Lady in Satin is an album by jazz singer Billie Holiday released in 1958 on Columbia Records, catalogue CL 1157 in mono and CS 8048 in stereo. It is the next to final album completed by the singer and released in her lifetime (her final album, Billie Holiday, being recorded in March 1959 and released just after her death). The original album was produced by Irving Townsend, and engineered by Fred Plaut. Unlike the bulk of Holiday’s recordings, rather than in the setting of a jazz combo Holiday returns to the backdrop of full orchestral arrangements as done during her Decca years. The album consists of songs Holiday had never recorded before. The arrangements were by bandleader Ray Ellis. Soloists on the album included Mel Davis, Urbie Green, and bebop trombone pioneer J.J. Johnson. Ray Ellis said of the album in 1997: “I would say that the most emotional moment was her listening to the playback of “I’m a Fool to Want You”. There were tears in her eyes…After we finished the album I went into the control room and listened to all the takes. I must admit I was unhappy with her performance, but I was just listening musically instead of emotionally. It wasn’t until I heard the final mix a few weeks later that I realized how great her performance really was.”
Billie’s accompanied by Billy Butterfield, Mel Davis, Bernie Glow (trumpet) Urbie Green (trombone) Gene Quill (alto saxophone) Hank Jones (piano) Barry Galbraith (guitar) Milt Hinton (bass) Osie Johnson (drums), Ray Ellies (arranger, conductor) unidentified strings, harp, vocal choir, and others. Recorded in New York City, February 19, 1958. (Columbia Records)
I’m a fool to want you
I’m a fool to want you
To want a love that can’t be true
A love that’s there for others too
I’m a fool to hold you
Such a fool to hold you
To seek a kiss not mine alone
To share a kiss that devil has known
Time and time again i said i’d leave you
Time and time again i went away
But then would come the time when i would need you
And once again these words i had to say
I’m a fool to want you
Pitty me I need you
I know it’s wrong, it must be wrong
But right or wrong i can’t get along
Without you
Without you
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