Southside Johnny at Blue Note New York

SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY PERFORMING THE MUSIC OF BILLIE HOLIDAY



"Billie Holiday's voice is one of the more evocative memories from my childhood. My parents would come home from work and put on music. Mostly jazz, some jump blues, and even some old-fashioned low down blues. But after my brother Tom and I went to bed, they would put on Billie holiday. We had no heat upstairs, so we had to leave the door open to our bedroom, and that voice would float up with the warm air. I remember at first really liking the upbeat stuff she did. She sounded like she was having great fun with the band. But I was also moved by the deep sadness in her voice on the ballads. I didn't understand it, I was only a child, but it moved me and it still does....

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SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY PERFORMING THE MUSIC OF BILLIE HOLIDAY



"Billie Holiday's voice is one of the more evocative memories from my childhood. My parents would come home from work and put on music. Mostly jazz, some jump blues, and even some old-fashioned low down blues. But after my brother Tom and I went to bed, they would put on Billie holiday. We had no heat upstairs, so we had to leave the door open to our bedroom, and that voice would float up with the warm air. I remember at first really liking the upbeat stuff she did. She sounded like she was having great fun with the band. But I was also moved by the deep sadness in her voice on the ballads. I didn't understand it, I was only a child, but it moved me and it still does.

It's hard as a singer to cover someone you idolize. It takes a lot of courage and a strong hand to push you forward. John Isley, who thought up the project, did all the arrangements, and produced this record deserves all the credit. Any faults should be laid at my feet. I hope you get some enjoyment out of this record. I loved making it."

- Southside Johnny

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