Billie Holiday — What a Little Moonlight Can Do
Album: Billie's BestAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 1695
Length: 3:10
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Ooh, ooh, ooh
What a little moonlight can do
Ooh, ooh, ooh
What a little moonlight can do to you
You're in love
Your heart's fluttering all day long
You only stutter cause your poor tongue
Just will not utter the words
'I love you'
Ooh, ooh, ooh
What a little moonlight can do
Wait a while
Till a little moonbeam comes peepin' through
He'll get bored
You can't resist him
All you'll say
When you have kissed him is
Ooh, ooh, ooh
What a little moonlight can do
Ooh, ooh, ooh
What a little moonlight can do
Ooh, ooh, ooh
What a little moonlight can do to you
You're in love
Your heart's fluttering all day long
You only stutter cause your poor tongue
Just will not utter the words
'I love you'
Ooh, ooh, ooh
What a little moonlight can do
Wait a while
Till a little moonbeam comes peepin' through
He'll get bored
You can't resist him
All you'll say
When you have kissed him is
Ooh, ooh, ooh
What a little moonlight can do
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Comments (151)add comment
whos that crazy cat on piano
Wikipedia on Billie Holiday says that this was a hit with the pianist Teddy Wilson. Loved his playing on this track.
Steve wrote:
Me Too!! That is why we are here!! Thanx RP!
downbylaw wrote:
I am continually amazed and pleased by RP's playlist! 
Me Too!! That is why we are here!! Thanx RP!
Eighty -eight years old,but still sounding nostalgically wonderful and older than the RP listeners.
Lady Day is great. But the piano player -anyone know who is playing keys? Genius.
Oowooowooo! 🐺
On_The_Beach wrote:
The first time I heard her I thought "This is the great Billie Holiday?!".
But, like many of the best things in life, it took time to fully appreciate her greatness.
Her voice is certainly distinctive. I immediately know who it is when she starts singing. Maybe not for everyone, but I really enjoy it and her style.
The first time I heard her I thought "This is the great Billie Holiday?!".
But, like many of the best things in life, it took time to fully appreciate her greatness.
Her voice is certainly distinctive. I immediately know who it is when she starts singing. Maybe not for everyone, but I really enjoy it and her style.
LaurieinTucson wrote:
The first time I heard her I thought "This is the great Billie Holiday?!".
But, like many of the best things in life, it took time to fully appreciate her greatness.
I don't get Billie Holiday
don't get the appeal
her voice is like nails on chalkboard to me
(let the stoning commence!)
The first time I heard her I thought "This is the great Billie Holiday?!".
But, like many of the best things in life, it took time to fully appreciate her greatness.
I wish I'd never heard David Sedaris impersonate Billie Holiday.
Could have sworn she was singing "When you've kissed him in Missoula".
LaurieinTucson wrote:
Whaaa??
I don't get Billie Holiday
don't get the appeal
her voice is like nails on chalkboard to me
(let the stoning commence!)
don't get the appeal
her voice is like nails on chalkboard to me
(let the stoning commence!)
Whaaa??
tapatia1072 wrote:
Oh, please don't misunderstand me - I love Billie. She was so gifted, and such an icon. That's why I find her underwhelming presence on RP so puzzling. But then, I've always felt the same about Dinah Washington as I do about Billie, and RP doesn't have even a single song by her in circulation. WTF?
yes, more Billie and more Dinah
Oh, please don't misunderstand me - I love Billie. She was so gifted, and such an icon. That's why I find her underwhelming presence on RP so puzzling. But then, I've always felt the same about Dinah Washington as I do about Billie, and RP doesn't have even a single song by her in circulation. WTF?
yes, more Billie and more Dinah
geez
i really wish i didn't find her singing annoying....good music though
i really wish i didn't find her singing annoying....good music though
Oscar Peterson absolutely pushing that piano to the very limit...
LaurieinTucson wrote:
Billie's singing is kind of perfect, in part because it's quite distinctive.
And there is also a rather ... perfect ... band behind her. Did you listen to the piano? That's happiness and passion. Not nails on any board; and you didn't avoid using a cliche, which is sort of like stoning the readers of your comment.
I don't get Billie Holiday
don't get the appeal
her voice is like nails on chalkboard to me
(let the stoning commence!)
don't get the appeal
her voice is like nails on chalkboard to me
(let the stoning commence!)
Billie's singing is kind of perfect, in part because it's quite distinctive.
And there is also a rather ... perfect ... band behind her. Did you listen to the piano? That's happiness and passion. Not nails on any board; and you didn't avoid using a cliche, which is sort of like stoning the readers of your comment.
jagdriver wrote:
See https://www.pbs.org/jazz/. I thought this would be a snoozefest leaning too much on Satchmo, but it turned out to be riveting. The Dixieland crap aside (sorry—not a fan), the rest of this story is terrific! Available for rent from your favorite mail-order DVD rental folks, and also found at many public libraries for free (albeit it may only be in VHS format at the library).
My library has it on 8mm film...;-) Complete with those 8mm jumps (old
school educational films around the block so many times and patched with
scotch tape..;-)
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
See https://www.pbs.org/jazz/. I thought this would be a snoozefest leaning too much on Satchmo, but it turned out to be riveting. The Dixieland crap aside (sorry—not a fan), the rest of this story is terrific! Available for rent from your favorite mail-order DVD rental folks, and also found at many public libraries for free (albeit it may only be in VHS format at the library).
My library has it on 8mm film...;-) Complete with those 8mm jumps (old
school educational films around the block so many times and patched with
scotch tape..;-)
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
LaurieinTucson wrote:
Yeah, and I don't get Lizzo, go figure...
I don't get Billie Holiday
don't get the appeal
her voice is like nails on chalkboard to me
(let the stoning commence!)
don't get the appeal
her voice is like nails on chalkboard to me
(let the stoning commence!)
Yeah, and I don't get Lizzo, go figure...
helgigermany wrote:
This guy! ^
Awful !!
This guy! ^
I don't get Billie Holiday
don't get the appeal
her voice is like nails on chalkboard to me
(let the stoning commence!)
don't get the appeal
her voice is like nails on chalkboard to me
(let the stoning commence!)
Love the drumsTo each his own. This isn't for me.
Proclivities wrote:
I think it was Teddy Wilson playing piano on her earliest recordings.
Whoever it was had a sotto vocce conversation during that solo. Like Oscar Peterson talked to his piano and Jack DeJohnette to his drums, and I'm sure many others this guy was talking up or mumbling to the keys. C'mon baby.
I think it was Teddy Wilson playing piano on her earliest recordings.
Whoever it was had a sotto vocce conversation during that solo. Like Oscar Peterson talked to his piano and Jack DeJohnette to his drums, and I'm sure many others this guy was talking up or mumbling to the keys. C'mon baby.
On_The_Beach wrote:
I think it was Teddy Wilson playing piano on her earliest recordings.
Nice piano solo!
I'd say Art Tatum but I'm not sure if they played together.
I'd say Art Tatum but I'm not sure if they played together.
I think it was Teddy Wilson playing piano on her earliest recordings.
Luvin' it. 
Lady Day's phrasing on this is everything. This is what created Sinatra and all the rest. Of course the musicians ain't bad either.
I never got the appeal
10. And perfect serendipity. RP!
Nice piano solo!
I'd say Art Tatum but I'm not sure if they played together.
I'd say Art Tatum but I'm not sure if they played together.
Turn up that Bass, man 
FIRE.
10/10
Godess like!
Stefen wrote:
and an excellent recording
The album was released in 1992, but the song is from 1935.
and an excellent recording
The album was released in 1992, but the song is from 1935.
VH1 wrote:
She is simply the Best
+1
She is simply the Best
+1
Excellent 
Awful !!
This is EXACTLY the music I come to RP for... Bill knows what you need, not what you want.
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all across the world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners... we love this song... love sex, drugs, and jazz...
Why is it she sounds like the feminine version of Louie Armstrong with this song? And I don't mean it in a bad way.... 
Highlow
American Net'Zen
Highlow
American Net'Zen
She is simply the Best
Stingray wrote:
the drugs you need are on the second shelf of the medicine cabinet, next to the toothpaste and just under the ...you are such a knob.
How many centuries ago...?
Two? Or already three?
OKOK - even I have heard this is supposedly "good music"
just...
I give a F''*K!
klimper-klimper - this pia-NO!! kills my nerve!
Sorry - this is not the music I come to RP for!
NUTAOOOL!
Two? Or already three?
OKOK - even I have heard this is supposedly "good music"
just...
I give a F''*K!
klimper-klimper - this pia-NO!! kills my nerve!
Sorry - this is not the music I come to RP for!
NUTAOOOL!
the drugs you need are on the second shelf of the medicine cabinet, next to the toothpaste and just under the ...you are such a knob.
chris_the_man wrote:
They make a pill for that.
Jazz makes me nervous .yak
They make a pill for that.
Jazz makes me nervous .yak
cohifi wrote:
I sympathize. I have done that before.
I bought this album twice!
I sympathize. I have done that before.
I bought this album twice!
johnjconn wrote:
Stupid question for any addict!
ARE YOU CRAZY - Con-John?
any body got a little herion you can lend a girl?
Stupid question for any addict!
ARE YOU CRAZY - Con-John?
How many centuries ago...?
Two? Or already three?
OKOK - even I have heard this is supposedly "good music"
just...
I give a F''*K!
klimper-klimper - this pia-NO!! kills my nerve!
Sorry - this is not the music I come to RP for!
NUTAOOOL!
Two? Or already three?
OKOK - even I have heard this is supposedly "good music"
just...
I give a F''*K!
klimper-klimper - this pia-NO!! kills my nerve!
Sorry - this is not the music I come to RP for!
NUTAOOOL!
tapatia1072 wrote:
Legendary talent, but not my taste. So 5 too many.
Does anyone besides me find it a little odd that RP has a total of 5 songs sung by Billie Holiday in play? I was scratching my head when this came on because it occurred to me that I rarely hear her played on here - then I looked at the list and saw why that is. 
Legendary talent, but not my taste. So 5 too many.
great jitterbug music!
On_The_Beach wrote:
Not sure if you're lobbying for more or less Billie. I'm in the "more" camp.
Oh, please don't misunderstand me - I love Billie. She was so gifted, and such an icon. That's why I find her underwhelming presence on RP so puzzling. But then, I've always felt the same about Dinah Washington as I do about Billie, and RP doesn't have even a single song by her in circulation. WTF?
Not sure if you're lobbying for more or less Billie. I'm in the "more" camp.
Oh, please don't misunderstand me - I love Billie. She was so gifted, and such an icon. That's why I find her underwhelming presence on RP so puzzling. But then, I've always felt the same about Dinah Washington as I do about Billie, and RP doesn't have even a single song by her in circulation. WTF?
tapatia1072 wrote:
Not sure if you're lobbying for more or less Billie. I'm in the "more" camp.
Does anyone besides me find it a little odd that RP has a total of 5 songs sung by Billie Holiday in play? I was scratching my head when this came on because it occurred to me that I rarely hear her played on here - then I looked at the list and saw why that is.
Not sure if you're lobbying for more or less Billie. I'm in the "more" camp.
Does anyone besides me find it a little odd that RP has a total of 5 songs sung by Billie Holiday in play? I was scratching my head when this came on because it occurred to me that I rarely hear her played on here - then I looked at the list and saw why that is.
10, 10, 10 One of my all-time favorites. Can't believe in 5 years I haven't heard this one here before.
lmic wrote:
Great comment, thanks.
Ken Burns' Jazz transformed me from Jazz-curious to Jazz-obsessed. See it, see it, see it!
Shame he missed out Weather Report, fusion, all the major jazz guitarists and just about anything that happened in jazz during the 1970's. Apart from that ....
Great comment, thanks.
Ken Burns' Jazz transformed me from Jazz-curious to Jazz-obsessed. See it, see it, see it!
Shame he missed out Weather Report, fusion, all the major jazz guitarists and just about anything that happened in jazz during the 1970's. Apart from that ....
jagdriver wrote:
See https://www.pbs.org/jazz/. I thought this would be a snoozefest leaning too much on Satchmo, but it turned out to be riveting. The Dixieland crap aside (sorry—not a fan), the rest of this story is terrific! Available for rent from your favorite mail-order DVD rental folks, and also found at many public libraries for free (albeit it may only be in VHS format at the library).
Great comment, thanks.
Ken Burns' Jazz transformed me from Jazz-curious to Jazz-obsessed. See it, see it, see it!
See https://www.pbs.org/jazz/. I thought this would be a snoozefest leaning too much on Satchmo, but it turned out to be riveting. The Dixieland crap aside (sorry—not a fan), the rest of this story is terrific! Available for rent from your favorite mail-order DVD rental folks, and also found at many public libraries for free (albeit it may only be in VHS format at the library).
Great comment, thanks.
Ken Burns' Jazz transformed me from Jazz-curious to Jazz-obsessed. See it, see it, see it!
kerr wrote:
Oscar's stellar swinging and unmistakable "singing" along with his playing gave it away for me. Amazing group of musicians.
Glad I was right in thinking it was Oscar Peterson - I never knew he played with Billie Holiday so not only did I enjoy this very much but I'm now slightly better informed than I was a few moments ago. ;)
charlesryder wrote:
charlesryder wrote:
Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, Harry Edison on trumpet...the name of the drummer escapes me.
Oscar's stellar swinging and unmistakable "singing" along with his playing gave it away for me. Amazing group of musicians.
inindian wrote: Yup, what the Austin man says! And this is a great number. Luv it
cc_rider wrote:Lady Day could sing a grocery list and still get at least an 8 from me.
All you folks who think RP should stick to alternative rock or whatever narrowly defined genre you deem worthy: Get your own station! Bill's at the controls. If he likes it, he plays it. If you haven't figured out yet that RP is eclectic, you gotta listen some more. If you want to keep your musical fare within a specific range, create your own playlist.
Better yet, open up your mind to the folks who brought music to where it is today. Without pioneers and innovators and groundbreaking musical talents like Billie Holiday, we'd all be listening to Lawrence Welk or Pat Boone.
No, I don't wanna hear from all the fans of Larry and Pat out there. You know what I mean...
Happy Listening Y'all,
c.
Me three!
See https://www.pbs.org/jazz/. I thought this would be a snoozefest leaning too much on Satchmo, but it turned out to be riveting. The Dixieland crap aside (sorry—not a fan), the rest of this story is terrific! Available for rent from your favorite mail-order DVD rental folks, and also found at many public libraries for free (albeit it may only be in VHS format at the library).
Yup, what the Austin man says! And this is a great number. Luv it
cc_rider wrote:
cc_rider wrote:
Lady Day could sing a grocery list and still get at least an 8 from me.
All you folks who think RP should stick to alternative rock or whatever narrowly defined genre you deem worthy: Get your own station! Bill's at the controls. If he likes it, he plays it. If you haven't figured out yet that RP is eclectic, you gotta listen some more. If you want to keep your musical fare within a specific range, create your own playlist.
Better yet, open up your mind to the folks who brought music to where it is today. Without pioneers and innovators and groundbreaking musical talents like Billie Holiday, we'd all be listening to Lawrence Welk or Pat Boone.
No, I don't wanna hear from all the fans of Larry and Pat out there. You know what I mean...
Happy Listening Y'all,
c.
All you folks who think RP should stick to alternative rock or whatever narrowly defined genre you deem worthy: Get your own station! Bill's at the controls. If he likes it, he plays it. If you haven't figured out yet that RP is eclectic, you gotta listen some more. If you want to keep your musical fare within a specific range, create your own playlist.
Better yet, open up your mind to the folks who brought music to where it is today. Without pioneers and innovators and groundbreaking musical talents like Billie Holiday, we'd all be listening to Lawrence Welk or Pat Boone.
No, I don't wanna hear from all the fans of Larry and Pat out there. You know what I mean...
Happy Listening Y'all,
c.
Glad I was right in thinking it was Oscar Peterson - I never knew he played with Billie Holiday so not only did I enjoy this very much but I'm now slightly better informed than I was a few moments ago. ;)
charlesryder wrote:
charlesryder wrote:
Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, Harry Edison on trumpet...the name of the drummer escapes me.
cc_rider wrote:
Damn right Well said.
Lady Day could sing a grocery list and still get at least an 8 from me.
All you folks who think RP should stick to alternative rock or whatever narrowly defined genre you deem worthy: Get your own station! Bill's at the controls. If he likes it, he plays it. If you haven't figured out yet that RP is eclectic, you gotta listen some more. If you want to keep your musical fare within a specific range, create your own playlist.
Better yet, open up your mind to the folks who brought music to where it is today. Without pioneers and innovators and groundbreaking musical talents like Billie Holiday, we'd all be listening to Lawrence Welk or Pat Boone.
No, I don't wanna hear from all the fans of Larry and Pat out there. You know what I mean...
Happy Listening Y'all,
c.
All you folks who think RP should stick to alternative rock or whatever narrowly defined genre you deem worthy: Get your own station! Bill's at the controls. If he likes it, he plays it. If you haven't figured out yet that RP is eclectic, you gotta listen some more. If you want to keep your musical fare within a specific range, create your own playlist.
Better yet, open up your mind to the folks who brought music to where it is today. Without pioneers and innovators and groundbreaking musical talents like Billie Holiday, we'd all be listening to Lawrence Welk or Pat Boone.
No, I don't wanna hear from all the fans of Larry and Pat out there. You know what I mean...
Happy Listening Y'all,
c.
Damn right Well said.
OK...that was really good.
YES! Sing it Lady Day!
Bop, bop, bop-bee, bee, bop....
This joint is jumpin'! Magical.
bleh
Nice break. Sometimes I get a touch of indie burn out here.
It boggles the mind to think of anyone giving this less than a 10. God(dess)-like, indeed!
cc_rider wrote:
All you folks who think RP should stick to alternative rock or whatever narrowly defined genre you deem worthy: Get your own station! Bill's at the controls. If he likes it, he plays it. If you haven't figured out yet that RP is eclectic, you gotta listen some more. If you want to keep your musical fare within a specific range, create your own playlist.
Lady Day could sing a grocery list and still get at least an 8 from me.
All you folks who think RP should stick to alternative rock or whatever narrowly defined genre you deem worthy: Get your own station! Bill's at the controls. If he likes it, he plays it. If you haven't figured out yet that RP is eclectic, you gotta listen some more. If you want to keep your musical fare within a specific range, create your own playlist.
Better yet, open up your mind to the folks who brought music to where it is today. Without pioneers and innovators and groundbreaking musical talents like Billie Holiday, we'd all be listening to Lawrence Welk or Pat Boone.
No, I don't wanna hear from all the fans of Larry and Pat out there. You know what I mean...
Happy Listening Y'all,
c.
rah wrote:
i don't know if it's more sad or funny, but i can never hear Lady Day without thinking of David Sedaris... 
I'm glad that I'm not afflicted with that! Sorry, I can't stand Sedaris ... he drives me insane!
mmm mmm now that's toe-tapping music!
love it when RP plays music from all over the map....keep up the great work.
rah wrote:
i don't know if it's more sad or funny, but i can never hear Lady Day without thinking of David Sedaris...
Ditto. :)
my girl billie!
thanx!
I can't.
I can really do without this
i don't know if it's more sad or funny, but i can never hear Lady Day without thinking of David Sedaris...
Goddess-like would be better, however, I'll give her a 10 no matter what its called!
Simply the best to my ears.
EXCELLENT. Love RP.
thewiseking wrote:
hey, madeline peyroux,
now thats what im talkin about.
time for you to go the way of billy ray cyrus madeline.goodbye.
Word.
joempie wrote:
here we go again... eclectic ROCK please!
that's what i came here for. cu@97x
And yet you rate Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" a 10 -hmmmmmmmmm.....
the lady was brilliant
Some artists are just incomparable.
Lady Day is one of them.
... 
...
...
lostintokyo wrote:
Love the players on this song, but as for the lady herself, she never did it for me.
Call a doctor! Quick! This woman must be dying! She's lost nearly all feeling from the waist up.
Love the players on this song, but as for the lady herself, she never did it for me.
What a great song all the way around! What I wouldn't give to hear a hi-fi modern day recording of it. Or better yet...hear it live!
sans wrote:
I thought this was David Sederis.
I'll never get that association out of my head now that you put it in there.
thewiseking wrote: yeah!
hey, madeline peyroux,
now thats what im talkin about.
time for you to go the way of billy ray cyrus madeline.goodbye.
yeah!
joempie wrote:
here we go again... eclectic ROCK please!
that's what i came here for. cu@97x
Personally I came here for the eclectic part.
trompetilla wrote:
yay, thanks Bill !
You're welcome :-)
sans wrote:
I thought this was David Sederis.
ok. that is the funniest comment i have seen out here. period.
hey, madeline peyroux,
now thats what im talkin about.
time for you to go the way of billy ray cyrus madeline.goodbye.
Damn!
yay, thanks Bill !
Every song this woman sang was "goddess like."
Thx Bill for putting her on!
This brings back great memories.. driving south one winter's day from Auckland to Palmerston North (New Zealand) gearbox flying apart on the West Taupo road just as the sun was going down.. spent literally hours waiting for a car.. getting back to Tokoroa on a tow truck at midnight.. getting the post office bus at one in the morning.. bloody freezing... all we had with us was a tape recorder, bottle of whisky and a tape of Billie Holiday as we sat the back of the bus zig zagging our way down the island.. Bloody fantastic...
sans wrote:
I thought this was David Sedaris.
kimmer wrote:
What is (Radio) Paradise without Billie?
I thought this was David Sederis.
joempie wrote:
here we go again... eclectic ROCK please!
that's what i came here for. cu@97x
What is (Radio) Paradise without Billie? Not Paradise at all!
joempie wrote:
here we go again... eclectic ROCK please!
that's what i came here for. cu@97x
Yeah...I second this! Anything that makes me look outside my tunnel vision is BAD! I HATE being exposed to new things, perhaps broadening my horizons. Why can't you let me stay in my little box where I can stay comfortable. Can I have my blanket please?
Yes! Hearing some Lady Day is a lovely thing on an overcast morning, particularly when it's as bouncy as this.
And it's been a full moon the past couple of days, so this is completely apt.
Beanie wrote:
Hear, Hear! This particular song reminds me of the feeling I have watching The Color Purple and hearing "Miss Celie's Blues". Don't ask me why. 
Nice, I see what you hear. No small feat.
8.
I don't care who you are, how famous you are, how underrated or overated you are, etc., etc., you still have to EARN a '10' rating from me.
This earned it.
here we go again... eclectic ROCK please!
that's what i came here for. cu@97x
Alanur wrote:
What a little Billie can do for you! 
:goodvibes:
What can't Billie do? Untouchable!
:goodvibes: Happy Feet !!!!!!!!!! 
Alanur wrote:
What a little Billie can do for you! :goodvibes:
Hear, Hear! This particular song reminds me of the feeling I have watching The Color Purple and hearing "Miss Celie's Blues". Don't ask me why. :goodvibes:
What a little Billie can do for you! :sunny.gif: :goodvibes.gif:
BooKitty wrote:
I have a statement that many will abhor: Billie Holiday is one of the most over-rated performers of any musical genre. A nasal monotone voice with no range and no variety.
Everyone's entitled to their own opinion...but when an opinion differs so far from what is generally accepted as fact, education is the answer.
Here's a short summary of Billie Holiday's life at PBS.org.
Depending on the timing of the recording, her voice may not be what it once was. That doesn't change the fact that her voice remains one of the all time greats of recorded music.
BooKitty wrote:
I have a statement that many will abhor: Billie Holiday is one of the most over-rated performers of any musical genre. A nasal monotone voice with no range and no variety.
If you knew anything about the history of jazz you would realize what an incredible performer Ms Holiday was for that period of time. Her legacy will live on for many generations.
I have a statement that many will abhor: Billie Holiday is one of the most over-rated performers of any musical genre. A nasal monotone voice with no range and no variety.
Love the Billie! Now a little Ella would be nice.
Ok, I like unusual transitions as much as anyone, but going from Carbon Leaf doing Mary Mac to this is just so very jarring iPod-ish full random.
But, with that said, this is a rare occurrance and not so much a complaint as an anomaly. With the vast range that is played here, it is commendable that train wreck segues don't happen much more often.
Lady Day is great. But the piano player -anyone know who is playing keys? Genius.
Teddy Wilson.