From The Cocoa Lounge
Film: New Orleans, 1947
Directed by: Arthur Lubin
Starring: Arturo de Córdova, Dorothy Patrick, Marjorie Lord
Despite the limitations of her screen credit, Billie Holiday, shone as only she could in her role as a young maid, Endie. She lights up the screen during musical numbers such as the one below: "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans" (a song that takes on a whole new meaning post-Katrina).
With Louis Armstrong and his band behind her, you can't help but feel haunted by the melody as Billie croons: "Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans /
When thats where you left your heart..."
New Orleans marked Billie's first (and last) acting performance in a Hollywood film and reminds us how far black actresses have come since.
Billie left too soon. What a talent.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Billie Holiday, There is a great group on Yahoo called Billie Holiday And The Disciples Of Swing that salutes the art of vocal jazz. During February they were celebrating Girl Singers Month and this weeks playlist includes several tracks by Billie that were recorded in 1957 at The Stratford Shakespeare Festival. You should check them out. Here is the link to the group and the current playlist:
ReplyDeletehttp://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/BillieHoliday_And_The_Disciples_Of_Swing/01
01 And This Is My Beloved.mp3 Gloria Lynne at Basin Street 912 K
01 As Long As I Live.mp3 Peggy Lee (rehearsal, 1962)
01 Darktown Strutters Ball.mp3 Alberta Hunter, 1978
01 I Didn't Know What Time It Was.mp3 Sarah Vaughan, 198X
01 Manhattan.mp3 Lee Wiley
01 S'Wonderful.mp3 Ella Fitzgerald and Sammy Davis Jr.
01 They Raided The Joint.mp3 Helen Humes at the Pasadena Auditorium, 1952
02 Loud Talkin' Woman.mp3 Helen Humes at the Pasadena Auditorium, 1952
02 The More I See You.mp3 Keely Smith, studio session, 6/20/1985
02 Willow Weep For Me.mp3 Billie Holiday, Toronto, 8/57
03 Flying Home.mp3 Ella Fitzgerald, Carnegie Hall, 9/18/1949
03 I Only Have Eyes For You.mp3 Billie Holiday, Toronto, 8/57
03 I'll Get Along Somehow.mp3 Nancy Wilson
03 Mood Indigo.mp3 Lena Horne and Tony Bennett
04 Billie's Blues.mp3 Billie Holiday, Toronto, 8/57
04 Lucky Day.mp3 Annie Ross,1959
04 One Night Stand.mp3 Janis Joplin, 1970
04 Why Don't You Do Right.mp3 Linda Hopkins, 6/18/82
05 After You've Gone.mp3 Kay Starr, 1975
05 Azure-te.mp3 Ernestine Anderson, studio session, 1958
05 Lover Come Back To Me.mp3 Billie Holiday, Toronto, 8/57
05 Miss Brown to You.mp3 Carmen McRae, studio session, 6/29/1961
06 Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby.mp3 Ann Richards, studio session, 1960
07 I'd Rather Go Blind.mp3 Etta James live at Memory Lane, 1986
07 Influences.mp3 Billie Holiday
07 The Way We Were.mp3 Peggy Lee (1974 Academy Awards)
08 My Funny Valentine.mp3 Anita O'Day at Carnegie Hall, 1986
08 No Ways Tired.mp3 The Barret Sisters, 1983
08 You've Changed.mp3 Shelby Lynne, studio session,
09 But Not For Me.mp3 Gladys Knight
09 Influences part 2.mp3 Billie Holiday, Toronto, 8/57
09 Porgy.mp3 Nina Simone at Westbury Music Fair, 1968
09 Skylark.mp3 Aretha Franklin, Detroit Music Hall 1986
10 Mean Way Of Loving.mp3 Helen Humes at the Pasadena Auditorium, 1952
13 He Brought Us.mp3 The Barret Sisters, 1983
13 My Funny Valentine_The Gentleman is a Dope.mp3 Peggy Lee and Lena Horne, 1978
15 I Wish You Love 1.mp3 Barbra Streisand, JFK Stadium 1966
15 More.mp3 Baby Jane Dexter
15 Only The Lonely.mp3 Aretha Franklin, studio session, 7/16/64
17 I Cried For You.mp3 Helen Humes at the Pasadena Auditorium, 1952
17 You Turned The Tables On Me.mp3 Anita O'Day on the BBC, 1964
18 Medley.mp3 Anita O'Day and Chris Connor at Michaels Pub, 1989
19 If I Were A Bell.mp3 June Christy Live At The Dunes
20 It Don't Mean A Thing.mp3 June Christy Live At The Dunes
21 Jeepers Creepers.mp3 june Christy Live At The Dunes
22 Too Marvelous.mp3 June Christy Live At The Dunes
25 Mixed Emotions.mp3 Dinah Washington Live At Basin Street, 7/10/55
26 Come Rain Or Shine.mp3 Dinah Washington Live At Basin Street, 7/10/55
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/BillieHoliday_And_The_Disciples_Of_Swing/