1972 Soundtrack – Lady Sings The Blues
Lady Sings The Blues is the soundtrack to the Billie Holiday biopic of the same name, which starred Diana Ross in her 1972 screen debut. It became Ross’ first number 1 album (eventually selling over 2 million US copies), though the only one as a solo artist. It was certified gold in the UK for sales of over 100,000 copies. It was the fourth best-selling R&B album and fifth best-selling Pop album of 1973 in the US.
Music writers said Ross emulated Billie Holiday’s voice while retaining her own individual sound. This soundtrack album was the only Motown album to have a special designed label to match the album cover on the vinyl release, rather than Motown’s usual “Map of Detroit” design. This label design would also turn up on the single releases from the soundtrack.
Tracks
1 The Arrest 00:15
2 Lady Sings The Blues (Billie Holiday; Herbie Nichols) 01:03
3 Baltimore Brothel (Michel LeGrand) 00:26
4 Billie Sneaks Into Dean & Dean’s / Swingin’ Uptown (Michel LeGrand) 00:53
5 T’ain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do (Everett Robbins; Porter Grainger) 01:05
6 Big Ben / C.C. Rider 02:32
7 All Of Me (Gerald Marks; Seymour Simons) 02:19
8 The Man I Love (George Gershwin; Ira Gershwin) 02:26
9 Them There Eyes (Doris Tauber; Maceo Pinkard; William Tracey) 01:04
10 Gardenias From Louis 02:03
11 Cafe Manhattan / Had You Been Around / Love Theme 03:33
12 Country Love (Gilbert Alexander Askey) 00:37
13 I Cried For You (Abe Lyman; Arthur Freed; Gus Arnheim) 00:38
14 Billie & Harry / Don’t Explain (Arthur Herzog Jr; Billie Holiday) 02:12
15 Mean To Me (Roy Turk; Fred Ahlert) 01:18
16 Fine And Mellow (Billie Holiday) 00:46
17 What A Little Moonlight Can Do (Harry Woods) 02:10
18 Louis Visits Billie On Tour / Love Theme (Michel LeGrand) 03:48
19 Cafe Manhattan Party / Persuasion (Michel LeGrand) 01:38
20 T’ain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do (Porter Grainger; Everett Robbins) 03:05
21 Agent’s Office 01:08
22 Love Is Here To Stay (George Gershwin; Ira Gershwin) 02:00
23 Fine And Mellow (Billie Holiday) 02:55
24 Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) (Jimmy Davis; Jimmy Sherman; Roger Ramirez) 03:22
25 You’ve Changed (Bill Carey; Clare Fischer) 02:34
26 Gimme A Pigfoot And A Bottle Of Beer (Wesley Wilson) 02:06
27 Good Morning Heartache (Dan Fisher; Ervin Drake; Irene Higginbotham) 02:21
28 All Of Me (Gerald Marks; Seymour Simons) 02:04
29 Love Theme (Michel LeGrand) 02:52
30 My Man (Channing Pollock) 03:26
31 Don’t Explain (Arthur Herzog Jr; Billie Holiday) 02:10
32 I Cried For You (Abe Lyman; Arthur Freed; Gus Arnheim) 02:12
33 Strange Fruit (Lewis Allen) 03:35
34 God Bless The Child (Arthur Herzog Jr; Billie Holiday) 02:42
Biography
Musicians
| Bass | Max Bennett |
| Bass | Red Callender |
| Drums | Earl Palmer |
| Drums | Jessie Sailes |
| Guitar | John Collins |
| Banjo | John Collins |
| Piano | Don Abney |
| Piano | Gerald Wiggins |
| Piano | Chester Lane |
| Clarinet | Caughey Roberts |
| Sax | Caughey Roberts |
| Sax | Buddy Collette |
| Sax | Ernie Watts |
| Sax | George Auld |
| Sax | Jack Nimitz |
| Sax | Marshall Royal |
| Sax | Plas Johnson |
| Trombone | George Bohanon |
| Trombone | Grover Mitchell |
| Trombone | Henry Coker |
| Trombone | Jimmy Cleveland |
| Trombone | Maurice Spears |
| Trumpet | Al Aarons |
| Trumpet | Bobby Bryant |
| Trumpet | Cat Anderson |
| Trumpet | Harry Edison |
| Trumpet | Teddy Buckner |
| Vocals | Diana Ross |
Liner Notes
Producer – Jay Weston, Jay White
Producer (Executive) – Berry Gordy
Arranged By – Michel Legrand, Benny Golson, Gil Askey, Oliver Nelson
Arranged By (Orchestra) – Benny Golson, Gil Askey, Oliver Nelson
Conductor – Michel Legrand
Conductor (Orchestra) – Gil Askey
Engineer – Guy Costa, Dave Docendorf, Gordon Day, John Norman, Art Stewart, Bill McMeekin, Cal Harris, Dave Ramsey, Larry Miles, Russ Terrana
Recorded At MoWest Studios
Recorded At Glen Glenn Sound
Phonographic Copyright Motown Record Corporation
Copyright Motown Record Corporation