Laquer disc of Billie Holiday master recordings

Object Details

Date
1952
Recorded by
Billie Holiday, American, 1915 - 1959
Produced by
Norman Granz, 1918 - 2001
Written by
Harold Arlen, American, 1905 - 1986
Ted L. Koehler, American, 1894 - 1973
Jerome Kern, American, 1885 - 1945
Oscar Hammerstein II, American, 1895 - 1960
Sigmund Romberg, Hungarian, 1887 - 1951
Otto Abels Harbach, American, 1873 - 1963
Caption
This transcription disc, dated 1952, has master recordings of Billie Holiday. Holiday sings “My Man”, “Lover Come Back To Me”, Stormy Weather and Yesterdays. Details of the recording process are heard with the technician listing takes, Holiday singing a retake of Stormy Weather, as well as making a note to herself before singing. The sound quality of the master recording disc is exceptional.
Description
An instantaneous transcription disc, the label notes the Client as Norman Granz, the Artist as Billie Holiday, and the Date as 7/28/52. The record contains the master recordings of the songs "My Man," "Lover Come Back to Me," "Stormy Weather," and "Yesterdays."
Consists of: Instantaneous Transcription Disc (a) and Original Disc Sleeve (b).
2010.50.2a: Instantaneous transcription disc.
The recording on side 1 begins with a man listing the take of the first recording, "C 839 take 6." The first song on the recording is "My Man." As a man lists the take for the next song, "C 840 take 4," Billie Holiday can be heard making a quick note before she begins to sing "Just press off because [Inaudible]" She then sings "Lover Come Back to Me."
The recording on side 2 begins with a man listing the take "C 841 take 2." Billie Holiday begins singing "Stormy Weather," but the song is cut short after approximately 20 seconds. The take is re-listed as "C 841 take 3." Holiday then begins again with "Stormy Weather." The listing of the second song on the recording is distorted, but should be C 842 take 2. Holiday then sings "Yesterdays."
2010.50.2b: Original disc sleeve. audiodiscs / Audio Device Inc. / 444 Madison Avenue / New York, N.Y.
Place depicted
New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Jazz (Music)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Media Arts-Audio Recordings
Exhibition
Musical Crossroads
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2010.50.2ab
Type
phonograph records
Medium
Instantaneous Transcription Disc (a): lacquer on aluminum;
Disc Sleeve (b): ink on paper
Dimensions
Diameter: 16 in. (40.6 cm)
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5ac2d8773-534c-4ad6-ba74-a1c6c0dc77ec
Record ID
nmaahc_2010.50.2ab