Pennies From Heaven - Billie Holiday

[1964nickel]

No one had a soul in her voice quite like Billie did.

[nickareeno]

A most awesome rendition. Always touching, that voice, and she's in fine form here.

[SaraLovesMusic21]

Christmas :) 

[Memale2009]

What are they talking about? Listen to Billie Holiday and shut your mouth!

[bethmariew]

:)

[bananasplitsable]

Loved the version of this song In Corrina Corrina. I love it anyway!

[GoldNava]

i loved watching whoopi goldberg and tina majorino sing and dance to this song on the movie "corrina corrina" it was so cute! :)

[tinaturntable]

Simply wonderful!

[bronson223]

I wish I could go back in time ,the clothes ,the hair an yeah the men treated women different back then.I love the music.

[prawnbutters]

@bronson223 Don't make me regret being born in the 80'S.

[JMCyoungblood]

@bronson223 Until you got married everything changes after that wish it didn't ...

[12lmeganl12]

This is the music that would be playing when your man took you out on your first date. He'd get up and dance with you with such respect and it would be so romantic. Nowadays, the only dancing between guys and girls involves hard-core techno with soul-less voices belting out lyrics about sex and drugs being the way and women wearing hardly anything would dry-hump someone they barely know on the dance floor of a club with holding a glass of spiked vodka. I wish I was 20 back in the '40's

[iamkylie21123]

@12lmeganl12 Oh me too!

[hotsizzleakadafizz]

@12lmeganl12 I know how you feel. I'm a 19 year old man turning 20, and I find it almost impossible to go out on a proper date these days. Everything you just typed is what I have been wanting to do for a long time, sadly it is difficult to find nice old restaurants that play music like this, and even harder to find a woman/man to accompany. Maybe one day things will change, history is bound to repeat itself. Hopefully it repeats the class we had in the 40's. Cheers.

[dee4729]

@hotsizzleakadafizz I'll go on a date with you ;) And I'll be in Heaven.

[misssunny2013]

Why can't we have singers this good now? How did the 40s get so lucky?

[lancejmich]

Unfortunately, the second world war and the miserable economic conditions at the time contributed to people's need to find a different reality. Music fulfilled that need in a beautiful way!!

[Mr7group]

Always got that funky vocal timing thing working.

Very unique. Sounds very early recording.

[deeway1963]

Nobody finer!

[Freakfolker]

@macrostar1936 - That's a beautiful story! Do you know the meaning of the phrase 'Pennies From Heaven'? Google it! It refers to spiritual signs from beyond the veil, both in dreams and waking state. She was sending you pennies from heaven!!!

[edwardconway27]

this song is really great, and also Benny Goodman on Clarinet :)

[claitontesch]

Fine stuff.

[checkunderyourbed]

If you want the things you love, you must have showers :)

[raguiramay]

¡Buenísima Billie Holliday y toda la banda. ahora mismo mientras escuchaba esto me he sentido trasladado a ciertos momentos felices.

thanks

[watcherof47]

Is this Lester Young on Sax? 

[brghtsd1]

It's just never too late...that's kind of what the song is about.

[1caramarie]

I loved this song from the time I was a little girl. I still sing it almost 60 years later ever time it rains and I'm outside. (Also, Walking in the Rain) I don't care who thinks I'm crazy. (I also dance to both.)

[corinnabambina]

One of my favorite Billie songs, she does it so well:):):)

[mandyelmo]

Made me cry too Macrostar1936 - no regrets ;)

[edwardconway27]

oh Gosh, I think that clarinet sounds very familiar, and it was Benny Goodman! haha, He is the man!

[direfranchement]

To end the idle (and largely inaccurate) speculation, the tenor saxophone on this session is being played by the late, great Ben Webster. Please see the additional info. box for further credits.

Thanks,

The Guy that posted the song.

[u2kool6]

@direfranchement Anywhere near Portland Oregon?

[MrsBeastSlayer6]

Don't get me wrong, but I wish Billie Holiday had used her beautiful voice to sing happy songs like this one.

[AndrewButler199992]

The sax is probably Lester Young, he played with her most often.

[JazzyBlues420]

Sirius XM Radio.. Channel 4: 40s on 4. best station ever

[lpsling]

Not sure about the saxophonist...could be Coleman Hawkins, Herschel Evans or Don Byas..

[funkyworm90]

incredible

[bik3r666]

the sound of the sax sounds familiar to me whos this?

[TheBlueEyedHonky]

This is probably my absolute favorite by her <3

[confined3]

everyone tells me i was born in the wrong era. i'd say they were right but i feel its a duty of mine to keep jazz relevant. and im talking classic jazz. none of that new jazz garbage.

[MyohoSound]

I confess to sometimes rating the sublime just to note the unbelievable few who give the thumbs down, Petulance surely ?

[missgriffin777]

@MyohoSound Indeed.

[jumaxe]

I listen to a lot of types of music but nothing will ever be as perfect as this.

[passwordwillremember]

oh how I wish I was around in that time! so beautiful

[jvgmusic]

The one and only

Love it

Really feeling this cover. Hope you feel mine :)

[jazzandmint]

This is pure class. Absolutely incomparable.

[BillieHolidayCircle]

One of Billie's best ever songs.

[GMBogart]

The all-time greatest female vocalist in her greatest time (and with the amazingly talented Teddy Wilson and the one-of-a-kind guys he had accompanying him during that period; on this one, that's BG on clarinet, Ben Webster on tenor, Cozy Cole on drums!) doing my favorite song. Who could not listen endlessly to Billie?

[russiankid002]

Billie Holiday. Had she known that her voice would soothe many people in their time of grief or loneliness, I'm sure she would have made more music.

[teazle2]

That damn admission tore me up and I cant see the screen. Hiow I wish I could tal k again to mine. Both Dad and Ma loved dance music incl. Billie Hol. I came along in'34. jazz at 12 yo Peewee Hunt 12 astreet rag

[syd32vicious]

I was raised on Billie:)

[moonitelady]

You must flavor such a fine aged wine just as holidays voice carries through out the years. Pure perfection. Such a rare wine.

[wavecrashes]

im 18 years old and billie holiday is the queen of america

you can have all these bubble gum stripper chick singers that shake there juggs and wiggle they asses i aint hearing anything they got to say

[CheckMate657879]

This is too cool. I've never really heard any music from this era except Top Pop 40, blues, blue grass, classical, and traditional Dixie Land Jazz. I can hear the Dixie Land vibe, but it's mellow - with a pinch of funk - you know - cooool!

Thanks for posting.

[kimj003]

I know this is Teddy Wilson on the piano - true genius. But who is that in the picture? Looks like Art Tatum.

[mikeandmike]

yeah it is Art Tatum, he did some good collaborations with her along with other popular musicians of the day.

[CassieChoirGeek]

what key is this in?

[aggiesspeakdatruth]

Beautiful music! I wish music still had this kind of quality, it makes me want to tap dance!

[MonsoonWinds6]

Love this song!!! and her voice :)

[Chucobilly]

beautiful

[spoonpiano]

Enjoyed it... Many thanks.

[SumNJFella]

listen to renee olsteads version with chris botti, it's amazing, it's on youtube

[tenoriximo]

Her floating on the line is unique. Naturally tasteful! Is she throwing those note from Heaven? We are here for them, Billie!

[juanitagangle]

love love love the scene in corrina corrina when they are singing along to this song

[panamasgodiva]

me tooo this what made me look it up

[SirJakusThe1st]

Damn, this is too dope. I'm more familiar with the Louis Prima cover of this. They are completely different moods, so...I'll take both.

[ElvisLivesUpstairs]

I'm only 25, it makes me sad more kids aren't "stealin" their mums and dads records from their gran ansd grandpas....

[charliebubblesoar]

i love the way she interprets songs. i especially love the way she says the word heaven.

[stacynewyork]

I say heaven the same way

[Dracapalley]

I have never heard a better version than Billie's.

[blossomcandy01]

i love this song too just the greatest when she sings it

[mychalsimonzmusic]

1937 ..................... MAN!!!!

[lalabadee]

I love the way Teddy Wilson is stumbling over the tangents preparing the ground for Billie Holiday.

[TheSmashinbambam]

beautifulllllllllll

[piyolinnamihei]

大好きです。泣ける。

[susiejo1]

Ahhhhh.  Timeless.

[evemelanie]

what a woman!! so great

love the song.

[tereroli1]

I hope I would have been there listening that marvellous music in live. Billie Holiday is without any hesitation, according to my mind, the best jazz singer ever lived on this cruel earth...Like Maria Callas was in the opera stages!

[crowwabouski]

classic, and so true penneys are from heaven : )

[SergioVellatti]

Had to stop by again to listen to this awesome version. Thanks again for posting and I hope all is well!

[ertreri]

"Youll find your fortune

Fallin all over town

Be sure that your umbrella is upside down"

:) I can just imagine it...

[frankbar007]

LOVE BILLIE, THAT´S THE WAY, RIP !!

[fygery]

I LOVE this music, but I think Ella was the better singer. Her voice was amazing! Sometimes I wish I lived in that era. So sophisticated and wonderful. And the clothes — dahling!

[MissDellaReese]

"Pennies from Heaven" have been one of my favorite songs ever since I was old enough to appreciate music. Regardless of who's singing it, I love it.

[HoboMiracleMan]

any idea who the backing musicians are?

[joevinful]

My guess is Teddy Wilson on piano, Freddie Green on guitar

[BuckshotLaFunke]

Is that Ben Webster on tenor?

[fjstev]

Teddy Wilson on piano,  Ben Webster on tenor, Benny Goodman clarinet, Jonah Jones trumpet, Cozy Cole drums, John Kirby bass, and Allan Reuss guitar. Recorded 11/19/1936 for Brunswick

[melodharmony]

What a line up eh!, Billie was of course one of the big influences on Frank Sinatra.

She is so easy to listen to and thats before the term easy listening was coined. awesome.

[BlackOrchidVibe]

My favorite song ever!

[muirhouseterrace]

This is Billie at her best; without comparison.

[GreatSongwriters]

This is truly a great version by "Lady Day..."

I think the first version was recorded By Bing Crosby.

Either way, it's a great tune!

[Dimples4evr]

This song is Absolutely Beautiful...

it gives me such a warm feeling inside and out.. THIS is what I call "music"!

[dshemia19]

I miss feel good music like this, it had a certain mystery to it! The music today is just lol horrid sometimes no mystery at all I mean dont get me wrong I like it but nothing soothes my soul like the oldies! I just feel good listening to it

[xXSarah2606Xx]

Love this song :)

[BurstingRainbows]

Yes! It's happy music definately (to the comment below) I first heared this in the film Angela's Ashes, she's in a league of her own, theres no one like her :)

[slm22186]

This is what I call happy music. That type of music that you just can't help to smile when you listen to it. :)

[Sechmut]

I love this song!

Everytime I listen to it I have to smilie and all dark clouds over my head disappear ^^

[krcfkrcf]

Thanks for posting this version. Its the best! <3

[iluvmorrissey]

Such a beautiful song. I love the lyrics.. When you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree, there'll be pennies from heaven for you and me.

[matituy61]

this has to be one of my all time greats from Lady Day. The passion, hope and shear love pouring from her heart is so overwhelming, it let's you know everything is going to be o.k thanku she is the undisputed queen of song. thank God for giving you the gift of song. love you always

[momosmamma]

wonderful!! :D this song makes me smile :D

[macrostar1936]

I was working on a blog and came across this song. I was born in 1936, by age 8 I started fault finding with my Mom. By my teens I hated her all through my life till now. Last week I wanted to talk to her. All the anger and pain left me immediately, today I came across this version of Pennies From Heaven" Momma sang it all of the time. I fancy that she sang it to me those long years ago...I know it was her answering my need to talk to her, she answered me. Weepy Here.

[Ihugmoons]

@macrostar1936

thats beautful!

[HelterSkelterForum]

@macrostar1936 I feel sorry for your mother.

[Moondancedenise]

@macrostar1936 Omg... . your story. i am so sorry to hear.. your story sounds like mine. i just recently made peace with my mama, she'll be 87 in December if the good lord allows, but im sure it's no accident that i ran across this, today. she don't seem to really care much for a lot of music nowadays, but back in the day, & when i was very small, this is one of the songs she taught me to sing & dance to. I wanted to be on the geritol hour so badly and show it off, but i was too shy to ask.

[straycatzombie]

@macrostar1936 Wow :( Amazing

[MrSunnyandphoebe]

Hi. I feel your pain. I had a dificult relationship with my mother and all through my teens. Blamed her for everything. Now, to be honest, she wasn't the best mom, but a lot of it was my fault too. I'm 60 and my mom passed 6 years ago. I miss her every day. Sometimes something will happen - I need her advice or want to share a laugh - I think, I'll go to the phone and call her. She's not there-never will be again. I miss her so much & regret all the years wasted. You who have Moms, God bless!

[henrybrewer233884]

@macrostar1936 My deepest sympathies for your lost opportunities to reconcile with her. I too have a number of regrets regarding some indiscretions between my father and I. I long for the day that I see him again (and my mother as well) and give them both a great-big-long-embrace, and tell them how much I have missed them both. Weepy here too...

[greenlink1]

@macrostar1936

Wow!!! You made me tear up!! Of course she loved you!! This song is so wonderful.

[co2md]

Can Lady sing? Yoiu betcha! Her voice (worth much more than pennies) is like a gentle rain from Heaven. So soulful. Baltimore's best!!!!

[sillymongoose23]

i love billie, she's so strong and beautiful, i did a report on her in my music and lit class

[1980sguy]

I have the original 78 rpm recording by Bing crosby and thought this was the best. Boy was I wrong, when I pulled this up on YouTube it blew me away. Billie Holiday pushes this song to new heights. Thanks for posting this great rendition!!!

[kashbark]

What a beauty! Actually here in India we need to pray for the rains during the hot summer months :)

[shuddrbugg]

never knew Ms. Holiday made a cover of one my favorites, thanks for the post.

[fairyofpunk]

Thanks so much for posting. Billie is my main idol!

[18violet]

truly amazing!

[tiarra90210]

I love this song. It's so true, you got to have rain before the blessing. So praise God through the storm. Thanks for posting.

[mdn45]

Simiply beautiful and encouraging words, thank you

[alishasha61]

a true classic

thanks for posting