Fine and Mellow (song)

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“Fine and Mellow”

Single by Billie Holiday
B-side	Strange Fruit
Released	1939
Format	78 rpm
Recorded	April 20, 1939
Genre	Jazz
Label	Commodore
Writer(s)	Billie Holiday

Fine and Mellow is a song written by Billie Holiday^[1] who first recorded it on April 20, 1939 on the Commodore label.^[2]

It is something of a lament about a boyfriend's behavior as is common for the singer. A well-known rendition by her in 1957 is notable as a musical reunion with Lester Young in a television special, The Sound of Jazz.^[3] During this famous recording, Lester Young seemed gravely ill, and was the only horn player who was seated (except during his solo). He was suffering from liver disease and malnutrition, yet still found the strength to stand up and play one of the most beautiful solo's in jazz history.

The song has been covered several times, sometimes with a change in lyrics or emphasis. For example Lou Rawls switched the gender to a girlfriend^[4] and Eva Cassidy sang it in a defiant tone. Notable cover versions were sung by Nina Simone (on the 1959 At Town Hall) and Ella Fitzgerald.