Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit (Commodore Recording) 1939

Classic Jazz with Lady Day... Written originally as a poem, Abel Meeropol wrote & performed Strange Fruit to express his horror at lynchings. Barney Josephson of Cafe Society Nightclub in New York heard the song performed by Meeropol, his wife, & vocalist Laura Duncan & introduced it to Billie Holiday whom asked her label Columbia to record the song. Fearing a negative reaction due to the songs lyrics, they refused to record the song. She then asked friend Milt Gabler of Commodore Records & sang a cappella version to Gabler whom wept afterwards. Columbia gave Holiday a one-session release from her contract to record with Commodore. Because of the songs impact, Holiday was told to close all her shows with it. As the song was about to begin, waiters stopped serving, lights were turned off & a spotlight was focused on Holiday whom had her eyes closed, as if she were praying.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• billie
• holiday
• strange
• fruit
• commodore
• recording

[Rayo000008]

this is the version I had in vinyl. Truly one of my favorites. It really makes you stumble when its says that "strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees".... video is not very good, but this song is a real masterpiece of the Magnolia's Lady, and sound its exactly as it's grabbed in my memory, with those vinyl crashes behind...

[scenequeen20001]

@Mallettize If you're going to mock this video then to put it bluntly, you can fuck off.

[scenequeen20001]

@Mallettize because you're being an immature little prick, if you're going to comment have the decency to write something related to the video..where did the Jewish comment come from? I've got nothing against Jews..

[Tross737]

saddest ufkin song

[Mallettize]

@scenequeen20001 how is that mocking? i wrote the word anus, you got something against jews?

[GoodMorningsCupOfTea]

@Mallettize

Trololololololololol <<< 3

[Mallettize]

anus

[bamhammer]

This is the best version! I need this in high quality, I will pay!!!