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1 of 1- David Lobosco
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Billie Holiday - But Beautiful
You either love or you hate Billie Holiday's voice. Later in her life she recorded Bing's big hit But Beautiful. In 1958 she recorded this soulful version - a year before she died. I like this version...
- Aaron Tickner
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Re: Billie Holiday - But Beautiful
Love Billie Holiday. She also recorded "It's Easy to Remember" for the "Lady in Satin" album.
I always thought it curious that Bing and Billie never recorded together while she was with Decca. Geography would have been a factor. Bing mostly recorded in Hollywood and Billie in NY. Also, apart from the two tracks with Louis Armstrong, I cannot think of any other recording Billie made as a duet. Maybe she had an aversion to the idea of duets. Pops would have been an exception because he was a musical idol of hers. And didn't the two songs they did come from the "New Orleans" film anyway?
- David Lobosco
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Re: Billie Holiday - But Beautiful
Aaron Tickner wrote:
Love Billie Holiday. She also recorded "It's Easy to Remember" for the "Lady in Satin" album.
I always thought it curious that Bing and Billie never recorded together while she was with Decca. Geography would have been a factor. Bing mostly recorded in Hollywood and Billie in NY. Also, apart from the two tracks with Louis Armstrong, I cannot think of any other recording Billie made as a duet. Maybe she had an aversion to the idea of duets. Pops would have been an exception because he was a musical idol of hers. And didn't the two songs they did come from the "New Orleans" film anyway?
I agree with you Aaron. I always thought there there was some missed opportunities at Decca. Bing could have made more jazz records with people like Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, the Mills Brothers , and others who also were signed with Decca.
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Thread Starter- Ian Kerstein
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Re: Billie Holiday - But Beautiful
I agree with the two of you. Both over liking Lady Day and all those lost Decca opportunities. Do you think Decca may have kept Bing away from certain artistes due to perhaps what they viewed as commercial risks? Possibly viewing Holiday as too downbeat for Bing? If that's the case, I think it's a shame because it would have been so interesting to have heard him sing with her. Did he sing with Ella a few times on his radio shows?
- Ian Kerstein
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Re: Billie Holiday - But Beautiful
You either love or you hate Billie Holiday's voice. Later in her life she recorded Bing's big hit But Beautiful. In 1958 she recorded this soulful version - a year before she died. I like this version...
This is so glorious and emotional. My goodness me, don't you feel so involved during listening?
- Aaron Tickner
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Re: Billie Holiday - But Beautiful
I'm still learing how to post things and do quotes, etc. on this forum. Maybe David can do the same with "It's Easy to Remember" here as well.
Yes, Ian, Ella did sing on radio with Bing.
The missed opportunity of a Bing and Billie duet - possibly she was too downbeat. Maybe her life choices meant that those looking after Bing didn't like the idea of a duet. Hopefully the only reason was their different geographical locations.
I would have liked more of
* Bing and Louis Jordan
* Bing and Sy Oliver
* Bing and Eddie Heywood.
- Ian Kerstein
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Re: Billie Holiday - But Beautiful
Thanks, Aaron. I must seek those out.
I'm glad it wasn't false memory after what I thought a track or two appearing of Ella with Bing on a CD radio compilation I saw in a shop window, around perhaps thirty-odd years ago.
I couldn't agree with you more over your three choices.
Did Bing ever have Fats Waller on his radio show?
I don't believe he ever commercially recorded with him but would be delighted were I to be wrong.
That could have been a funtastic combination!
Last edited by Ian Kerstein (Today 8:19 pm)
- Aaron Tickner
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Re: Billie Holiday - But Beautiful
I don't think Bing and Fats Waller ever worked together. Jason's MJS group presented a doco on Fats. Well worth a look.
That led me to look at what Fats songs Bing recorded. As far as I can find, not many:
Ain't Misbehavin'
Honeysuckle Rose
Keepin' Out of Mischief Now
All three with the Buddy Cole Quartet and the first one also appears on "Songs I Wish I Had Sung" with the Jack Plies Orchestra.
Fats' longtime collaborator, lyricist, Andy Rafaz also appears in Bing's discography with different composers:
S'posin (16 May 1929 & 3 April 1939)
Louisiana (23 April 1928)
- Ian Kerstein
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Re: Billie Holiday - But Beautiful
Thank you so much, Aaron.
I am lucky enough to have the Mosaic seven CD box set of "The Bing Crosby CBS Radio Recordings ..." and the "Songs I Wish I Had Sung" album and so will just imagine how they may have sounded with Fats, bless him. Died far too early.