Julie Is Her Name - Julie London

1955 saw the release of Julie London's debut album Julie Is Her Name. The girl with the come hither voice, a husky instrument that lingers on every syllable, Ms London, and the other torch singers of the 1950's,  had men across the world quivering in the well polished shoes and slacks, and the statuesque Julie represented the genre.

The production on the album is sparse with a hint of jazz throughout, and the intoxicating vocals demand the listeners rapt attention for 31 minutes 11 seconds.

Each songs rolls seamlessly into the next, each one a ballad none of them up tempo. Cry Me A River, (not to be confused with the pop shenanigans of one Mr Timberlake) opens the album. The song originally written for Ella Fitzgerald but was not recorded because producers believed audiences would not accept a black woman using the word "Plebeian" Julie got the opportunity to be the first to record it. For the nerd out there it is also on the V for vendetta soundtrack.

The beautiful Cant Help Lovin' Dat Man from Showboat is thrown into the mix, Cole Porters I Love You, Irving Berlins Say It Isn't So are among the many jazz standards that steam their way off the LP.

While Cry Me A River was the big hit from the album and made Julie London as star, my personal favorite is Easy Street, every time Julie finishes a line my legs go weak. The vibrato and breathy delivery is something you just don't find any more. This album says all you ever needed to hear about the torch singers of the 50's

Track Listing

1. Cry Me A River
2. i Should care
3. I'm In the Mood For Love
4. I'm Glad There Is You
5. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
6. I Love You
7. Say It Isn't So
8. It Never Entered My Mind
9. Easy Street
10. 's Wonderful
11. No Moon At All
12. Laura
13. Gone With The Wind

Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley

In a week dominated by the Fifties on Live Drive, it seems appropriate that this weeks Critical Junction hails from that very decade.
1956 saw the release of Elvis Presley the debut album from from the man who would be King.
RCA had bought Presley's contract from Sun Records the previous year for $35,000, taking a risk on the untested waters of Rock and Roll. Five recording sessions, one at Sun Studios, two in RCA's Nashville Studios and two in their New York studios spawned what was to become the first ever NO. I Rock album and cemented the foundation of the Mother of all Musical Genres. Rock And Roll had arrived.
The runaway hit single was Heartbreak Hotel, with Blue Suede Shoes ( written by Sun artist Carl Perkins) also charting well. Tutti Frutti had been a hit for Little Richard the prevoius year, as had I Got A Woman, by Ray Charles.
The album cover has had homage paid to it by Tom Waits, K.D Lang and best known perhaps, by The Clash, who mimicked it for previous Critical Junction London Calling.
Elvis Presley is this Thursdays Critical Junction.

Track Listing
Side One
1. Blue Suede Shoes
2. I'm Counting on You
3. I Got A Woman
4. One-Sided Love Affair
5. I Love You Because
6. Just Because
Side Two
1. Tutti Frutti
2. Trying To Get You
3. I'm Gonna Sit Down and Cry (Over You)
4. I'll Never Let You Go (Lil' Darlin')
5. Blue Moon
6. Money Honey

in the Wee Small Hours - Frank Sinatra

This was the album that saved Sinatras career and ensured a future for him in the musical hall of fame and in the hearts of listeners. It was also one of the first 12" records and spelled the beginning of the "Album Era"
Throughout the 40's Sinatra had gone from strength to strength, starring in hit movies and performing at sellout shows. In 1951 he married Ava Gardner and as her career began to thrive his began to decline. The films flopped, he lost his contract with MGM, and MCA and Columbia dropped him. By 1953 his marriage was gone and his future looked bleak.
He made a swift comeback though both with his Oscar winning turn in From Here To Eternity and with Capitol records recording the musical change in direction that is in the Wee Small Hours. Gone are the wise cracks and finger snapping and instead a more melancholy jazz orientated collection of ballads prevails. The central mood of the album is one of of late-night isolation and aching lost love.
On the playlist for the Thursday Morning Live Drive are In The Wee Small Hours, Mood Indigo, I'll Be Around and Dancing On The Ceiling.

Track Listing
1. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
2. Mood Indigo
3. Glad To Be Unhappy
4. I Get Along Without You Very Well
5. Deep In A Dream
6. I See Your Face Before Me
7. Can't We Be Friends?
8. When Your Lover Has Gone
9. What Is This Thing Called Love?
10. Last Night When We Were Young
11. I'll Be Around
12. Ill Wind
13. It Never Entered My Mind
14. Dancing On The Ceiling
15. I'll Never Be The Same
16. This Love Of Mine