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- Verified Buyer
Idle curiosity compelled me to see if any Julie London recordings were still available, and questions about her actual talent led to purchase of this recording. Long ago I let my LP's by her get away, regarding them as little more than carefully produced exploitations of her fabled beauty. But this photogenic model was more than a period piece. The voice is enticing, the intonation secure, the diction clear. The breath support is occasionally lacking, especially for a "stand-up" singer, leading to some choppy phrasing, but not enough to detract from the communication of the song.The album itself is an inspired selection of her best material, ranging from intimate guitar to full orchestral settings. She brings new life to old standards such as "I Surrender, Dear" and "You're My Thrill," and sexy humor to the less familiar--"Go Slow" and "Daddy." Compared to her contemporary canaries such as Christy and Connor, Julie can sound more personally provocative, and her readings wear better to this listener's ears than Diana Krall's recent recordings.I usually reserve five stars for Ella, Sarah, Billie. But the total of 18 songs and the generous liner notes (full bio, song descriptions, even fold-out photos) make this album uniquely appealing.
