JULIE LONDON — Yummy, Yummy, Yummy (review)

JULIE LONDON — Yummy, Yummy, Yummy album cover Album · 1969 · Exotica Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
UNOwen
In 1966, Julie recorded a smoky, sultry version of The Mickey Mouse Club March for her Nice Girls Don't Stay For Breakfast album.

In a way, that seemingly incongruous paring was a forerunner to what was to be her last album - both for Liberty, and, in general.

1969's Yummy, Yummy, Yummy - produced, arranged and orchestrated by Tommy Oliver, who discovered Joanie Summers and had worked with a variety of artists including Doris Day, Vikki Carr, Bob Lind and Jefferson Airplane.

With this Julie London album, his arrangements were full and lush, and Julie was every bit the stylist she ever was, but the material was far more contemporary and mainstream than anything she had yet attempted.

As time passed from it's initial release, the album faded, and, was only known of by collectors - of rarities, exotica, etc. I found out about the album in about '92, from Re/Search # 15, Incredibly Strange Music, Vol. 2.

I remember reading of the seeming incongruity of paring Ms. London - with her smoky, intimate voice, and (then) current pop.

WHile it wasn't outright laughed at by the author, it wasn't looked at with anything close to seriousness.

As this was before the internet - and CD's, while they exited, did NOT have a large selection, never mind out-of-print collector's choices, I had to look for Yummy. Yummy, Yummy (Y,Y,Y) on vinyl. Not a problem for me.

When I finally tracked the album down, I remember I was taken aback.

On listening to Louie, Louie, I immediately felt it sounded like a very early version of what would be called 'trance' music.

It begins with a bass guitar, piano opening, followed by a Moog synthesiser and a drum - playing a languorous beat - that goes on, only stopping for the song's vocal break.

I don't want to give a track-by-track overview. I wanted to highlight what is one of the album's main songs, and briefly discuss the album, as a whole.

I don't know whether Ms. London took recording the album seriously, or not. I would guess that, Ms. London - being a consummate professional - gave it her all, whatever her thoughts, and it shows.

I read somewhere (else) a person's one line review. He said: 'who wants to hear a middle-aged woman doing covers?'

I'd answer him by saying, it's irrelevant the person's age. It's their talent, and the end-result.

I think a big problem (that's only gotten worse over time), is people being dismissive of anyone who's not ridiculously young.

It's only with age, that a person's developed their craft - honed it.

Sure, sometimes the end result can be awful.

Yummy, Yummy, Yummy is NOT that case.

I like to think that Ms.London saw a bit of irony in it, but, as I said earlier, she gives it her best, and it's worth it.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Remy Le Boeuf’s Assembly Of Shadows : Heartland Radio Pop/Art Song/Folk
REMY LE BOEUF
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hummingbird and Four Flowers : Turntable and Harmonium Solo Live Jazz Related Improv/Composition
OTOMO YOSHIHIDE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Water Music Avant-Garde Jazz
IVO PERELMAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Lost Chord Jazz Related Improv/Composition
HENRY KAISER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hackensack West Post-Fusion Contemporary
ANTHONY WILSON
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

"Miles Between" // by Shawn Schlogel & Nancy Erickson Lamont
NANCY ERICKSON LAMONT
js· 13 hours ago
Mature Hybird Talking
FRANK GRATKOWSKI
js· 2 days ago
Perspective (Peace & Love)
ISAIAH COLLIER
js· 2 days ago
T-SQUARE 45th Anniversary Celebration Concert & Tour 2023 @Zepp Nagoya ?CLIMAX?
T-SQUARE
js· 3 days ago
Cravo E Canela (Cloves & Cinnamon)
LEE RITENOUR
js· 3 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed