BILLIE  HOLIDAY       (Lady Day)

By  Alberto Varela (Español )(Français)

Version 10 - Dec, 2001. (Original: April 1, 1999)-

   This is  a  Database of the original records  of Billie Holiday.  This work  is intended for non-commercial use and I would like to offer it to all  people via  my Internet Page.

   Why I do this? Because I love B.H., of course.  Well.. I love her in the musical/artistic aspects. (I'm married, you know ).

Three Alternate Takes from Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia (1933-1944) 10 CD BOX . Reg. Nrs. 111, 113 and 201. Other minors corrections. Thanks to Silverio Are, from Oristano (Italia). Now the base have two news columns (Disc Nr. and Track Nr.). I added the Sony-Columbia Box.

V08 Records 83 & 84 were removed (Yours And Mine - Sun Showers-de KJ 143 FS tracks 22 y 20. (Billie is not).

V08 Records: 378 379 384 385 391 392 393 saids Sy Silver and his orch. Correct: Sy Oliver. (Thanks to  Jørgen Mathiasen).

V08 Record 309: Feb 12, 1945 -Strange Fruit. Piano prob. Milt Raskin, Bass prob. Charles Mingus ? (About that session  we have  a little investigation - with the help of Tim Coleman, son of  drummer  Davie Coleman that played at JATP with Billie).

About Billie and Louis Armstrong (the two entries for 02/08/1947:  "Do You Know What It Means (to Miss New Orleans)" and "Don't Explain)": On V8 description said "New York City Carnegie Hall Concert" - changed to "New York City - Louis Armstrong/All-Stars Carnegie Hall Concert" (Thanks to David Allyn van Isaks).

Other minor corrections.

Version 8 news:

A  French version of this page is now available. And there is an html version too. (Thanks to Serge Colson and his site Hommage à Billie Holiday).

9 (nine) live records added. (Thanks to Len Pogost):

Broadcast-Los Angeles-Billy Berg's TrouvilleClub, 01-Jun-42:
* Solitude
Discography: Vol. 11 (1941-42) B.H. Masterof Jazz MJCD 102

Stratford Shakespeare Festival - Stratford,Ontario, Canada, 10-Ago-57:
 * Nice Work If You Can Get It
 * Willow Weep For Me
 * I Only Have Eyes for You
 * I Love My Man (Billie's Blues)
 * Lover Come Back To Me
 * Lady Sings the Blues
Discography: B. H. At Stratford ' 57 BaldwingStreet Music BHJ 308

Music Hall Parade-French Television. Paris.  France, 18-Nov-58:
 * I Only Have Eyes for You
 * Trav'lin' Light
Discography: Billie Holiday in Europe 1954- 1958 - Label: Kangourou Swing CD 27236

3 (three) incorrectly dated records  (July 18, 1957 ) were removed. (Already correctly dated: July 10, 1958):

 * What A Little Moonlight Can Do
 * Foolin' Myself
 * Easy To Remember

Song title corrected:

 * "A Sunbonnet Blue (And A Yellow Straw Hat)". It said "sunsetbonnet" (Thanks  Hans Hekler).

Other minor corrections.

There are many options about how to make a music database.

There is Album Oriented format, as ALL-MUSIC GUIDE
            or La Discographie du Jazz  Moderne
There is  Session Oriented format, as Steve Albin (Frank Sinatra)
            or Stuart Varden (Fats Navarro)'s  Discographies.
There is another:  Individual Record Oriented.  That's mine.

    This Database is an MS Excel 97file, but it is easy to convert to other formats, for example MS Access, or  .CSV (Comma Separated Version).  You can export it to a real Database Engine such as MS Access.
 
 

If you want to see the translation to text (ASCII) of the entire spreadsheet, click here. For an easy viewing in HMTL format go to Serge's site. (This is useful if  don't have a  computer for the Internet, and you can't download files - e.g. WebTV - or if you just want a preview.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW (Feb. 20, 2001): Now the Database is "On Line" too - it accepts queries - Restrictions: only most relevant fields are listed. (Send me your impressions). Click here.

    I selected Excel 97 because  it is easy to make queries, selections, and other operations for Databases, and to include  hypertextual references and vinculations to JPGs, HTMs and MP3s archives. (I have  all my Billie Holiday´s CDs converted in  MPEG layer III files, for my use from this Data Base).

     I believe that a presentation in a "crude" .XLS format,  with Rows and Columns open, is more interesting and useful.  Of course, the user's responsibility is greater.

     Additionally, I have a version for  Palm Pilot, a .PDB file that I can consult "on the field" with JFile 5.04. Send me an E-Mail if you like a copy.

    The Database has (in Version 10) 735 records (rows), one for each song, chronologically ordered, and it is structured with 22 fields (columns):

Theme (Song) /AT/ Author/Time(Length) /Rec.Date/ Location/Orig.Label /Matrix/ Band/Personnel /MyColl./ Album (1)/<--T(1) /Album(2)/ <---T(2)/Album(3) /<---T(3)/ Album(4)/<---T(4)/Album(5)/<---T(5) /Int.Nr.

    The title of the major parts of the columns are clear, but I will explain some others:

"AT": in this field there are the different types of Takes (Master Take , Alternate Take , B roadCast, Live Recording, REHearsal, Studio Session, Film, Incomplete, StudioTalk, TV).

"My Coll.": for the short names of my CDs (if in  Brackets, I don't have this CD).

"Album (x)" and "<---T(x) ": In these fields I annotate the primary source(s) of the Theme. (I can have up to four CDs with the same theme). In some cases, these are sources I am aware of, but do not own. (I believe I have all the Master Takes, as well as a great number of Alternates and Broadcasts, but I believe I am missing about 5 to 10 records).

"Int. Nr." : is a simple ascendant numbering to maintaining  the order in Databases engines without date type fields.

Download  here some of the different zipped formats:

BillieHolidayV10xls.zip   (130 kB)  Full  Excel 97 format (.xls) file. (With hyperlinks to lyrics, to   Play Lists -my CDs-, to  songs in MP3, with colours, etc.)    RECOMENDED

BillieHolidayV3songs.zip  (197 kB) (There isn't a new release because it has not modified). The lyrics of the major part of the themes, in .htm format. It works fine with the hyperlinks when placed in a subdirectory named SONGS.     Download this if you plan to use the Excel version.

(Sorry. I can't give you here my MP3 files. Each one is approximately 1.5 MB (Total: 1.7 GB). Send me an E-mail if you like any).

BillieHolidayV10csv.zip   (40 kB)  (Comma Separated Version) Full text Base. (Without links or colours).   Useful for other Spreadsheet, not MS Excel 97.

CDs:
 

• Complete Billie Holiday Collection CBS-Sony CSCS543643.
• The Complete Billie Holiday Commodore Recordings- 1977 GRP Records, Inc. CMD-2-401.
• The Complete Billie Holiday Decca Recordings (2CD) 601.
• The Complete Billie Holiday Mastertakes' Collection 1933/42-King Jazz  Vol. 1 (KJ 156 FS), Vol. 2 (KJ 157 FS) and  Vol. 6 (KJ161 FS).
• The Complete Billie Holiday With The Ellingtonians 1935/37 King Jazz  (KJ 143 FS).
• The Complete Billie Holiday Alternates 1936/42 King Jazz - Vol. 2 (KJ 172 FS) and Vol. 3 (KJ 172 FS).
• Billie Holiday. The Definitive Edition- Complete 1933-44 Studio Recordings (Master Takes)  Blue Moon - Vol. 2 (BMCD 1022), Vol. 3 (BMCD 1023), Vol. 4 (BMCD 1024), Vol. 5 (BMCD 1027), Vol.  6 (BMCD 1026)  and Vol. 7 (BMCD 1027).
• Billie Holiday. The Definitive Edition- Complete 1945-51 Studio Recordings (Master Takes) Blue Moon  Vol. 1 (BMCD 1044) and Vol. 2 (BMCD 1045).
• The Complete Billie Holiday On Verve (10 CD Box  517 658).
• The Complete 1951 Storyville Club Sessions FSR-CD51.
• AT MONTEREY /1958 Black-Hawk Records 1986 Bellaphone BKH 50701 CD.
• Lady in Satin CBS CK 65144 ( Phill Schaap's Remastered Edition).
• Billie Holiday. Complete Edition. Media 7, France-Master Of Jazz -Vol. 2 (MJCD 11),  Vol. 4 (MJCD 36), Vol. 5 (MJCD 37),  Vol. 11 (1941-42)  MJCD 102, Vol. 13 (MJCD 120)  and  Vol. 14 (MJCD 141).
• Broadcast Performances Vol. 1, Vol.3 (1956-58) and Vol. 4.- ZYX-Music  ESP 3002-02/3005/3006.
• At Storyville -Deutsche Austrophone Black Lion  BLCD760921.
• 1948 TO 1959  Royal Jazz- Jeal Records- Denmark-RJD 508.
• Billie's Blues - Leader Music -Musimundo (Bs. As.) MN 5039 Cod. 1.26.
• Lady Day Box (22 LP) Jazz Up 3037.
• The Perfect Complete Lady Day Box"Billie Holiday. Live and Private Recordings in

Chronological Order" - (12 CD) SSCD - 8005-16.
• Esquire Jazz Concert 1944CD Giants of Jazz 53035.
• Lady Day - The Storyville Concerts - Jazz Door 1215.
• Billie Holiday. All Of Me. 2 CD Box 5620CD - Compilation 1997 -Elap Music Ltd. (UK).
• Birdland All Stars at Carnegie Hall. CD Roulette B2-98660.
• The World of Billie Holiday / Loverman- 1992 Trace Trading.Holland. 0400102.
• Billie Holiday. Folio Collection "100 años de Swing". Mandarim Records Ltd. - Ireland- MR040200.
• Billie Holiday "Me Myself and I" 1995 -Better Music DL:M31536.
• Billie Holiday "Maestros del Jazz & Blues Vol. 10" -Barna Records Labs.- Planeta Internacional.
• A Jazz Hour With Billie Holiday / "Me Myself and I" -Movieplay S.A.  - JHR 73519.
• Rare Live Cuts Cafe Society  - 1997 - CD Document 1003.
• Original V-Disc Collection  -Pickwick  540301.
• First Esquire Concert, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 - 1994-CD Jazz Unlimited 2016/2017.
• First Esquire Concert - Laserlight 15723.
• Monterey Jazz Festival with Buddy DeFranco (Oct5 , 1958) - BlackHawk  BKH 50701.
• LADY SINGS THE BLUES - Label: Verve Records Year : 1990 -Company : Polygram Records  Number: 833770 2.
• STAY WITH ME  -Label : Verve Records -Year : 1991 Company : Polygram Records Number : 511 523 2
• LAST RECORDING -Label : Verve Records -Year: 1988 Company : Polygram Records Number : 835 370-2.
• THE BILLIE HOLIDAY SONGBOOK -Label: Verve Records / Commodore -Year : 1986 Company : Polygram Records Number : 823 246 2.
• THE SILVER COLLECTION -Label : Verve Records -Year : 1984 Company : Polygram Records Number : 823 449 2.
• SONGS FOR DISTINGUE LOVERS -Label: Verve Records -Year : 1983 Company : Polygram Records Number : 815055 2.
• COMPACT JAZZ - BILLIE HOLIDAY -Label: Verve Records -Year : 1987 Company : Polygram Records Number : 8313712.
• THE ESSENTIAL BILLIE HOLIDAY CARNEGIE HALL CONCERT  -Label : Verve Records -Year : 1989 Company: Polygram Records Number : 833 767 2 -  CD  Verve 777 -  CD  Polygram 527777.
• All Or  Nothing At All - Polygram CD  529226.
• At Newport  - Verve  8234LP ? CS ? 12 themes-  (6 by  B. Holiday),
• Billie Holiday Live   -  841434-2 Verve.
• Verve Jazz Masters 47: Sings Standards - CD Verve 7650 (Polygram 527650).
• Lady in Autumn: The Best of the Verve Years -  2 CD 849434-2.
• Verve Jazz Masters 12: Billie Holiday- Verve CD 314-519825-2.
• Billie's Best -  Verve CD 513943-2.
• Solitude  - Clef LP 690 - Polygram CD 519810.
• Jazz at the Philharmonic - Verve CD 521 642-2.
• Essential Billie Holiday: Songs of Lost Love - Verve CD 517 172.
• Jazz 'round Midnight - Polygram CD 521653.
• Ultimate Billie Holiday -Polygram. CD 539051.
• Billie Holiday Story, Vol. 5: Music for Torching - Polygram CD 527455.
• First Issue: Great American Songbook- Polygram CD 523003.
• Master of Jazz Vol. 3 Billie holiday - Storyville Records STCD 4103.
• Billie Holiday At Stratford ' 57 - Baldwing Street Music BHJ 308.
• Billie Holiday in Europe 1954 -1958 - Label: Kangourou Swing CD 27236.
• Billie Holiday - A Multimedia Record  - Ebook Inc. (1993).
• Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia (1933-1944) 10 CD BOX

Internet Sites:
 

• The Unofficial BILLIE HOLIDAY Website : http://www.ladyday.net/
• BILLIE HOLIDAY DISCUSSION GROUP: http://shrike.depaul.edu/~kchoi/bhdg.html
• Songbirds List and the Website: http://www.mrlucky.com/songbirds
• ALL-MUSIC GUIDE: http://www.allmusic.com/
• La Discographie du Jazz  Moderne http://www.mbdesign.ch/jazz/
• Jack Millar's Billie Holiday Circle: http://www.billieholidaycircle.freeserve.co.uk
• Galería de imágenes de Billie Holiday: http://alacreu.es.fm/
• Raconet: http://mural.uv.es/guscamps/billie/billie.htm
• Hommage à  Billie Holiday http://www.lady-day.org
• Brian Lennon's Tribute To Billie (A new and very original work) http://www.socc.ie/~billie/menu.shtml

 

• C D International - C D World Reference Guide. CD-ROM Edition, March 1998.

• "Jazz: The Blue Note Collection". Time-Life. Barcelona
• "Maestros del Jazz and Blues". Editorial Planeta-DeAgostini. Barcelona
• "The Jazz Masters. 100 años de swing". Ediciones Folio. Barcelona
• "El Jazz. De Nueva Orleans al Jazz Rock". Joachim E. Berendt 1993. Fondo de Cultura Económica. México.
• "The Penguin  Guide to Jazz On CD" Third Edition. Richard Cook & Brian Morton - 1996 U.K.
• "Jazz. The Rough Guide" by Ian Carr, Digby Fairweather and Brian Priestley- 1998-U.K.
• "The Billie Holiday Companion- Seven Decades ofCommentary"by Leslie  Gourse. 1997-Schirmer Books. N.Y.  U.S.A.
• "Wishing On The Moon - The Life And Times of Billie Holiday"by Donald Clarke- Penguin Books (USA) 1995.
• "All Music Guide to Jazz". 3rd. Edition Miller Freeman Books- San Francisco.
• "Lady Sing The Blues" by Billie Holiday with William Dufty. With a Revised Discography by Vincent Pelote, from the Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University. Penguin Books. 1992. London. ISBN 0 14 00.6762 0.
• "Free Jazz / Black Power" by Philippe Charles and Jean-LouisComolli. 1973. Edit. Anagrama, Barcelona, Spain.
• "Billie Holiday - Discografia Completa" by Tito Saffioti. On "Musica Jazz" Magazine, Rusconi Editore, Milano, Italy, Anno55 Nrs.7, 8/9, 10, 11 (july to nov. 1999).
• "Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday, Cafe Society, and an Early Cry for Civil Rights" by David Margolick.
• "Lady Day's Diary - The life of Billie Holiday 1937 -1959" by Ken Vail. Castle Communication plc. UK. 1996.
• THE most authoritative discography of Billie ever produced: FINE AND

MELLOW by Jack Millar.  A MASTERPIECE !

    To my wife, Nélida.  She has supported my admiration for another woman, and my hours and hours of home work in this effort. Really, I love her.

    To Steve Albin  http://home.earthlink.net/~steveja7/  <steveja@mac.com>for helping me with his E-Mails and the text correction,  as his tape with a lot of songs.

    To Scott Merrell < Seulbzzaj@aol.com>for the new information and  his tape "B. H. Rarities".

    To Serge Colson < ladyday@passions.org>. He translated this page to French and he made an html version of the Base.

    To Hans Hekler ( http://hheklerlautb.bei.t-online.de )  for the English correction of Version 8, and other suggestions about my pages.

    Thanks to The Unofficial BILLIE HOLIDAY   and the LYRICS WORLD Websites.

    Thanks to Thomas Östreicher [soundcollector@aol.com] for three CDs with Rare Livings Cuts and the booklet of The Perfect Complete Lady Day Box. It was 'superbe'.

    Thanks to Silverio Are for information about new Sony-Columbia 10 CD box.

    To all the  fellows of the songbbirds and Billie Holiday lists

The future:

    My challenge is to complete and consolidate this database. Of course, it has errors, but it contains all the information I have.

    Please, if you find any errors, or if you have any  additional information,  send me an E-mail.

    Thank you.

E-Mail:albertovarela@yahoo.com

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