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The Ultimate Collection

From: $32.78

Billie Holiday (1917-59) wore gardenias, was a teenaged prostitute, did drugs, and died with a cop posted outside her hospital bed. But with her gravel-like vocals, and behind-the-beat phrasing, she was one of the greatest singers of the twentieth century. This multimedia collection commemorates her ninetieth birthday. Two CDs contain forty two of her greatest hits, from her 1935 stint with Benny Goodman, to her chilling 1958 strings album, Lady in Satin. It features her signature songs like "Good Morning Heartache," "God Bless the Child," and her unforgettable anti-lynching number "Strange Fruit." The DVD includes film cameos with Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, photographs, posters, rehearsals and interviews with friends and musicians, including a rediscovered 1956 radio broadcast with a young Mike Wallace. Her achy artistry is timeless, and as Ashley Kahn wrote in his superb liner notes, "Billie will be there tonight, tomorrow night and a long time to come." --Eugene Holley, Jr.

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16 Reviews

Love it (94%)  |  Hate it (6%)  |  On the Fence (0%)  |  Didn't Rate it (0%)
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From: Amazon Posted: Dec 28, 2007 Type: User Review excellent collection - video clips are a nice touch

This is a lovely collection of Ms. Holiday's finest. My dad wanted a copy of the 20th Century Masters Collection I have of hers and since Christmas was coming up, I decided to buy him his own copy of the disc rather than just burning him a copy....
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Nov 01, 2007 Type: User Review Rip-Off

The Ultimate Collection This one is a rip-off. There are not enough songs on the CD and they try to compensate by sending a DVD which freezes all over the place. Buy Lady Day instead which has tons of her songs and is a superb value.
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1.00 Star Rating
1.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Mar 27, 2007 Type: User Review A few good songs

There are some good songs on this collection. Overall a good Billie Holiday presentation. Also descent quality.
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4.00 Star Rating
4.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Feb 20, 2007 Type: User Review A Collector's Must Have

If you are addicted to the music and sound of Lady Day, then you must include this collection in your music porfolio. One can never get too much of Holiday.
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Mar 03, 2006 Type: User Review You want Billie and you get Billie

Loved the compilation. Nice mix of tunes and certainly hits som eof her more contreversial works. Nice packaging too, lots of music in a small and neat package.
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Feb 04, 2006 Type: User Review excellent box

buy this one at www.yourmusic.com for only 13 dollars, which looks exact the same product as you buy here, but so stupidly cheap!
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Nov 19, 2005 Type: User Review Great Overview of Her Recording Career

I agree with many of the others here that this is a great overview of Billie Holiday's recording career. There is not much to add to the comments about this marvelous collection, but I would like to add some observations and other information...
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Sep 17, 2005 Type: User Review The Ultimate Collection - Bille Holiday

Extremely professional compellation ... A wonderful addition to any Jazz collection.
I am delighted I purchased this collection. A "must have" for serious jazz collectors!
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Aug 09, 2005 Type: User Review ultimate collection - bille holiday

great compilation - cds and dvd...lots of footage i'd never seen before.
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4.00 Star Rating
4.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Jun 08, 2005 Type: User Review A 90th Birthday Present From Lady Day To Her Fans! Superb!!

My highest praise goes to this extraordinary compilation of songs which cover Lady Day's entire 25 year career - the first American collection to do so. The release commemorates what would have been Billie Holiday's ninetieth year and her spirit...
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
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