Dear Friends,

BILLIE HOLIDAY SONGS went live in December 2005. My proposal was to share with you all the data I have gathered about Billie. The site started with the list of all the songs and the vinyl records originally issued, and evolved to a heavy package of data.

One year ago I started having problems with the infrastructure and the editorial platform. It was necessary to upgrade everything. But, as you know, this is not a simple issue and the lack of time and many other priorities forced me to postpone until it went out by the end of last year. I apologize to my readers but at the same time I thank all the friends that gave me the incentive to start all over again.

That´s where we are. In a new platform, a new host, and migrating all the content I had. Maybe only 20% has been migrated so far, but I will do my best to be totally live by the end of the year, before the site´s 8th anniversary…

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

See you the soonest.

Paulo Novaes

Jimmy Van Heusen  (1913-1990)  

• (MT 247)               I Thought About You
• (MT 296) ÅÅÅ      Darn That Dream (1939) a nice and sophisticated melody, lyrics by Eddie De Lange. Billie recorded it in her last years, those beautiful moments in Los Angeles .
• (MT 310)               But Beautiful
• (MT 319) Å           All The way a beautiful song, unforgettable in Sinatra voice, that Billie recorded in her last year, under Ray Ellis violins.

Harry Warren  (1893-1981) 

His real name was Salvatore Guaragna, a son of Italian immigrants.

• (MT 15)    Å          You Let Me Down
• (MT 50)                 How Could You
• (MT 98)                 Say It With A Kiss
• (LR 6)                   Jeepers Creepers
• (MT 225) Å           I Only Have Eyes For You (1934) a lovely melody, lyrics by Al Dubin.

Jimmy McHugh  (1894-1969)    Dorothy Fields 

Dorothy Fields was one of the great lyricists ever. In here, we found three wonderful McHugh works with her lyrics.

• (MT 16)                 Spreading Rhythm Around
• (MT 36)  Å            I Can’t Give Anything But Love lyrics by Dorothy Fields
• (MT 77)  Å            I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love
• (MT 172) Å          On The Sunny Side Of The Street (1930) an all-time jazz favorite, has lyrics by Dorothy Fields: Grab your coat and get your hat/ Leave your worry on the doorstep/ Just direct your feet/ To the sunny side of the street. Billie rendering was unfortunately less inspirated.
• (MT 274) ÅÅÅ      I Must Have That Man (1928) also lyrics by Dorothy Fields

Walter Donaldson  (1893-1947) 

A famous songwriter, Donaldson lived long time in Hollywood and composed and arranged music for many motion pictures.

• (MT 22)                 Did I Remember
• (LR 44)             You’re Driving Me Crazy
• (MT 154) ÅÅ1/2   Love Me Or Leave Me (1928) this is a wonderful song, lyrics by Gus Kahn: This affair is killin’ me/ I can’t stand uncertainly / Tell me now I’ve got to know/ Whether you want me to stay or to go/ Very Billie, isn’t it? I selected this track with Teddy Wilson to represent the tune.

Burton Lane  (1912-1997) 

• (MT 21)                 Guess Who
• (MT 88)   Å           Says My Heart
• (MT 138) Å           I Hear Music
• (MT 227) ÅÅÅ      Everything I Have Is Yours (1933) for the film “Dancing Lady” has lyrics by Harold Adamson: Everything I have is yours/ You are part of me/ Everything I have is yours/ My destiny. No wonder Billie selected this tune and made it a superb recording.

Richard Whiting  (1891-1938) 

• (MT 5)    Å           Miss Brown To You
• (MT 47)                 Sentimental And Melancholy
• (MT 191) ÅÅ        Guilty
• (MT 238) ÅÅÅ      He’s Funny That Way
• (MT 245) Å           Too Marvelous For Words (1937) with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, it is probably his best effort.

John Green  (1908-1989) 

Green was a musical director and wrote not that many songs, but he has four tunes included in Billie’s repertoire. And among them is Body and Soul, an all-time jazz standard classic.

• (MT 46)   Å           You Showed Me The Way
• (MT 153) Å           I Cover The Waterfront
• (MT 166) Å           I’m Yours
• (MT 298) ÅÅÅ1/2 Body And Soul (1930) an unforgettable performance. Lyrics by Heyman: My heart is sad and lonely/ For you I sigh, for you dear only/ Why haven’t you seen it/ I’m all for you body and soul.

Rube Bloom  (1902-1976) 

Rube Bloom was a very good pianist and also a bandleader. Billie selected a couple of his best works.

• (LR 59)ÅÅÅ     Maybe You’ll Be There (1947) what was the reason I liked this song that much? A minor tune from Bloom, a bad sound quality live recording in 1949, what was it? I don´t know, but so I did. Lyrics by Sammy Gallop: Each time I see a crowd of people, / Just like a fool I stop and stare, / It’s really not the proper thing to do, / But maybe you’ll be there. / I go out walking after midnight , Along the lonely thoroughfare, / It’s not the time or place to look for you, / But maybe you’ll be there.
• (MT 239)  ÅÅ       I Can’t Face The Music
• (MT 295) ÅÅÅ1/2 Day In, Day Out (1939) probably, his greatest hit, a song full of passion. One of my favorites. It is a great partnership, the lyrics are by Johnny Mercer: Day in, day out/ That same old voodoo follows me about / That same old pounding in my heart,/ whenever I think of you / And baby I think of you / Day in and day out. There is something that makes me remember Cole Porter (the voodoo, perhaps?); it is to regret Billie never recorded You Do Something To Me… (do, do, that voodoo that you do so well).
• (MT 324)               Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me