Julie London's Holiday Album

Once again, it's time for the Julie London Christmas album that never was. I started this tradition nine years ago because, for whatever reason, the singer never recorded an album of holiday favorites. All we have is the B-side of a Liberty 45 released in 1957—I'd Like You for Christmas, written by her soon-to-be husband, Bobby Troup. Why she'd release a single side but not a full-blown LP remains puzzling, to say the least. [Photo above of Bobby Troup and Julie London in the studio]

So in 2014, I assembled all of her seasonal tracks for a faux streaming release of my own. As JazzWax readers know, London is a favorite of mine. She had a cool, sultry singing style that never felt forced. Her sophisticated, hip phrasing was deeply nocturnal and consistently relaxed. And she loved off-beat songs and aced them with a beckoning delivery and terrific range backed by seemingly effortless vocal power. Her movie-star looks have nothing to do with her appeal for me. It's her underappreciated jazz voice and scene-making phrasing that knock me out.

Did London avoid a holiday album because recording one would be square? Or did her label, Liberty Records, decide to avoid one to preserve her cool image? Or maybe she did record one but it's lost among dozens of other forgotten reels in some vault.

Whatever the reason, I asked myself in 2014, "Why should we be London-less this time of year?" So I crafted a London holiday album by assembling her winter-themed tracks and playfully named the post Julie London Wishes You a Merry Christmas. On Spotify and YouTube, I see that someone has positioned my idea as their own, creating a cover that looks as if London had recorded such an album. They even went so far as to use my title and order of presentation. Makes no difference to me. Imitation is the most delightful form of flattery.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of my readers:

Here's I'd Like You for Christmas with the Johnny Mann Singers and Mann conducting...

Here's Warm December...

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

Here's Sleigh Ride in July...

Here's November Twilight...

Here's The Thirteenth Month...

Here's The Party's Over...

And here's London with Pat Boone singing Winter Wonderland on TV's Pat Boone in Hollywood in 1967...