Julie London - Send For Me

Japanese mini-LP packaging

One of the more unique Julie London recordings, Send for Me finds the ultra-lounge chanteuse mixing it up on 12 blues-based swingers. Far afield of the guitar and bass minimalism of the deservedly famous Julie Is Her Name recordings, Send for Me goes widescreen with full band and chorus charts by pianist Jimmy Rowles. While certainly no Dinah Washington, London manages well enough on these bluesy swingers with her mix of "come hither" sultriness and "he's done me wrong" swagger. For his part, Rowles provides top-drawer arrangements featuring equal parts of after-hours smokiness and big-band sophistication. Some may find the blues and gleeful choir combination a bit much, but Send for Me still succeeds with especially strong cuts like "Tain't What You Do," "Baby Come Home," "Evenin'," and "Cheatin' on Me." Another in a long line of fine albums London made for Liberty between the mid-'50s and early '60s.

Stephen Cook