Billie Holiday – Songs for Distingué Lovers [Stereo] (Analogue Productions Verve Series 45 RPM Edition)

(AAA) — Lacquers cut from the original analog master tapes by George Marino at Sterling Sound.

Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound

"The song selection is incredible, the musicians are world class, and the recording is wonderful. Many feel this was her best studio album and Analogue Productions has taken this great LP to a whole new level. They have given it to us on dynamic 45 RPM LPs and a dead quiet pressing. I really like this album and it's so nice to have such great music sounding so good. My highest recommendation!" — Jack Roberts, dagogo.com, September 2012

"...these are all truly classic Verve titles that you simply don't want to miss...most importantly, the sound of these reissues is nothing short of astounding. Particularly the early Billie and Ella mono records are incredible treasures of sonic beauty. I'd definitely ask Santa for the whole set, or, if you want to cherry pick, the most classic titles. Whatever you decide, you owe yourself at least a half dozen!" Winner of a 2012 Positive Feedback Online Writers' Choice Award - Danny Kaey, Positive Feedback Online, November/December 2011

It is undeniable that Billie Holiday's singing changed in her later years. Her voice darkened and shifted to a lower range. Her economy of means distilled her sound to its expressive essence - a kind of heightened speech. The classic LP Songs For Distingue Lovers has also deepened and become burnished with time. Maybe it's that still-arresting word, "distingue"; maybe it's that iconic, tinted image of Lady Day on the cover. But now that legendary LP, with the singer's best studio work of the Fifties, is available at 45 RPM!

Originally released in 1957.

Billie Holiday, vocals
Larry Bunker, drums
Harry "Sweets" Edison, trumpet
Barney Kessel, guitar
Red Mitchell, bass
Joe Mondragon, bass
Jimmy Rowles, piano
Alvin Stoller, drums
Ben Webster, tenor saxophone

(Above description from AcousticSounds.com)