Billie Holiday's great talent and music has been adequately reviewed elsewhere. My comments are directed at the packaging of the songs. First, I give the music and performances 5 stars. The sound quality is excellent considering the vintage, especially on the originally released tracks. However, I have a suggestion for track sequencing and disc packagaging, thus the 4 star rating. My preference is that this set be repackaged as a 3 disc set, but remain priced as a 2 disc set with the 3rd disc listed as a bonus disc. I'd rather have a 3rd disc that comprises the early and unreleased versions of the songs.

I followed my own suggestion and re-sequenced the 2 discs into a 3 disc set by burning new copies on my computer. I am much happier with the outcome, and love listening to the original released versions of songs without experiencing a duplication of titles. This presents the music in a way I think the artist would have preferred and greatly enhances the experience for me. When I'm in the mood for the additional material, the 3rd disc I created includes the early versions and previously unreleased tracks to give me the illusion of being present at the recording sessions. I find this a much more satisfying way to experience this great music.

This is my favorite Billie Holiday of them all. It captures the "film noir" feel of the 40's best of dark, smoke-filled rooms, blinking neon signs over cheap hotels. I expect to see Bogie coming thru the fog any moment. Everyone talks about her earlier Columbia work with small groups, which has more of a swing feel. This one is more dramatic with the 40's type orchestra painting a dark picture on great cuts like: Big Stuff, No More, Don't Explain and of course God Bless The Child. There are many fascinating outtakes as well, each one with a different interpretation.The box is classy with detailed dates, personnel, great photos and Billie's life. A wonderful box set. Ideal for overcast days. This is Billie at her emotional best. Definitely a keeper for life.

No arguments here with any of the other reviewers. I give this set 5 stars because they don't have 6.

This box set truly captures Billie Holliday at the peak of her craft. Her voice never sounds better. Secondly, the arrangements are fantastic and rarely have I heard musical accompaniment that so masterfully compliments and highlights a singer's voice. Finally, the tracks are impeccably mastered and recorded. The original recordings are wonderful and they don't use modern sound technology to clean up the recordings to the point they sound stale and sanitized. The sound quality is rich and truthful; yet no annoying hiss or other imperfections.

I believe Billie was at the height of her popularity during the Decca era and she never gets better musicians to work with or a better selection of songs to "interpret." This is after the "tin pan alley" era and before Billie gets strung out and jazzed out with sparse arrangements and accompaniments.

Simply put, this is the best music ever recorded, by one of the 20th Century's greatest artists.