Can't get any better
This record was my introduction to these ladies and, little by little, it was playing more and more until I barely could turn it off. Are there any women like Ella and Billie with orchestras like these, anymore?

and THIS is why we gave these gals a spotlight
Billie, Ella, Lena, Sarah is an excellent sampler album that also lets us compare the vocal qualities of four great songbirds: Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne and Sarah Vaughan. The sound quality is excellent and I love that artwork! This is one CD that many people will want for their collections.

The track sets opens with the immortal Billie Holiday singing her heart out on "The Man I Love." Billie never misses a note and she sings with all the heart and soul of an accomplished chanteuse. The music that goes with her vocals is very well done as well. "My Melancholy Baby" is an early recording by the great Ella Fitzgerald; she sings this so well you'll instantly know she was born to sing songs like this! Ella's voice is clear as a bell; and I really like that. Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra play perfectly, too--listen for that brass--the horn solo is also gorgeous! Great!

"Prisoner Of Love" features Lena Horne front and center--and that's quite all right by me! Lena sings this with panache and I love every minute of it. The horn solo is again rather strikingly beautiful and it goes with Lena's vocals very well. Listen also for the great Sarah Vaughan on "It's Nice Work If You Get It;" Sarah delivers this with style, grace and all her heart. We again get a fantastic horn solo that embellishes the number considerably and Sarah never sings a superfluous note.

"I'll Never Be The Same" is another early Billie Holiday recording that is absolutely marvelous when Billie gives this her all; and there's also Billie on "What A Little Moonlight Can Do." Excellent! Billie sings like the great songbird she was and still remains.

"Ain't Misbehavin'" is a tune I always loved; and when Sarah Vaughan delivers this with a slightly slower tempo she takes it to new heights! Sarah makes this number take flight so beautifully; it's easily a major highlight of this album. You'll enjoy it! "All My Life" takes us back to Ella Fitzgerald again and there's a fantastic, elegant piano arrangement that simply can't be beat on "All My Life."

"I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (And Throw Away The Key)" gives another nod to Billie Holiday who sings this with panache; and the album ends very strong with Sarah Vaughan performing "Goodnight My Love." "Goodnight My Love" sparkles when Sarah Vaughan sings it. It's terrific.

Overall, this is a wonderful sampler CD and fans of these songbirds will want this album in their collections. I highly recommend this album for people who appreciate classic pop vocals and bluesy takes on some of the best songs of all time.

Neat opportunity to compare four great song stylists
This is a wonderful opportunity to compare the art and craft of four great song stylists--Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lena Horne. The songs were recorded over the period from 1935 to 1950. The CD works not so much as a seamless piece of art, but it works as a means of introducing people to four great singers, while--at the same time--allowing those listeners to make their own comparisons of their respective talents.

Overall, I think that this works pretty well. One can wish that other selections had been used on this CD, but with so few cuts available, this works about as well as one could expect.

Some samples:

Billie Holiday begins the CD with her "The Man I Love." This Gershwin song is done justice by her wonderful voice, as she imagines a love to come and considers how she "can make him stay." Evocative singing. There is the hope of coming love. On Monday? Or Tuesday? This cut also features some nice backing orchestral work.

Ella Fitzgerald follows with "My Melancholy Baby." This is an up tempo rendering of this song. Teddy Wilson's Orchestra backs Fitzgerald most ably. Her voice is in fine form and she provides us an estimable rendition of the work.

Lena Horne, "Prisoner of Love." Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra provide terrific backing. Her smooth voice serves this song well; the voice almost caresses the words as she sings lines such as:
"I need no shackles to remind me
I'm just a prisoner of love."



Sarah Vaughan, "Nice Work if You Can Get It." Another Gershwin song and another great voice to sing it. Once more, superb orchestral support for the singer. And what lines!



"Nice work if you can get it,
And you can get it if you try."
....
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything more?"



There are other fine songs on this CD (such as "Ain't' Misbehavin'" and "East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)." All in all, this is a fine CD that allows listeners to compare four talented singers and four rich voices.

Awesome CD
This is a great CD. It has an awesome blend of four lovely ladies' voices. I really enjoy it.

the earlier years....
This cd is a nice introduction to the earlier years of these Great Ladies of Song! Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan.