Title: an excellent compilation
Product review: Comprised of music that is available on Columbia's "Quintessential Billie Holiday" series, this 2 disc compilation gives us an interesting look at Lady Day during her years at that studio (1933-42). Her voice, not yet ravaged by years of drug addiction and alcoholism, is almost upbeat on most of these cuts, a marked contrast to the melancholia that accompanied much of her later recordings for Norman Granz at Verve records. Although Columbia could be accused of trying to to squeeze a few more dollars out of the "same old material", I think that this bargin priced set is an excellent introduction to Miss Holidays earlier work. Better liner notes would be helpful, a flaw that is evident in the whole "Cocktail Hour" series.
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