The Beauty Of Decay

YOU'VE CHANGED
BILLIE HOLIDAY
FROM THE 1958 ALBUM 'LADY IN SATIN'


By 1958 singer Billie Holiday's voice was ravaged by the excesses of alcohol, heroin and cocaine. Jazz and music critics of the day said that the voice had evaporated by then saying that much of her singing range had all but gone and it was clearly a struggle for her to reach the higher notes as well as the lower ones. At times she even needed a nurse to keep her steady on her singing stool in the recording studio.
Yet I find her battered tones quite appealing, almost as though the voice had matured like a fine wine although some music critics might not agree. But there's no mistaking that her pain and her tragic life comes out in that voice.
This song 'You've Changed' is now the second great song I've heard from her 1958 recording of 'Lady In Satin' so clearly I've got to get me a copy of this. I recently posted up the other song 'I'm A Fool To Want You' late last year HERE.

I would say that the most emotional moment was watching Billie as she listened to the playback of 'I'm A Fool To Want You.' There were tears in her eyes. After we finished the album I went into the control room and listened to all the takes. I must admit I was unhappy with her performance, but I was just listening musically instead of emotionally. It wasn't until I heard the final mix a few weeks later that I realized how great her performance was.

Ray Ellis...  Musical Arranger and Conductor.

THE ALBUM 'LADY IN SATIN' WAS INDUCTED INTO
THE GRAMMY HALL OF FAME IN 2000.

Top Picture
BY DAVID URBANKE