Rare Live Recordings 1934 - 1959
$45.49
Poor production values for a CD set of this price - This comment is about the packaging, not the music. (Some of the music is pretty scratchy but it s always great to hear Billie). I was expecting more given the price. The 5 CDs come in a standard double sized CD case. The booklet is divided in two at the midpoint so each half fits in one side of the case. The liner notes are a jumble of short session notes and asides such as Billie s Husband Is Arrested 1942, with little organization or perspective. There are a total of six pictures. Overall the liner notes look like a homework assignment typed on the last surviving typewriter. The price led me to expect a meticulous effort. This is more like something advertised on TV at 2 a.m.
billy holiday rare recordings - Some recordings were excellent, others were of very poor quality and should have been re-done before selling to the public or not be included if this was not possible. In retrospect it was worth the price of admission to again listen to her and to some numbers we hadn t heard her sing before.