Today it’s Christmas around the world, the day on which I traditionally feature the Julie London holiday album that never was.
As JBN readers know, London is one of my favorite female vocalists. She had a captivating, cool singing style that never felt forced. Her satiny delivery, superb taste and sophisticated phrasing were nocturnal and relaxed. She routinely took on tough, little-known songs and aced them with an understated, whisper-y strength.
I’ve long wondered why London resisted recording a holiday album. In fact, she released only one official holiday side—I’d Like You for Christmas (1957), with words and music by husband Bobby Troup. Did London keep the Yule at arm’s length because she thought recording a holiday album would be square? Or did Liberty Records decide to have her steer clear of holiday fare to guard her hip image? Or perhaps she did record a full holiday album but the tape reel is sitting in a temperature-controlled vault someplace mislabeled or misplaced and forgotten.
So I decided to take matters into my own hands. I created a London holiday album by corralling all of her winter-themed recordings. I playfully named it Julie London Wishes You a Merry Christmas. This year, it’s only fitting once again to revisit the London Christmas classic that never was using the seven seasonal songs plus a new one I found yesterday as a bonus:
I’d Like You for Christmas…
Warm in December…
I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm…
Sleigh Ride in July…
November Twilight…
The Thirteenth Month…
The Party’s Over…
London with Pat Boone singing Winter Wonderland on TV’s Pat Boone in Hollywood in 1967…
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