'do they know, do they care, that it's only/that I'm lonely and low as can be.../And the smile on my face...isn't really a smile at all...'
This is a brilliant, devastating recording. Julie's gentle, heartfelt vocal, the lush background... I'm speechless!
from Love on the Rocks (Liberty) available on CD - The Liberty Years (EMI)
28 Feb 02 ·G400 Custom: Julie London's version of 'Fly Me To The Moon' is the best I've ever heard. 12 Nov 02 ·followyourbliss: I love Julie London - I agree with G400. Her Fly Me To The Moon is on Ultralounge's Bossanovaville and it's even better than Sinatra's 09 Jan 04 ·rio: great choice; the whole album is one of my favorites by julie.. how about "guess who i saw today"? 21 Aug 04 ·masten: I am looking for a CD of Julie London titled "Love on the Rocks". Does anyone know if this exists? 17 Dec 05 ·vanguard77: It will be released on Feb 6 by EMI-UK, coupled with "Julie." :)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000DNVJSQ/qid%3D1134833868/202-9396444-0797459
This short track opens the classic 1995 easy listening compilation The Sound Gallery. I'm sure it's well known to anyone with a remote interest in the whole revival scene. It's a really beautiful track, with funky drums, organ, a gentle, whispery vocal chorus, and some great jazz piano. Evocative and glamorous, this evokes a swinging party attended by people wearing sparkly dresses. For me, this is perhaps the ultimate stylish/glamorous 60s recording.
from Mah-Na-Mah-Na (Liberty) available on CD - Sound Gallery (EMI)
14 Oct 02 ·n-jeff: Its funny that it should make you think of people wearing sparkly dresses, when of course the show itself was primarily famous for having large numbers of hairy hippies naked onstage.
Ah yes.... You know him alright, the tragic lounge singer from "The Valley Of The Dolls"! And the schmaltz is transmitted directly into this version of the top 10 smash with deft precision! This track absolutely kicks ass, and is worth the 25 cents you'll probably have to pay for this work of art! The rest of the record is pretty hum-drum,nothing to sniff at though,especially for fans of swingin' supper-club jazz. Fans of the movie will dig it as well,if not just for the cover,which looks like a still from the film with him in a tuxedo,gripping the microphone with a devilish sneer!
'Laura' has long been my favorite standard. The tune is elegant and haunting, and completely devoid of some of the schmaltzy feel that plagues many popular standards.
Written as an instrumental for the 1944 film of the same name, this was composed as a piano-based number, and so Julie's version is perhaps not the most orthodox recording. However, it's incredibly powerful and atmospheric, and I *think* it's my favorite version.
The entire track lasts just 1 minute and 40 seconds. The first verse is sung as a solo voice without any accompaniment other than the spooky reverberation effect. When the music does come in, it's provided by a small jazz trio led by Barney Kessel. Kessel's delicate jazz chords and picking complement Julie's voice beautifully.
from Julie is her name (Liberty), available on CD (EMI)
It's most romantic music that I've ever heard! I don't think Chet Baker is well at singing a song, but his way of singing & playing is very emotional & to be moved. Above all, this tune is the best one of all his works, I think. Swingy & very positive melody. I feel as if I'm in the heaven on the earth. Why don't you try it if you wanna be romantic.
from Chet Baker Sings And Plays (Liberty), available on CD
29 Aug 04 ·Sem Sinatra: I totally disagree with you about Chet Baker's singing. I think he has one of the smoothest, sexiest voices of any Jazz singer. Check out his version of 'The more I see you' and 'Do it the hard way'.