Julie London's Holiday Album

This holiday weekend at JazzWax, let's slip on the Julie London holiday album that never was. As most readers know, London remains one of my favorite female vocalists. She had a captivating, cool singing style that never felt forced. Her satiny delivery, taste and voicing was nocturnal and relaxed, and she routinely took on tough songs and aced them with a proud, detached strength and maturity.

You may recall that last year, I wondered why London had released only one holiday single—I'd Like You for Christmas (1957), written by husband Bobby Troup. Was keeping the Yule at arm's length London's decision (too square?) or Liberty Records' call (not a hip marketing move?)? Or perhaps she did indeed record a full holiday album but the reel is sitting in a temperature-controlled vault someplace mislabeled or misplaced and forgotten.

In a post several years ago, I decided to take matters into my own hands and create a London holiday EP album for you by corralling all of her winter-season recordings and calling it Julie London Wishes You a Merry Christmas. This year, it's only fitting to once again remove the Plexiglas cover from the JazzWax turntable and lower the stylus on a self-produced Christmas classic using the sole six seasonal songs she recorded:

Here's I'd Like You for Christmas...

 

Here's Warm in December...

 

Here's I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm...

 

Here's Sleigh Ride in July...

 

Here's November Twilight...

 

And here's The Thirteenth Month...