Personnel: Billie Holiday (vocals); Romeo Penque (alto saxophone, bass clarinet); Benny Carter, Willie Smith (alto saxophone); Ben Webster, Paul Quinichette, Flip Phillips, Budd Johnson (tenor saxophone); Harry "Sweets" Edison, Charlie Shavers, Joe Newman (trumpet); Tony Scott (clarinet); Janet Putnam (harp); Hank Jones (piano, celleste); Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Rowles, Bobby Tucker, Wynton Kelly, Billy Taylor (piano); Barney Kessel, Billy Bauer, Kenny Burrell, Freddie Green, Herb Ellis (guitar); Ray Brown, Red Mitchell, John Simmons, Red Callender, Joe Benjamin, Aaron Bell, Leonard Gaskin, Joe Mondragon (bass); Lennie McBrowne, Osie Johnson, Cozy Cole, Alvin Stoller, Chico Hamilton, Larry Bunker, Gus Johnson, Ed Shaughnessy (drums).

Recorded between 1952 and 1959. Includes liner notes by James Isaacs.

Digitally remastered by Tom Ruff.

Billie Holiday approached a tune the way jazz instrumentalists do, particularly horn players, and this tendency ripened considerably over the years. Though one can imagine beings from another planet with no knowledge of earthly music falling easily under Billie Holiday's spell, it pays to know that straighter versions of these numbers exist in order to appreciate her improvisational, highly personal approach.

BILLIE'S BEST features an excellent repertoire recorded with stellar small combos during the '50s, Holiday's late period with Verve. Also included is one track using full strings that was recorded in the last year of her life, 1959. Lady Day receives extraordinary obligato accompaniment from Harry "Sweets" Edison, Ben Webster, and Charlie Shavers on many of these efforts, and her performances leave one appreciating the virtues of aging.