But most of Billie Holiday's music is about being alive, loving and being loved. Recorded in 1939, "Strange Fruit" is a shocking protest song describing in graphic detail the decomposing body of a lynching victim "Yesterdays" taps into a reservoir of personal melancholia that would eventually swallow her up entirely. By the middle of the chronology, Holiday's delivery begins to intensify along with her choice of material. Her best moments on record were shared with Ben Webster and Lester Young - listen for them. First comes the younger, stronger Lady Day, singing with swing bands comprised of her friends and carousing companions. Proper's The Lady Sings concentrates upon the recordings Billie Holiday made between 19 for the Vocalion, Columbia, Commodore and Decca labels. The Proper label specializes in affordably priced box sets that contain enough music - usually around 100 tracks - to impart a strong impression of who the artist was and convey the essence of his or her musical legacy. The one you are looking for is surprisingly inexpensive and intelligently presented. The digital marketplace contains a large number of Billie Holiday compilations with the phrase "Lady Sings" in the title.
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