On the one hand, our jazz snob side wonders why Diana Ross would be picked to star as Billie Holiday, but on the other, it makes perfect sense, as this soundtrack to the film was made during the early 70s, when she was at the top of her career, and one of the highest profile female soul singers. And she acquits herself quite well, with a solid performance that's more than respectable, helped along the way by sympathetic orchestral arrangements from Benny Golson and Oliver Nelson. While we may not turn to this recording over any of Billie's originals, it's a pretty remarkable turning point for Diana, establishing her "diva" status and helping to launch her solo career to new heights. 34 numbers in all, though many of them are dialogue or musical bits lifted from the film. Includes "All Of Me", "the Man I Love", "Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do", "Fine & Mellow", "You've Changed", "My Man", "Strange Fruit" and "God Bless The Child". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice little soundtrack from the prime years of the Rat Pack – for a film that featured Sammy Davis Jr as a trumpet player! The overall score features work by Benny Carter – nice and jazzy, with the 60s swing he was bringing to his best work at the time – and on top of this, Sammy Sings a bit, and so does Mel Torme and Louis Armstrong! Nat Adderley handles the trumpet solos for Sammy's role – blowing out in front of larger backings from Carter with a great sense of color and tone – quite different from some of his other work of the 60s. And while the jazz tracks alone are worth the price of admission, the vocal ones are wonderful too – and include "All That Jazz" by Mel Torme, "I Want To Be Wanted" and "Whisper To One" by Sammy Davis Jr, and "Back Of Town Blues" and "Someday Sweetheart" by Louis Armstrong. Instrumental titles include "Crack Up", which is a great variation on Cy Coleman's "Playboy Theme" – plus "Claudia", "Night Walk", and "Soft Touch". LP, Vinyl record album

The third collection of Billie's Verve studio recordings, produced by Norman Granz. Billie's backing group includes performances by Benny Carter, Harry Edison, Barney Kessel, Jimmy Rowles, Paul Quiichette, and Wynton Kelly, and features the songs "Trav'lin Light", "April In Paris", "Lady Sings The Blues", "What's New", "Good Morning Heartache", "Sophisticated Lady", "Strange Fruit", and "God Bless The Child". LP, Vinyl record album

Herbie Hancock further expands his cosmic vision in this groundbreaking album of free-flowing fusiony tracks – a record that really steps up his range of keyboards, mixing in both acoustic and electric pianos, mellotron, and even a bit of spacey moog from the legendary Patrick Gleeson! The whole thing is wonderful – very open and flowing, and even more organic than Hancock's later work on Columbia – especially given the length of the tracks on the set. In addition to Gleeson, other players include Benny Maupin on reeds, Julian Priester on trombone, Buster Williams on bass, and Billy Hart on drums – and titles include the 3 long tracks "Quasar", "Sleeping Giant", and "Water Torture" – all good ones! LP, Vinyl record album