Customer Reviews

Calender Girl / Your Number Please

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was first turned on to Julie London's amazingly sultry voice through the Ultra Lounge collection, then later when I bought a three -CD box set on a whim that, although does a great job of highlighting her prolific career, skips many of her greatest performances, many of them captured on this must-have disc for any fan of Julie's or for good old-fashioned standards bathed in strings ("Your Number Please...") or vamped up or nearly whispered, depending on the song ("Calendar Girl.") The set has many highlights, and the first half, "Calendar Girl," has plenty of outstanding original songs, some of which surpass a few standards. Among my faves are "June in January," "February Brings the Rain," and "November Twilight" from "Calendar," and fantastic Andre Previn-conducted renditions of "It Could Happen to You," "They Can't Take Thay Away From Me," and "Love Is Here to Stay" on "Number," although really the whole thing is top-notch. Many of these songs have been performed hundreds of times by some of the most legendary of artists, but no one could make them as sexy and intimate as Julie does on this disc. It warms up any winter evening but plays just as nicely on a hot summer porch. Perfection!

Julie London sings with strings, and an orchestra arranged and conducted by Andre Previn, this moody album's highlights include the ultimate version of Makin Whoopee, and a breathtaking beautiful version of "When I Fall In Love." London sounds inspired and in a romantic mood, never have her velvety vocals sounded so delicious. An added extra is Calendar Girl another 50's LP is included on this two lp's on one CD, Calendar Girl is a concept album with a song for each month of the year, cute huh..., the price of the cd is worth it alone for Your Number Please and the cover art work for Calender Girl.

WARNING! Do Not Listen To This CD Alone! Julie's voice, recorded here, in analog, at the height of the "Hi-Fi" years gets all the way inside your emotions. "Love is here to stay" and "The More I see you" sound like they are whispered right next to your ear. Some of her best work.

This coupling of two outstanding albums full of quality love songs is everything that Julie London's fans would expect.

The first half of the twofer, the Calendar girl album, has a song for each month of the year, counting a year as thirteen months. The liner notes say that about half the songs are standards. In fact, I only recognized four of the songs as standards, these being June in January, I'll remember April, Sleigh ride in July and September in the rain. I believe the other songs are all originals but if any of them are covers, they are obscure and therefore cannot be described as standards. Nevertheless, I found these songs immensely enjoyable and it is quite likely that some of them would have become standards had they been written ten years earlier. Particularly noteworthy is Warm December, which is not about Christmas but sometimes gets included on Christmas compilations.

The second half of the twofer, the Your number please album, is a tribute to various men and contains another excellent selection of love songs. The men are Frank Sinatra (Learning the blues), Johnny Mercer (One for my baby), Four freshmen (It's a blue world), Nat King Cole (When I fall in love), Fred Astaire (They can't take that away from me), Gene Harris (Love is here to stay), Dick Haymes (The more I see you), Bing Crosby (It could happen to you), Mel Torme (A stranger in town), Eddie Cantor (Making whoopee), Bob Hope (Two sleepy people) and Matt Dennis (Angel eyes). Julie's recordings of these songs are every bit as good as you would expect them to be.

There are several twofers of Julie's music available as I write this, all of them brilliant. Even so, this is certainly one of the best of them.

Julie's Liberty albums are unlike those by any other artist right from the unforgettable covers to the jazz-pop music inside--very hip, very knowledgeable of obscure but worthwhile songs, always tasty, always hip. "Calendar Girl" clocked in at under 30 minutes, even with "The Thirteenth Month" and they knew it but how to improve on perfection? "November Twilight" alone is worth the whole album. "Your Number Please," a tribute to boy singers, nestles in gorgeous arrangments by Andre Previn replete with cocktail touches brushed with classical flourishes. Wow. Julie never met a song she couldn't seduce or a song she couldn't make sound better. Now if only someone/anyone would get the fantastic "About The Blues" on C.D. in real stereo!

These are two of the alluring Miss London's finest sessions, the first has a song for each month of the year the second Lp is arranged by Mr. Mood Music himself, Andre Previn, highlightd by a spectacular version of Makin Whopee, maybe a little overoe=rchestrarted but still very lush and nice for those late hours. Recommended!!!

Of Julie London's 16+ recording, most people regard this and "Her Name Is Julie" as the best. Tunes range from up-tempo to slow and absolutely seductive (November Twiilght). Fully orchestrated with occasional backing male vocals. For fans of London, this is a must have.

Julie London is now a vital part of the Jazz Genre in America and the World
and will forever share that distinction with several other incredible Female Jazz singers from the 40's and 50's.
Her voice and performing style are so unique that I doubt we will see another singer come close to her style of presenting herself..

I have long considered "Your Number Please", by Julie London and Andre Previn to be one of the finest recordings of popular American music. To me, it ranks with the Doris Day/Paul Weston "Day By Day"/"Day By Night" collaborations. Miss London's hit single "Cry Me A River" and her first LP "Julie Is Her Name" exemplify that she was showcased by some fine jazz talents, most notably guitarist Barney Kessel. In this collection, Andre Previn provides Julie a canvas of lush, soaring strings and reeds that is plenty jazz inflected. Musically, both artists are perfectly suited. The result has an ethereal quality. The listener feels swept to a point somewhere in the clouds. "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and "Our Love Is Here To Stay" are among the most beautiful renditions of Gershwin. "One For My Baby" and "Learnin' the Blues" prove that Julie can take saloon songs and make them hauntingly gorgeous. Thanks again, Mr. Previn. Of all Julie's recordings, I sense that "Your Number Please" was the best in technical engineering.

"Calendar Girl" with the Pete King Choral, is not only just plain fun, but has the same ethereal quality when it comes to the ballads. Julie's husband, Bobby Troup wrote "February Brings the Rain" which has long been a favorite of mine. I consider it a trademark of Julie's. Another beautiful original is "November Twilight". It will take you to that deserted bandstand in the park. Julie's collaboration with Pete King and the singers gives "Calendar Girl" a wistful personality. I recommend it to those who love the fall season especially.

I had bought the original Calendar Girl on vinal in 1964. Having that music on CD was a pleasant experience. The songs were good then, and they have stood the test of time. The pictures from the original would have been nice, too, but not included. The extra tunes at the end showcase Julie at her best. She has a lovely voice and knew how to use it to the best advantage. She can show humor or moan a torch song with the best of them. A must for any JUlie London fan. Also a must for anyone wanting to hear standards sung by a highly talented, and may I say sexy lady.