Comments for London, Julie, Time for Love: The Best of Julie London

This Rhino compilation, definitely the easiest to find amidst her many CDs, is the perfect introduction to Julie London, a fine jazz singer capable of inflecting a mood like no other. Julie once said in Life magazine, "I only have a thimbleful of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microphone. But it is a kind of oversmoked voice and it automatically sounds intimate." She was far too modest, but it`s an accurate summary. Her biggest hit, "Cry Me a River," is included...Julie was the first artist to record this jazz standard and forty-two years later, hers is still the definitive version. Her sultry tone is also used to full advantage on the ballads "Two Sleepy People," "I Surrender, Dear," and an especially beautiful reading of "`Round Midnight." She can also swing with the best of them, which is proven on two Cole Porter tunes, "You`d Be So Nice to Come Home To" and "In the Still of the Night." But to get the full impact of her voice, take a listen to the scorchingly sultry ballad "Go Slow." Julie purring "Go slow/ooo, ooo, honey" should give chills to many a listener, and her closing a capella whisper, "you make me feel so good" is almost surprisingly sensuous for its time period. The fine Rhino packaging includes an extensive bio, track information and several pictures that illustrate Julie having quite a face and shape to go along with that voice. "Time for Love" is well-rounded, comprehensive, and most importantly, highly entertaining...the quintessential collection for this superior jazz vocalist.