MovieChat Forums > Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill (2016) Discussion > Loved it but actual live recordings...

Loved it but actual live recordings...

posted 8 years ago by phlbrq58
15 replies | jump to latest

...That I've listened to have never revealed Billie as wasted as this. If you know about sad, sensational,late live recordings, please respond. I well understand this to be a stage production beautifully,stagily condensing and intensifying the end of this incredible artist.
Lady in Autumn I think is the best package of Verve studio tracks from this era. Looking for small label, live recordings that include stories and between song banter.

" For years I tried being smart. I recommend being kind"

[–] digitaldiva 8 years ago

Hi phlbruq58,

I saw an old black and white kinescope of Billie singing with Lester Young and Gerry Mulligan, Not only her voice ravaged but she also looked years older than her actual age.

[–] phlbrq58 8 years ago

Thanks for your recommendation, I took a trip through a youtube channel of clips. Started with yours from '57. Great stuff. Her performance of 'Don't Explain' from 7/17/58 was the closest to the artist portrayed in 'Emerson's. Highly recommended. There must be audio recordings that have now surfaced of live performance where they just let the tape run. I want to hear these.
My point is despite the change (decline?!) in her voice, I have only ever heard her perform remarkably well with, at worst, expressive slurring. If there is a recording that more than hints at the kind of psychodrama portrayed here, I'm looking for that. I dont think Im being ghoulish. Many musical artists can be a psychological mess between songs then turn on for the song. I believe I've heard many of these performances just not the contextual staggering between songs.
This HBO production invites me to reappraise the Lady In Autumn discs,her artistry fully expressive despite/because of a head full of pain and dope. I'm in awe.

[–] digitaldiva 8 years ago

Hi philbrg59,

There are a few recordings from the period of her decline, but remember, she was in a recording studio with an engineer who worked to take some of the ragged vibrato and slurring from her voice. By the way, I've never suggested her vocal issues were from her personal drama - they were from years of smoking, drinking and drug abuse, something that has affected more than one artist.

I still think the best glimpse at Billie in her last years are the rare kinescopes of her singing live.

[–] digitaldiva 8 years ago

Hi philbruq58,

I think you will truly appreciate this. It broke my heart - It's called Me and My Old Voice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Dr-iU5Dw0

[–] phlbrq58 8 years ago

Great! Thank you for the smooth link.
This was '45, four years before she succumbed. I was never aware how messed up she was was for so long. Breaks my heart too.

" For years I tried being smart. I recommend being kind"

[–] digitaldiva 8 years ago

Hi philbrq14,

It breaks my heart - There are other interviews with Lady Day where she tells stories directly quoted in Lady Day at the Emerson .

Thanks for the lovely conversation.

[–] sandramac101 8 years ago

Thank you so much for posting the Youtube link. I found so much to appreciate in both that recording and others associated with it. So much life in every syllable she sang, and to hear her speaking, I gained an even deeper appreciation for her phrasing. She was unique, and I really think Audra NAILED it, in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill.

[–] digitaldiva 8 years ago

Thank you, sandramac101

[–] phlbrq58 8 years ago

Just asking....

[–] digitaldiva 8 years ago

I'm not sure phlburq58. She was sexy and lovely but a jazz singer, something they don't have on American Idol. I don't think they would appreciate her artistry.

[–] kay_rock 8 years ago

Fantasia Barrino won season three. I don't think you can possibly come closer than that to the answer to that question.

Movies are IQ tests; the IMDB boards are how people broadcast their score.

[–] digitaldiva 8 years ago

I have to strongly disagree - Fantasia had a big R & B voice and was even called Baby Patti LaBelle. Her voice is gospel tinged and huge with a big range. Billie Holiday was a jazz singer. Her instrument was smaller, she primarily sang ballads and what became jazz standards. Although she did sing with Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, her voice worked best in night clubs and supper clubs rather in larger venues.

[–] kay_rock 8 years ago

I do see your point... Fantasia does have a much bigger voice. To my ears, though, there is a similar tonal quality.

Who knows, though. Is it just Billie's voice that makes us love her, even today? And whatever quality it is, would it translate onto a popularity show like AI? I think maybe so, but I could definitely be wrong.

Movies are IQ tests; the IMDB boards are how people broadcast their score.

[–] digitaldiva 8 years ago

Hi kay_rock,

I agree who knows? At her prime, Billie was the whole package, sexy and terrific. I don't know if she could have moved from jazz to rock to country as other singer on Idol have; however, it is an intriguing idea.

[–] blurayjunkies 8 years ago

I was wondering that myself about the live recording and I found our that the live recording was toned down and edited as to not show her behavior widely to the public. But that didn't save her rep with this performance, word got out from people who witnessed the live performance. Witnesses said this was very sad to see how far down she became.