The Complete Commodore Masters – Billie Holiday

The Commodore recordings were made for Milt Gablers small Commodore label and the master takes were originally distributed two per disc on 78 r.p.m issues. The material was recorded in 1939 and 1944 by Milt Gabler. The original 78 that was Strange Fruit b/w Fine and Mellow, was released by Gabler because Columbias John Hammond refused to record the song. Holiday was under contract to the label at the time, but Hammond loosened the reins a bit and allowed her the leeway to cut it for Commodore.