The Vinyl Countdown # 1326
Sarah Vaughan, The Legendary Sarah Vaughan (1981) Compilations were so important for me growing up – first a themed various-artists comp, something about old blues singers or jazz players or such. And...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 1103
Sam Cooke, Tribute To The Lady (1959) Oh man, what a voice – Sam Cooke. Here he is, as the title tells you, paying tribute to Lady Day (aka Billie Holiday). The 12 songs here were all staples for...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 995
V/A, Moonlighting [The Television Soundtrack Album] (1987) Moonlighting – it was a big deal, appointment viewing. I was never quite sure why though – but Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd, and here on...
View ArticleBillie Holiday: The Centennial Collection
Billie Holiday The Centennial Collection Sony Legacy This year, 2015, marks the 100-year anniversary of Billie Holiday’s birth. And major labels being what they are, beyond a shadow of their former...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 1326
Sarah Vaughan, The Legendary Sarah Vaughan (1981) Compilations were so important for me growing up – first a themed various-artists comp, something about old blues singers or jazz players or such. And...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 1103
Sam Cooke, Tribute To The Lady (1959) Oh man, what a voice – Sam Cooke. Here he is, as the title tells you, paying tribute to Lady Day (aka Billie Holiday). The 12 songs here were all staples for...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 995
V/A, Moonlighting [The Television Soundtrack Album] (1987) Moonlighting – it was a big deal, appointment viewing. I was never quite sure why though – but Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd, and here on...
View ArticleBillie Holiday: The Centennial Collection
Billie Holiday The Centennial Collection Sony Legacy This year, 2015, marks the 100-year anniversary of Billie Holiday’s birth. And major labels being what they are, beyond a shadow of their former...
View ArticleJosé James: Yesterday I Had The Blues – The Music of Billie Holiday
José James Yesterday I Had The Blues: The Music of Billie Holiday Blue Note Of all the “100 Year” celebrations to honour Billie Holiday this felt the most necessary – a brave new voice taking on that...
View ArticleOn: Billie Holiday’s Voice
I was re-reading These Lives I Have Buried by Lindsay Rabbitt the other day, an excellent short book, an essay from the Four Winds Press series. And in and around stories of struggle and loss,...
View ArticleSongs For Nobodies: Theatre
Songs For Nobodies Direction: Ross Gumbley (written by Joanna Murray-Smith) Circa Theatre; Circa One (July 7 – August 4) [Ali-Cat Productions Ltd] Ali Harper here performs ten roles, a dozen voices, as...
View ArticleNo Holiday: On The Decision Around Having “Another”
This piece first appeared on The Spinoff and is also included as one of the pieces in the book “Is It Bedtime Yet?” by Emily Writes & Friends I always wanted a daughter named Billie. Simple really....
View ArticleJosé James: Lean On Me
José James Lean On Me Blue Note (BLU) When he’s not making his own great (original) music José James is the guy you want covering you. His tribute album to Billie Holiday is a gold standard. And now...
View ArticleStubs: # 225 – Madeleine Peyroux, Wellington, 2014
I’d seen Madeleine Peyroux one other time (part of a triple bill with Melody Gardot and Diana Krall; Peyroux was the star) and in the build up to this gig, a Festival show, I interviewed her, a really...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 294
Billie Holiday, Lady In Satin (1958) I reckon Billie Holiday is the greatest. The absolute greatest. If I only get to hear one voice – it’s her voice. That would be my choice. I have been listening to...
View ArticleFive Songs For Friday: 34 – 2020 – 1st Edition
It’s a new year – welcome, belatedly to 2020. You’ve arrived already of course, but here now is the first edition of the staggeringly inconsistent Five Songs For Friday for the new year. No theme. Just...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 188
Billie Holiday, Body & Soul (1957) After getting Lady In Satin I’ve decided to start collecting up the Billie Holiday original albums – so this was the next one on the list. I just love her voice...
View ArticlePoem: Billie Holiday With A Gardenia In Her Hair.
Billie Holiday with a gardenia in her hair. Billie Holiday wanting a husband and children. Billie Holiday living 100 days in a single night. Billie Holiday singing with a gardenia in her hair. Singing...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 171
Billie Holiday, Songs For Distingué Lovers (1957) Any semi-regular reader will know of my fascination with Billie Holiday – I’ve been a fan for years and just recently I’ve decided to collect up as...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 150
Billie Holiday, Fine and Mellow 1939 and 1944 (1979) I’m interested in these random compilations that turn up – if it’s an artist I love I’m curious about the compilations as well as the studio albums....
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