This is a rather incredible collection: ten CDs enclosed in a tight black box that includes every one of the recordings Verve owns of Billie Holiday, not only the many studio recordings of 1952-57 (which feature Lady Day joined by such jazz all-stars as trumpeters Charlie Shavers and Harry "Sweets" Edison, altoist Benny Carter, and the tenors of Flip Phillips, Paul Quinichette and Ben Webster). Also included are prime performances at Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts in 1945-1947, an enjoyable European gig from 1954, her "comeback" Carnegie Hall concert of 1956, Holiday's rather sad final studio album from 1959, and even lengthy tapes from two informal rehearsals. It's a perfect purchase for the true Billie Holiday fanatic.
BGO's 2013 two-fer combines two Jerry Lee Lewis albums from 1971: Touching Home and Would You Take Another Chance on Me? The Killer made his country comeback in 1968, so these records came in the thick of his period as a reliable country hitmaker – and, appropriately enough, there are hits here. Specifically, Touching Home has the title track, which reached number three on the U.S. country charts, and "When He Walks on You (Like You Have Walked on Me)," which made it to 11, and Would You Take Another Chance on Me? has the number one title track in its languid ballad and "Me and Bobby McGee," which was his first song to crack the pop Top 40 since 1961's "What I'd Say."