Columbia Legacy on a roll – new Sinatra and Billie Holiday boxes

The Columbia vaults must be the most valuable repository of popular music for grown-ups. The almost indecent riches, recently demonstrated by massive historic Dylan and Miles Davis releases, are again on show with new releases of gems by Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday.

While the Sinatra material on Columbia isn’t as strong as his later recordings on Capitol and Reprise, it’s still top quality. Columbia’s Holiday recordings are the cream of the crop.

Here’s the official Sony PR:

* Frank Sinatra - A Voice In Time

“Frank Sinatra set the standard by which pop vocalists are still judged today. Sinatra single-handedly brought the Big Band vocalist from the back row to center stage and became the very first teenage heartthrob in the process. Between 1939 and 1952, Frank Sinatra had well over 100 Top 30 hits including an astounding body of work he created with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey.

“The Frank Sinatra - A Voice In Time 4-CD collection celebrates his legacy with selections from his seminal big band years, Number One Hits and familiar songs that made him America's first true music icon. Among the greatest hits are selections of rare radio transcription recordings and some of his studio work from Victor and Columbia which has all been restored and remastered for the best possible sound.


* Billie Holiday - Master Takes and Singles
“The recordings Billie Holiday made between 1933 and 1944 for Columbia and its associated labels represent not only her finest work, but American jazz and pop singing at its zenith.

“Backed by legends in their own right, Teddy Wilson (piano), Roy Eldridge (trumpet), Benny Goodman (clarinet) and others, this collection highlights the passionate singing of the great Lady Day. This new 4 CD set, taken from the Grammy-winning box set LADY DAY: THE COMPLETE BILLIE HOLIDAY ON COLUMBIA (1933-1944), includes 80 tracks representing the golden years of Holiday's career. Billie Holiday will forever be the enduring Voice of Jazz.”



Gerry Smith