CD/LP/Track Review
Billie Holiday and Lester Young: A Musical Romance (2002)
Charlie B. Dahan
I love Music, The Yankees, The Tar Heels and lots of other stuff , I think I watch too much TV.
The final offering in the recent series of Billie Holiday reissues from the outstanding and comprehensive Legacy boxset explores her work with Lester Young. What proves evident in this collection is that two brilliant and original artists can collaborate and enhance each other's performance to levels they could not reach on their own.
In addition to familiar recordings by Holiday and Young such as "The Man I Love" and "Me, Myself, and I," this collection includes two remastered tunes from the original 78 rpm records. All original musical nuances and tonal integrity have been restored on "Mean to Me" and "A Sailboat in the Moonlight."
"A Musical Romance" takes its listeners on a roller coaster ride of love. From the heart wrenching delivery of "Foolin Myself" to the optimistic spin of "Laughing at Life," Holiday and Young know when and how to pull at your heart strings and when to pick you up and dust you off for another try at love.
Of the three reissues, this is simply the best one, as it takes a close look at two brilliant artists at the top of their game working together to create some of the best music ever recorded.
Track Listing: 1. The Man I Love 2. This Year's Kisses 3. Mean to Me (78 RPM Version) 4. Back in Your Backyard 5. I'll Never Be The Same 6. Me, Myself and I 7. Time on My Hands (You in My Arms) 8. Who Wants Love? 9. I Must Have That Man 10. Foolin Myself 11. When You're Smiling 12. A Sailboat at Moonlight (78 RPM Version) 13. He's Funny That Way 14. Laughing at Life 15. Without Your Love 16. Fine and Mellow
Record Label: Columbia Records | Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
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