Libby Holman Singing "Am I Blue?"

[ClubsOfHearts]

Her photo here looks like a mug shot, so fitting for this murdering slut.

[miltsar]

@bilco2009 Agreed... but check out her singing House of The Rising Song from the 40's. She is much more mature and from the pictures in the video you can imagine Monty hearing and seeing her at that time . I can understand from that video how a young impressionable sensitive man would be intrigued by her glamour and reputation.

[puffleperson]

Am I the only one to think she's sending herself up, here? I think she's singing this in an ironic way, as a comic song - she's a commedienne. It's funny.

[JWallWill]

I loved her expression of this song. I think it is so right for this type of song sung in this era. Cheers.

[kimpunkrock]

god I miss women like this, i dont care what anyone says, women singers like this slay any over paid barbie doll recording today!

[taddyd1]

I love this recording but it sounds like nothing like the later Libby Holman who sang House of the Rising Sun years before Baez and the 5 dozen classic versions reeased after JB's landmark debut lp (Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, The Animals etc).

[SuperMrduncan]

libby libby libby, what a Lady..

[MegGeary]

hanshaw's version is my fav. for this song

[goatface1000]

@MegGeary Correct she was the best white singer of her era,

[screamingturnip]

I like her, she hits the proper emphasis and punctuation.

[Jazsngr]

It seems I had a book about Libby that is no longer available and her family pulled off the shelves so to speak. I had a paperbook copy. It was a fascinating read. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

[defundthewar]

@Jazsngr I read one called "Dreams Money Can Buy" by John Bradshaw. I don't know if a family can "pull (books) off the shelves" because if they could, there would be no books about the Kennedys, the Bushes, et al. It was a terrific read.

[xander7ful]

She put a little more personality and pathos into her singing than the average girl singer.  And that alto voice makes her even more unique.

[geloeik753]

Tnanks so much, pop0it0rocket!!!

I'll follow your suggestion to find a biography of Libby Holman on eBay.

I love jazz songs&singers especially in years before the Great Depression. I feel as like that they are impressve and very familiar to me.

[78timothy]

I have the Brunswick 20000 Concert series recording of this "Gems from On With the Show" Features Libby doing this song, w/Trombone back-up by Tommy Dorsey. Libby Holman was a Torch Singer. She could sell a song. She was known for her display of emotionality & pathos in her singing & performing. She was as intense in her professional singing as she was in her personal life. Very intense, passionate, sensual woman; displaying an overt sexuality that was somewhat provocative for it's period.

[geloeik753]

She has nuance in her song, which nowadays singers lacks in. She is a great singer not similar to anyone else in those days and today. I don't know her enough to tell something well, and would like to know more about her.

Thanks to dinobravo69. You say she was notorious, and you adore her?

[pop0it0rocket]

to geloeik:

She was notorious in part because her wealthy first husband died under questionable circumstances. She was suspected of shooting him, but she was never convicted of the crime. She was also notorious for having a series of famous lovers - both male and female.

I read a biography of Libby Holman several years ago titled "Dreams That Money Can Buy: The Tragic Life of Libby Holman". It was a fascinating read. I recommend it if you are interested in her life.

[leoncio41]

thank you for this song !!!!!!!! I love it

[jessesgirl10]

Love this song! Thanks for posting

[LibbySingsMezzo]

It's certainly not the style of singing we're used to today, where everybody just screams, but this is a perfect snapshot of how these songs were sung when written. For someone studying vocal music style from the 20's and 30's, this is invaluable assistance in getting it authentic. Of course what makes a song a standard is that it holds up through many different styles of performance.

[HermanZelig]

Didn't Libby Holman have a very co-dependent relationship with Montgomery Clift?

[yogisuperman]

Such a sad vocalist.

[Gaygarious]

She had a voice typical of that era. She has that sound that was totally 20s/30s. And recording techniques then were not as they are now. Most of today's singers can't sing live as they did then. Most of today's singers are synched with their recordings. Give me a live voice anytime!

[Billco2009]

I'd heard allot about Libby Holman - her life, career and relationship with Monty Clift. - but this was the first time I'd heard her sing. Sorry to say - not impressed. I honestly don 't see what the fuss was about. She had a so-so voice and a so-so delivery.

[dinobravo69]

Libby Holman had a voice that "worked" for the era in which she sang. No, she would not make it on American Idol, but I adore her just the same.

[Billco2009]

I kept that in mind when considering her voice. Of course by today's standards she's lacking but even for that time period I think there were much better singers than her - Ruth Etting, Lillian Roth - even Fanny Brice. I didn't think she was awful or anything but given what else was out there at the time, I don't see why she was considered a standout. Maybe it was her in-person persona - or she had a certain presence.....

[Markink]

@dinobravo69: Libby Holman had a voice which always touches me ***** there is something hard to find words for ... anyway ;-) thank you very much for sharing!

[edwardjames50]

@Billco2009 ~ You also have to take intoaccount that recording techniques and orchestration styles have changed drastically in eighty years. I always find it strange that people judge yesterday's art and pop culture by today's standards. What will today's music (?) sound like to ears eighty years in the future?

[defundthewar]

@Billco2009 Libby would be the first to agree with you regarding her voice. I read she didn't have a high opinion of it. But to me, like Lillian Roth, Billie Holiday and others, they were, in essence story-tellers. If you think about it, a lot of people have good voices, are on pitch, can sing. But can they get the story across?

[acotw67]

THANKS! Although I grew up listening to mostly jazz and classical music, and despite inheriting a great collection, this is the first time I have heard Libby Holman sing. What a treat!

[cushtichavi]

Why do these singers have such sad lives?

[MrRadaikon]

dems da breaks/ If you want to pursue ay sort of artistic pursuit...you WILL suffer. That is..if you wanna be any good.

[NadezhdaRozagy1]

This song is increadible! It makes my day every time I hear (and sing) it. Wonderful! xx

[patchesmissy]

i love this song

[Squarerig]

First Arnette Hanshaw,now LIbby Holman;my day is perfect!What gems have I experienced today-and I am so grateful to you blokes/chaps,guys out there who make available your treasures for our JAZZ-starved ears!And it ain't my birthday,either-pronounced ayther!

[acotw67]

Squarerig:

Either,ayther,neither,nyether, let's call the whole thing off. :D

Okay, I'll stop taking the piss. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I'll drink to that! (The sun's over the yardarm).

[operamichael]

Ethel Waters also had an excellent version, as well. I believe the song is from one of her Broadway shows ?

[Corrie121]

Corrie 121

This is really ,really good. What a voice!

I think Bessie Smith sang this song.

Many thanks for this and your other great postings.

[alliecat1941]

Crystal Gayle sings this dont she?

[Kind67]

I think you're thinking of Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue", but she may have sung this song, too.

[cdadave83814]

Simply, NICE. I'm impressed.

[snapcracklepop54]

i love ethel waters version but this just turns me to jelly

[hubbellgardner]

She's great. Fun to contrast this with the Divine Miss M's version 50 years later !

[Somerset45]

Thanks for this video. Libby and Annette Hanshaw both did beautiful versions of Am I Blue.