Billie Holiday: Lady Sings The Blues

Lady Sings the Blues on Vinyl Me, Please: A Mixed Blessing for Billie Holiday Fans

Billie Holiday stands as the quintessential female jazz vocalist of the 1950s, a towering figure whose influence continues to shape vocal jazz to this day. "Lady Sings the Blues," her final release on the Clef Records label, captures Holiday in the company of genuine jazz royalty—pianist Wynton Kelly and guitarist Kenny Burrell, both legends in their own right. While critics and historians often view Holiday's mid-to-late 1950s output with reservation, "Lady Sings the Blues" emerges as an exception, garnering significant critical appreciation and considered by many to be among her finest recorded works.

The Source Material Challenge
Clef Records developed a reputation for inconsistent recording quality across their catalog, and unfortunately, "Lady Sings the Blues" wasn't counted among their technical triumphs. This fundamental limitation creates a challenging starting point for any modern reissue, regardless of the expertise involved in the remastering process.

The Vinyl Me, Please Reissue
In 2020, Vinyl Me, Please commissioned respected mastering engineer Ryan K. Smith of Sterling Sound to create a new vinyl edition of this classic album. Smith, known for his exceptional work on numerous audiophile reissues, faced the unenviable task of extracting the best possible sound from less-than-ideal analog masters.

The result delivers some genuine bright spots—good overall sound representation, reasonable definition throughout the frequency spectrum, and moments where Holiday's vocals achieve a convincing presence. However, these strengths represent the ceiling of what's possible given the source limitations.
Manufacturing Shortcomings
Where this reissue particularly disappoints is in its manufacturing execution. Despite the impressive pedigree of the mastering chain, the pressing quality falls noticeably short of audiophile standards. The vinyl surfaces exhibit considerable noise, with distracting pops and clicks throughout playback. Inconsistent quality control is evident as some tracks suffer from audible distortion while others present relatively cleanly.

Marketing vs. Reality
VMP's marketing language for this release leans heavily on audiophile terminology—"AAA lacquers cut from the original analog tapes," "180g Trav'lin Light Blue vinyl," and "plated at QRP" (Quality Record Pressings, a respected pressing facility). While Ryan K. Smith's mastering expertise and the all-analog signal path represent genuine quality markers, the actual pressing was handled by GZ Media, a high-volume plant with a more variable reputation for quality control.

This disconnect perfectly illustrates how even the finest mastering can be compromised by subsequent production steps. As the saying goes in the audiophile world, a vinyl record is only as good as its weakest link in the production chain.

The Vinyl Verdict
For Holiday completists or those specifically drawn to this album, the VMP edition might represent the best currently available option, despite its flaws. However, casual collectors or those primarily interested in experiencing Holiday's voice at its finest might be better served by other releases in her catalog that benefit from both better original recordings and more consistent manufacturing.

This release serves as a reminder that creating truly exceptional vinyl requires excellence at every stage—from the original recording through mastering, plating, and final pressing. When even one element falls short, the entire listening experience suffers accordingly. 💸

💰 Invest
 💵 Consider
💸 Pass