(A) STUDIO SESSIONS

There were no studio sessions in 1953

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(B) LIVE SESSIONS

Live Session #36 [radio broadcast] Boston, 6/October/1953 Storyville Club (CD:  Perfect Complete Collection vol.5 & BH at Storyville (in the latter, both introductions are also included)

Carl Drinkard (p) Jimmy Woode (b) Peter Littman (d) Billie Holiday (v) 

Presentation is introduced by jazz DJ John McClellan from Storyville Club located at Copley Square Hotel and Billie is announced by George Wein himself.

First McClellan intro

(LR 99)   I Cover The Waterfront * the audience respectfully applauded, but Billie’s voice is failing; this won’t be a memorable presentation.

(LR 100) Too Marvelous For Words 

(LR 101) Porgy – the funereal tempo does not help at all.

(LR 102) Them There Eyes – at least, this swung tempo brings some air.

(LR 103) Willow Weep For Me – there’s a small chat at the track beginning. The tempo gets very slow and it ends in a lament.

Second McClellan intro

(LR 104) I Only Have Eyes For You – Billie’s voice is even worse after the break, undulating and failing.

(LR 105) You Go To My Head – in a very low tempo, almost a cappella rendering.

Original LP Storyville PA 3113 BH at Storyville (Denmark 1976). Sound not available.

 

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Live session #37 [TV broadcast] New York 16/October1953 Carl Drunkard’s Trio (CD: Perfect Complete Collection vol.5 & Broadcast Performances vol.2)

Prob. Jimmy Raney (g), Carl Drinkard (p), ? (b), Peter Litman (d)

• George Jessel’s “The Comeback Story” TV program on ABC primetime started on October 2nd, 1953 and was last aired on June 1st, 1954. The series was about success people who had tough times, and that were helped to a “comeback”. Not a surprise it didn’t last long. George introduces Billie, remembering her narcotics problems in 1947.

(LR 106) God Bless The Child

Original LP ESP-3003 Billie Holiday Broadcasts (US 1972). Sound not available.

© www.billieholidaysongs.com February 2017