Fine and Mellow is a jazz blues standard written and first recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939. It was released as a Commodore single in 1939, with Strange Fruit on the A-side, and is a bluesy lament about the mistreatment a woman endures from her man. The song showcases Holiday’s expressive vocal style and has become a classic in the jazz repertoire. In 1957 she performed it in The Sound of Jazz, a television special that featured a legendary lineup and a reunion with Lester Young for what would be their final collaboration. Over the years, Fine and Mellow has been covered by artists such as Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Eva Cassidy and Lou Rawls.
