Search - June Christy :: Cool Christy

Outstanding collection of June's early years

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 01/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stan Kenton was a great bandleader of the forties. Unlike (say) Glenn Miller, Stan placed great importance on vocalists as well as musicians. He was so successful in identifying raw talent that he is best remembered for the ladies who sang for him - Anita O' Day, Chris Connor and especially June Christy. His work with June dominates this collection, which includes most of her recordings from Tampico in May 1945 up to Easy Street in September 1951. Later recordings are available separately. If you are thinking of buying this collection, you probably have most of her later albums already.



What this collection shows is that June could sing a variety of songs. She could swing when required (as on Get happy, of which there are two different versions here) but that the ballads suited her best, even then. This collection features June singing classic songs of the period - How high the moon, Wrap your troubles in dreams, Lover man, September in the rain and I'll remember April among them - as well as lesser known gems, all sung beautifully by June. The backing is more obviously jazz than her later music.



The music contained in this set may not be quite up to the standard that June achieved in the fifties with such classic albums as Something cool, The misty Miss Christy, The song is June, Gone for the day and Fair and warmer, but it is not far behind and will be much appreciated by June's fans everywhere."