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Billie Holiday - Last Recording (1959)


As both the album's title and mournful cover imply, Billie Holiday's LAST RECORDING is a somber affair. Even on rather upbeat tunes such as Cole Porter's "All of You," there's an inherent sadness present in Lady Day's voice beyond her usual melancholy tone. By this point in time, drug abuse had taken a heavy toll on Holiday, and her exhaustion is evident in the recordings. Still, she gives these songs her all, aided by Ray Ellis' proficient orchestra that includes luminaries like Harry "Sweets" Edison, Hank Jones, Kenny Burrell, and Milt Hinton.







01 All of You [From Silk Stocking]  (Porter)  2:33  
02 Sometimes I'm Happy [From Hit the Deck]  (Youmans, Caesar, Grey)   2:50  
03 You Took Advantage of Me [From Present Arms]  (Rodgers, Hart)  3:11  
04 When It's Sleepy Time Down South  (René, Muse, Rene)  4:09  
05 There'll Be Some Changes Made  (Overstreet, Higgins)  2:54  
06 'Deed I Do  (Rose, Hirsch)  2:17  
07 Don't Worry 'Bout Me  (Bloom, Koehler)  3:12  
08 All the Way [From the Joker Is Wild]  (Cahn, Van Heusen)  3:27  
09 Just One More Chance  (Johnston, Coslow)  3:47  
10 It's Not for Me to Say  (Allen, Stillman)  2:30  
11 I'll Never Smile Again  (Lowe)  3:26  
12 Baby Won't You Please Come Home  (Williams, Warfield)  3:05  


 
Recorded in New York, on March 3, 4 & 11, 1959.


Billie Holiday - vocals
Jimmy Cleveland - trombone
Romeo Penque - alto & tenor saxophones, bass clarinet
Barry Galbraith - guitar
Joe Benjamin - bass
Danny Bank - baritone saxophone
Billy Byers - trombone
Joe Wilder - trumpet
Gene Quill - alto saxophone
Janet Putnam - harp
Milt Hinton - bass
Hank Jones - piano
Kenny Burrel - guitar
Harry "Sweets" Edison - trumpet
Osie Johnson - drums
Al Cohn -  tenor saxophone
Ray Ellis conductor