, feels so sad to listen to. About halfway through the album, I was mostly done with it and I was no longer sad, just kind of bored. It's good, and a few songs here and there are enjoyable but a whole album is hard to listen to.

This is a beautiful album, such an iconic voice. I really enjoyed this album her voice is so emotional. Recorded in the last year of her short life. Pretty special

The musical instruments in this album really highlight Billie's iconic voice. Track/lyrics that hit the spot: I'm a fool to want you

Ok Fallout music but not the good fallout music

She couldn’t belt it like she used to but still a lovely penultimate send off.

At the risk of sounding pretentious amongst the rest of the reviews here, I loved every song on this, great album. Very relaxing

I find it hard to rate ones like these because of how old they are. Great voice and I enjoyed it at the start but it started to drag a bit nearer the end.

Not the best for a sad hangover day, enjoyable nonetheless, 6/10

This isn't really my thing, but I recognize that Billie was a pioneer for female vocalists who would follow in her footsteps. This faded into the background for me and it was nice there.

Billie’s eternal voice….but the songs sound a little stale by the end of the album

Beautiful singing in a traditional way. Compared to what I'm used to from modern artists it did drag by somewhat, not helped by the fact the album was over an hour long. The journey was nice in parts but otherwise I was waiting for it to end.

This was really enjoyable. It was a very comfy album to listen to. Next time it's gray and snowy I'll probably put it back on.

A beautiful voice, unfortunately i think a bit of a relic of its time. Easy listening and would play at a high class affair but any kind of variety would be nice

3.5/5 Sorpresa absoluta. Un álbum para tomar whisky mirando la lluvia. quizas por prejuicio, quizas intuicion fallida, no crei que el album se me iba a hacer tan comodo de escuchar. la orquesta es hermosa, recuerda a los 'Old Classics' de Disney, cualquier tema es facilmente ambientacion de blancanieves. Me llevo una grata sorpresa con las letras del album, y creo q es el punto fuerte. La voz de la cantante es muy llamativa, mucha tecnica y tiene una aspereza muy particular, me encanta [Investigando, vi que NPR la nombro una de las "50 great voices" y rolling stone la puso 4ta en su lista "200 Greatest Singers of All Time" (polémico)] Lo que tira abajo el álbum un poco es la falta de variacion melodica de la cantante, lleva la misma estructura en la mayoria de temas y puede resultar repetitivo

Heel chill album. Ik kende het eigenlijk nog niet, maar dit was wel echt fijn voor op de late avond. Dat is ook wel de setting om dit te luisteren, niet overdag in de auto ofzo. Nee, gewoon donker buiten, gordijnen dicht, boekje en een drankje erbij en gaan.

--------------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I prefer Billie Holiday’s small combo works & I’m not a fan of strings in jazz. Still it’s Billie Holiday 3/5

Forever album. Could listen to on any Sunday lazy morning. Her voice gets me every time

Nope..

boring

Wonderful, lush music, but there's something about the tone of her voice that seems... sour to me.

A mellow, pleasant album. There's a lot of heartache in her delivery and the story behind this album makes it even more heartbreaking for the listener.

Nice, but I wouldn't choose to listen to this again.

Sorry, 4-5 tracks in and that's enough. She has a great voice even I can tell that. And I can understand that her career did a lot for black women in music. If not for her we probably would not have had Beyonce.......No I'm trying to be positive here. Anyway, it's just not my style of music. 10-15 mins I can deal with but any more than that it's just got nothing. Sorry not for me. A very low 1. Probably 5 or lower out of 100.

I’ve not been sleeping much lately. This should help 💤

I agree with Iain I'm sure this is what he is thinking, it was Christmas music for old people. When I'm really old I'll listen to this at Christmas. Not her best at all, she sounded like she was about to die. Turns out after checking, she probably was... Shame, but not her best work and not one for the epitaph. Would give it 0.

I really did have to get used to her voice at first, as while I'm not unfamiliar with the vocal style, it can certainly be jarring. Once I did get accustomed to it, however, I really thought it was very pretty. It's filled with so much heartache, and feels all the more genuine due to the strife behind each word. Those strings are also great, and were the reason for helping me get used to her voice. My main issue is that this album is pretty repetitive, and at forty-five minutes long, which is big for an album from the 1950s, it does wear on you after a while, but otherwise this a great piece of music history, showing you don't need some impeccable voice to stand out and even stand above your contemporaries.

Probably insanely good just not my taste

It's good to not even try to like this. It's not really Jazz in my view as the orchestration and her voice take the whole thing. I have heard ths before and t be honest her voice was wrecked by this time but I could listen to this all day and all night it's so smooth and subtle.

Blind album and artist. It's pretty calming and relaxing. I enjoy it but I wouldn't actively seek out this style of music. I can appreciate it for what it is though.

Tough album.

Feels like a classic soul/R&B? album. Beautiful voice, lyrics all addressing love and relationships. No songs that stuck out to me on first listen, not something I would go back to, but appreciated it all the same. 2/5

I really like Billy Holliday, but the accompaniment on this album is a little too schmaltzy.

"Thank you, we're the Cantina Band, if you have any requests, shout'em out." "Play that same song." "Alright, same song! Here we go!" Verily, I am not qualified to rate this album.

Always loved Billie Holidays unique voice and im also a sucker for lush orchestrations. But i can understand why alot of people don't like it (saw a comment about no original songs... it's jazz. every one plays standards). I personally get bored with modern female singers who just copy the bland "pretty voice". This is a nice album though nothing really stands out to me. But it's really nice to have in the background

Every note by every musician in this session is not just played, it's lived.

probably better in context. 2.9

Wow, ok. So we're doing the Billie 'comeback'/swansong album instead of her peak I suppose. Though you can't really talk of albums as such going back to the 30s. Yeah that first track is a real punch in the guts. The contrast between her now frayed, heroin-ravaged voice and the somewhat twee orchestral backing. Almost feels like a precursor to that 80s Marianne Faithful record the other day in that sense. She's a legend and the ultimate.

I kinda had to force myself through this album, not my vibe at all. I enjoy jazz music, but I swear to god every single song was the exact same on this album. Whatever, I guess I'm not a romantic. I could see myself enjoying the ambiance caused by playing this album at the right time. No standout tracks, I'm a fool to want you is going on the playlist, I guess. 1/5

I absolutely adore Billie Holidays voice and count some of her songs among my all-time favourites. But this album's songs just didn't land with me like I hoped. Billie Holiday in general: 5* This album:

I did not care for this album her voice to me was nails on a chalkboard.

This was decent. In my mind, jazz doesn't have singing, but this may have changed my mind. Not a stellar album, but decent enough to give it 3/5

Sad melodic crooner

I honestly had a hard time trying to give this a proper review. Because if I were to review it poorly, I feel like I would be doing this album and its story a disservice. On one hand, this album is one of the hauntingly beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard. Ray Ellis and his orchestra do an absolutely excellent job backing up Billie. The instrumentation is sparse and simple, and mostly led by strings, but just extremely pleasant on the ears. I found myself imagining falling asleep to this, as it was just lulling me away. Those strings sound straight out of the music from a golden era Disney movie. One of those classic hand animated ones from the 30's and 40's. But on the other hand, that haunting beauty quickly became sadness as I learned the fate of Billie after the release of this album. She died a little over a year after this came out, making it her final release. And you can tell that she was clearly suffering while recording this. The pain in these seemingly simple love songs is almost palpable. And it breaks my heart to know she died with almost nothing, leaving behind a collection of work that, at the time, no one was willing to acknowledge as anything special. Thankfully, that is no longer the case in modern times. It lends credence to the idea that some artists are never truly appreciated until they are no longer with us. But because of that, I don't know if I ever envision myself coming back to this. Because this doesn't feel like an album you are meant to enjoy. That doesn't mean there aren't good things to take from it though.

By this point in her life, her voice had really begun to fade, though she hadn’t lost her soul. A lot about this album doesn’t suit her vocals, especially the orchestral swells and the soporific pace. It’s really a shame, as there was so much exciting work being done in jazz at this time that would have been a great fit for her.

It's fine a little too chill for my early, early mornings

It's a mood. Tons of soul, creaky voice, lush strings. Fallout 3 or fall afternoon vibes. Very good.

Such a beautiful, haunting voice.

Such an amazing voice. It’s hard to fathom how far popular music progressed in next 10 years.

So so good. Lovely.

I still don’t get why everybody says if you like Avenged Sevenfold, you’re gonna love Billie Holiday. I don’t really hear it. I am a huge Tool fan and everybody says Maynard is basically Billie Holiday. “oh, you like Simon and Garfunkel?” they say. Wait till you hear Billie and Holiday!” if I had a nickel for every time, I have heard her compared to Slayer, I’d be a freaking millionaire. Something must be wrong with me, I just don’t hear it.

Hélt ég yrði hrifnari en raun ber vitni. Röddin er töff, en þegar þarna er komið við sögu er hún orðin ansi hrjúf, sem er svo áhugaverður contrast við þessar satínmjúku útsetningar. Lögin eru róleg og ljúfsár en kalla ekki á mig við fyrsta rennsli.

Just a shell of her former glory, there’s an amazing raw emotion to Holiday’s singing on this. Unfortunately, the soupy strings bring it down for me - too intrusive and out of place. I wish there had been the ability to record with this clarity for her 1940s performances.

Good jazz album from 1958. Billie Holiday's voice had changed significantly by this point (listen to her earlier work to see what I mean) apparently from drugs, alcohol and illness (she died the next year) but it gave her voice so much character.

What an incredible voice. Her ballads are soothing and buttery smooth. Not an album I would return to often, but definitely one of the great singers of her time.

Loved

2/5 Best: For Heaven's Sake Worst: You Don't Know What Love Is

Albumet är gammalt men soundet håller ändå till viss del. Problemet jag har är att det inte finns nån bredd. Varje låt låter i princip likadana. Dessutom älskar jag inte sångrösten. Kan dock inte kalla de för dålig musik.

I kinda feel that you have to be in a certain mood to appriciate this album cause I've listened to it twice and first time I really liked it but second time I almost fell asleep. 3/5

Beautiful singing that takes you back to 50s

I wonder why I enjoy these 50’s albums so much. Maybe because there’s only 20 or so, the quality control is just better. Anyway, Lady In Satin is a good sendoff for one of the greatest singers in her era. The songs aren’t the most interesting, but the vocals and arrangements really stand out. While I did say the songs weren’t the most interesting, they really fit the way she was living at the time and the emotion she brings is palpable. Great album from a great singer.

Might have been a 4 on a different day

it's alright. I'm not a huge fan of her style but was good to listen to.

Sweet album de jazz 3 solido.

Simple blues with a beautiful orchestration. Billie Holliday sings it like no one else can. Saying things few can or are willing to. What a lovely, brooding piece.

As much as I'm into the history of the album, the voice surprised me because it wasn't how I pictured Holiday's voice would sound. It wasn't until after did I read into the album and understand that this would be one of her last recordings. Her voice would be very raspy, very... not warbly, but fluctuating. It was a bit dizzying to me, actually. The strings and orchestration definitely put the album firmly in its time of the 50s. I was hoping for at least one more upbeat song, but I get why she was going for more slow, sultry songs. If a song from this came up randomly on a shuffle I would not skip it, but listening to all 12 tracks they started to sound a bit same-y to me. "I'm A Fool To Want You" was probably my favorite. So I liked it, but the songs did sound all of the same format and style. But I can't really blame the album for what it isn't, (this is what Holiday wanted) and talk about what it _IS_.

I know who Billie Holiday is but I don't know her work (never been into jazz) and I would have no clue if you played one of her songs and asked "who this?" I was struck by how raspy her voice was and, after reading, yep it was years of abusing that body and being near the end of her short life that contributed to the sound. I went back to listen to her very first big single and it's not that different - the style is similar, but yeah, she's got a little croak to go with her normal horn-like pitch. Still, she is smooth as satin. And I don't mean vocally. But her timing, her emotion. It's smoky satin. Credit to Ray Ellis and his band too. Quite simply, this album is emotionally powerful. It's like an over the hill athlete or actor who you think has nothing left and they go out and give one final (well, second last) signature performance. Like Kobe's 60 points in his last game, Elway's MVP performance in his second last super bowl, almost anything Clint Eastwood or Helen Mirren have done in the last 20 years. Fictional, but the last Wolverine movie Logan (love that film). And you realize that's why she's a legend. Holiday is flawed but she still finds it in herself to bring it on this album. No, not perfect (as she says on You've Changed "You're not the angel I once knew") but still darn good.

Listening to BH sing is enjoyable. But the orchestra is almost entirely unlistenable.

Surprisingly dark lyrics. I’ve never really listened to her lyrics before, but a lot of them are about bad relationships. “Ain’t Nobody’s Business But My Own” even gets into physical abuse and beatings.

Just not my genre

Normaal gesproken had ik dit vast een lagere score gegeven, maar hij viel net goed vandaag. Mooi!

Dit valt me toch wat tegen. Klinkt bijna allemaal hetzelfde

🥱

Dit doet me echt helemaal niets en het klinkt voor mij ook allemaal hetzelfde. Sorry voor het omver trappen van dit heilige huisje.

Kind of have to be in the mood to listen to this one. Billie's voice is dripping with heartbreak and despair. The heroin and alcohol are taking their toll on her here. Still, it's a worthwhile listen.

Boring album

Nice and all but too samey and ide rather be listening to instrumental jazz.

Nice

Great from start to finish. Classic voice that keep me interested to the end.

the music is great, but every song sounds the same! i mean a song could have been playing on repeat and i wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

awwwwwe yeah now we talkin! What a unique and beautiful voice! 4 stars

Love song after love song, became quite tedious, not enough variation in sentiment nor instrumentation. Her voice is undeniable however and especially during that first half of the album, it was easy to get swept away. Fav track: I'll be around Straight 3/5

The driving crooner Undeniable talent, but as with Frank, these songs felt too similar to be enjoyed over an entire record for mine - but one at a time, lovely stuff. Fave track: I Get Along With You Very Well

Easy to be charmed by Lady Day - a lot of soul and sadness through her singing. The collection of songs all together I’m not sure I found all that compelling, and maybe a bit samey. But still a new and interesting listen for me. Two and a half. Fave track: Violets for Your Furs

I like the lush instrumentation, but it becomes a bit overwhelming and tiring. Billie's voice has an interesting timbre, but I unfortunately don't think this kind of music is all that enjoyable for me. It isn't the "sleepiness" necessarily but the fact that the way scales are used and the melodic lines don't sound "nice" to me. Can you tell I'm still trying to warm up to jazz as a genre?

One of the best albums of all time

A bunch of slow love songs with absolutely zero change in cadence or tone. Bored me to tears

Jazz vocal. Ni fu ni fa.

Beautiful and just so damn sad....her voice is unmistakable even if not as dynamic is it was on past albums.

Bioshock Vibes, mag ich.

This was enjoyable.

Its some slow jazz

Billie freaking Holliday.

A little bit of james bond vibe

It was ok.