American jazz legend Billie Holiday was born on this day in 1915. This transcription disc, dated 1952, contains master recordings of Holiday singing “My Man”, “Lover Come Back To Me”, "Stormy Weather" and "Yesterdays." Details of the recording process are heard with the technician listing takes, Holiday singing a retake of Stormy Weather, as well as making a note to herself before singing. The sound quality of the master recording disc is exceptional.
Lacquer disc of Billie Holiday master recordings
- Caption
- This transcription disc, dated 1952, has master recordings of Billie Holiday. Holiday sings “My Man”, “Lover Come Back To Me”, Stormy Weather and Yesterdays. Details of the recording process are heard with the technician listing takes, Holiday singing a retake of Stormy Weather, as well as making a note to herself before singing. The sound quality of the master recording disc is exceptional.
- Description
- An instantaneous transcription disc, the label notes the Client as Norman Granz, the Artist as Billie Holiday, and the Date as 7/28/52. The record contains the master recordings of the songs "My Man," "Lover Come Back to Me," "Stormy Weather," and "Yesterdays."
- Consists of: Instantaneous Transcription Disc (a) and Original Disc Sleeve (b).
- 2010.50.2a: Instantaneous transcription disc.
- The recording on side 1 begins with a man listing the take of the first recording, "C 839 take 6." The first song on the recording is "My Man." As a man lists the take for the next song, "C 840 take 4," Billie Holiday can be heard making a quick note before she begins to sing "Just press off because [Inaudible]" She then sings "Lover Come Back to Me."
- The recording on side 2 begins with a man listing the take "C 841 take 2." Billie Holiday begins singing "Stormy Weather," but the song is cut short after approximately 20 seconds. The take is re-listed as "C 841 take 3." Holiday then begins again with "Stormy Weather." The listing of the second song on the recording is distorted, but should be C 842 take 2. Holiday then sings "Yesterdays."
- 2010.50.2b: Original disc sleeve. audiodiscs / Audio Device Inc. / 444 Madison Avenue / New York, N.Y.
- Data Source
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Recorded by
- Billie Holiday, American, 1915 - 1959
- Produced by
- Norman Granz, 1918 - 2001
- Written by
- Harold Arlen, American, 1905 - 1986
- Ted L. Koehler, American, 1894 - 1973
- Jerome Kern, American, 1885 - 1945
- Oscar Hammerstein II, American, 1895 - 1960
- Sigmund Romberg, Hungarian, 1887 - 1951
- Otto Abels Harbach, American, 1873 - 1963
- Date
- 1952
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Medium
- Instantaneous Transcription Disc (a): lacquer on aluminum;
- Disc Sleeve (b): ink on paper
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 16 in. (40.6 cm)
- Type
- phonograph records
