Billie Holiday

This is the most controversial of all Billie Holiday records. "Lady Day" herself said that this session (which finds her accompanied by the Ray Ellis Orchestra was her personal favorite, and many listeners have found her emotional versions of such songs as "I'm a Fool to Want You," "You Don't Know What Love Is," "Glad to Be Unhappy," and particularly "You've Changed" to be quite touching. But Holiday's voice was essentially gone by 1958, and although not yet 43, she could have passed for 73. Ray Ellis' arrangements do not help, veering close to Muzak; most of Lady in Satin is very difficult to listen to. Late in life, Billie Holiday expressed the pain of life so effectively that her croaking voice had become almost unbearable to hear. The 1997 CD reissue adds two alternate takes of "I'm a Fool to Want You," parts of which were used for the originally released rendition, plus the stereo version of "The End of a Love Affair" (only previously released in mono), and examples of "Lady Day" rehearsing the latter song, including a long unaccompanied stretch. There is certainly a wide range of opinion as to the value of this set. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide