Julie...At Home  (Liberty: LRP-3152/LST-7152 )

Released: 1960.

Producer: Si Waronker

Notes: This album was actually recorded in Julie's own living room.

CD Availability: 1996 EMI two-fer, with "Around Midnight."

Original liner notes (by Jimmy Rowles):

Everyone feels relaxed and at ease in a warm home atmosphere. That's why Julie London and Liberty Records decided to record this album in Julie's own living room away from the formality of a recording studio. Because of these relaxed surroundings and the fact that Julie's talent as a hostess is only exceeded by her talent as a musician, I have never been associated with a more pleasant recording session.

Everything about this album was enjoyable and satisfying from a musical standpoint. To begin with, Julie is wonderful to work with. Everyone around her responds to that intimate, relaxed feeling. And she uses her voice like an instrument--warm and easy without self-consciousness.

The wonderful choice of musicians also had a great deal to do with making this a rewarding experience. Standout musicians like Al Viola, Earl Palmer, Don Bagley, Emil Richards and Bob Flanagan can be counted on to make a real contribution to the musical mood or feeling of a record. They inspire the confidence of the singer and each other.

Each of the two sessions began in the afternoon and continued until everyone was happy with the results. I might add that being greeted at the door by lovely Julie London and ushered into a warm and beautiful living room is my idea of the right way to start every record session. We all talked over what we were going to do while we were warming up. We would play for a while and then talk about it. Everybody contributed to the discussions and we'd try out their ideas. Every once in a while we'd stop for refreshments, shoot the breeze a little and then go back to work...this is work?!

It's small wonder, then, that this album contains some pretty inspired music, always relaxed so as to point up Julie's great vocal work. If we'd been any more relaxed we couldn't have moved.

On the first date, after most of the men had gone home, Al Viola stuck around for a while. Julie and Al got to trying out a couple of ideas by themselves on "Everything Happens to Me" and "You've Changed." They turned out so great that these two tunes were released in the album just as they were...just Julie and guitar. The second evening Bob Flanagan dropped by to pay a social call. We talked him into getting his horn out of the car and he "sat in" with some nice trombone work.

It has become a cliche in show business to say, "I hope you enjoy this as much as we enjoyed doing it." In the case of this album I can wholeheartedly say it and mean it. In fact, I enjoyed myself so much that I almost feel guilty about accepting the check.

All Music Guide review by Zac Johnson:

In 1959, sultry vocalist Julie London was really coming into her own as a singer. Her worldwide hit "Cry Me a River" was four years behind her, and while she would never attain that level of fame as a recording artist for the rest of her career, her ability to interpret a song was at its strongest in the late '50s and early '60s. Liberty Records' Julie...At Home finds the vocalist comfortably in front of a small jazz combo highlighted by vibraphonist Emil Richards and guitarist Al Viola. The sessions seem relaxed and casual, often with the lyrics slyly slipping from London's lips, at once sophisticated and sensual. The remarkable thing about Julie...At Home is that it was in fact recorded in her own living room, which proved to be the ideal surroundings for these warm and romantic standards. [Julie...At Home was released as a two-fer in 1996 as Julie...At Home/Around Midnight.]

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Tracks

Around Midnight  (Liberty: LRP-3164/LST-7164)

Released: 1960.

Arranged and conducted by Dick Reynolds.

CD Availability: 1996 EMI two-fer, with "Julie...At Home."

Original liner notes:

The lonely are loneliest.

The loved, best loved.

The bitter are more bitter.

The peaceful, more serene.

The magic hour intensifies the mood

Stretching both happiness and unhappiness to the breaking point.

And the most fortunate of all

Are those for whom the moment

Crystallizes into eternity

As wonderful, unspoken promises are kept

...AROUND MIDNIGHT

All Music Guide review by Zac Johnson:

In 1960, pop vocalist Julie London was really cranking out albums for the successful label Liberty Records. The success of her 1955 hit "Cry Me a River" put Liberty into overdrive and London responded by making some of the strongest records of her career. Her ability to interpret a song was at its strongest in the late '50s and early '60s, as is evidenced on the shimmering Around Midnight. While some of her best recordings were in front of small jazz combos, Around Midnight proves that London was just as effective in front of larger orchestras and bands. The drowsy "Black Coffee" and lazy "Lush Life" typify the late-night feel of the album, leading right into "The Wee Small Hours of the Morning."

Our Reviews

If you'd like to share your own review of Around Midnight here, please e-mail me.

Tracks