Billie Holiday - The Essential Billie Holiday: Carnegie Hall Concert Recorded Live LP

The live recordings included here are among the very best from Billie Holiday's final years.

Part of the motivation behind the 1956 Carnegie Hall concert was to promote Billie's autobiography, "Lady Sings the Blues". The music was attuned entirely to Billie's character part, reinforced by readings from her book by Gilbert Millstein. Although recorded in 1956, the LP was only issued in 1961, almost two years after Billie's passing on July 17, 1959, at the age of 44.

Billie Holiday, vocals Roy Eldridge, trumpet Coleman Hawkins, tenor sax Carl Drinkard, piano Tony Scott, clarinet (piano on Lady Sings the Blues only) Carson Smith, bass Chico Hamilton, drums Gilbert Millstein, readings from the book Lady Sings the Blues Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, November 10, 1956.

Tracklist:

1. Lady Sings the Blues
2. It Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do
3. Travelin' Light
4. Billie's Blues
5. Body and Soul
6. Don't Explain
7. Yesterdays
8. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
9. I'll Be Seeing You
10. My Man
11. I Cried for You
12. Fine and Mellow
13. I Cover the Waterfront
14. Oh, What a Little Moonlight Can Do

About this product: this reissue is pressed on black vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve.