Something Cool by June Christy

June Christy is one of the cool, hip West Coast big band singers that'll have you pouring a scotch on the rocks just to try and get that tone. There are some tunes on this album that are so kitsch that they glide quickly into being classic. You'll find yourself suddenly humming something like "magazines - are magic for lonely people" and know that your subconscious is overflowing with these tunes. Harder maybe is whistling the intro to Midnight Sun (go on - try it).

Something Cool, the title track, is an evocative vignette, as much a piece of theatre as a moving jazz ballad. Christy's phrasing is so fluid - she just glides along. But my absolute favourite, the one that has me dancing and waving my hands along is written by yet another cool, fab singer, Peggy Lee (hey, grrl bonding), a swinging ditty called Whee Baby. This song doesn't just have an outrageous title - it's got an outlandish plot too! I mean, you've gotta be cool to pull that off and keep it from dating. Because this isn't a new release, just another great album in the land of reissues. Words and rhythm, that's what this is about, and a kick ass big band with some great arrangements.

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