Julie London – Lady Sex

Julie’s 2nd to the last album for Liberty Records: EASY DOES IT was produced by Cal Carter, with good but not spectacular arrangements by Don Bagley (who was also Julie’s good friend an bass player on several albums and tours), Kirt Stuart and Allyn Ferguson.

Julie who had smoked like a chimney during her celebrated singing career spanning from 1955-1969 has a voice that has dropped nearly by a 5th from her first album for Liberty: Julie Is Her Name, but this excellent album goes back to her true roots of bluesy, sensual and smokey renditions of classic standards. Julie also still looks amazing and sensual on the cover at age 42, taken she had raised no few than 7 children (2 girls, Stacy and Lisa with Jack Webb-her first husband), (2 girls from Bobby Troups previous marriage) and Kelly and Twin boys Jody and Resse with Bobby.

Julie was first and foremost a loving housewife and mother that much preferred a quiet introverted lifestyle at her beautiful home in Encino to touring the nightclub circuit and portraying the sultry temptress. Julie would nearly suffer a mental/emotional breakdown during her Vegas engagements a year or two later, and ex-hubby Jack Webb would create the television show for Bobby and Julie to star in to get them both out of the nightclub circuit allowing them a more “normal” existence. Julie was a dedicated swimmer, and bookworm and enjoyed games at home and crossword puzzles. She also loved to entertain and was an amazing cook with a passion for Mexican food and chili. As a jazz vocalist/pianist myself I had met Julie and Bobby briefly in 1992 and I had worked with artists that were associated with Julie, mainly Julie’s famed guitarist Al Viola who told me a great deal about Julie’s private life as featured in my interviews in my book: Lady Liberty: The Definitive Julie London Handbook available from the link in the comment after this review.

I personally really enjoy this album and listen to it regularly. It is in my top 5 of Julie’s oeuvres. I found a copy of this album on vinyl at a record show held in Buena Park, California which Julie was kind enough to sign for me.

Julie in person was not much of a talker, a quiet shy gal, but extremely intellectual, with a rather sarcastic sense of humor that was refreshing, and first and foremost an elegant lady with a passion for music especially jazz. She was also a Ray Charles fanatic. Bobby on the other hand was bubbly, very outgoing and a conversationalist like myself.