jsaliga
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2007
- Posts
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I'm generally not a big boxed set fan. There always seems to be shortcomings in track selection and track sequencing. My big gripe is that compilers these days seem bent on mixing the master takes and studio tracks in with rarities, studio banter, or lo-fi recordings that may be interesting to hear once, but disrupt the continuity when you just want to listen to the music.
Still, there are times when boxed sets make great sense. In the case of Billie Holiday, boxed sets are really the only game in town. Up until today I had a couple of her later album releases on Verve. While there is no shortage of people who thought that her once-honeyed voice was pretty much shot by the 1950s, for me this is the best period of her career and she did her most personal and emotionally intense work on Verve.
Amazon.com: The Complete Billie Holiday On Verve, 1945-1959
A 10 CD boxed set with all of Holiday's Verve recordings has been available for a while. But at a SRP of $169.98, I was always reluctant to take the plunge. This set is complete, but it does suffer from the track sequencing problems that I find so annoying. But Amazon.com has this set on sale at the moment for $94.97, and that price I just couldn't resist. I will cull the master takes and other worthwhile tracks from this set and burn my own CDs from them.
There is also a very good price on a 4-CD boxed set of Holiday's best sides on Columbia.
Amazon.com: Lady Day: The Master Takes and Singles
I know there are those who think that Holiday was at her best on Columbia, with her voice still velvety smooth and alluring. I certainly enjoy her music enough to want her Columbia sides, and the collection seems sensible and is probably an easier listen than the now OOP 10 CD boxed set of Billie Holiday's complete Columbia Records work. The SRP for this four disc set is $49.98 but it is now on sale for $26.97.
--Jerome
Still, there are times when boxed sets make great sense. In the case of Billie Holiday, boxed sets are really the only game in town. Up until today I had a couple of her later album releases on Verve. While there is no shortage of people who thought that her once-honeyed voice was pretty much shot by the 1950s, for me this is the best period of her career and she did her most personal and emotionally intense work on Verve.
Amazon.com: The Complete Billie Holiday On Verve, 1945-1959
A 10 CD boxed set with all of Holiday's Verve recordings has been available for a while. But at a SRP of $169.98, I was always reluctant to take the plunge. This set is complete, but it does suffer from the track sequencing problems that I find so annoying. But Amazon.com has this set on sale at the moment for $94.97, and that price I just couldn't resist. I will cull the master takes and other worthwhile tracks from this set and burn my own CDs from them.
There is also a very good price on a 4-CD boxed set of Holiday's best sides on Columbia.
Amazon.com: Lady Day: The Master Takes and Singles
I know there are those who think that Holiday was at her best on Columbia, with her voice still velvety smooth and alluring. I certainly enjoy her music enough to want her Columbia sides, and the collection seems sensible and is probably an easier listen than the now OOP 10 CD boxed set of Billie Holiday's complete Columbia Records work. The SRP for this four disc set is $49.98 but it is now on sale for $26.97.
--Jerome
