Julie London's Holiday Album, 2022

Once again, it's time for Julie London's Christmas album that never was. I started this tradition eight years ago because, for whatever reason, the singer never recorded an album of holiday favorites, just one side of a Liberty 45 in 1957. Why she'd release a single side but not a full-blown LP remains puzzling, to say the least.

So in 2014, I assembled all of her seasonal tracks for a faux streaming release of my own. As JazzWax readers know, London is a favorite. She had a cool, sultry singing style that never felt forced. Her sophisticated, hip phrasing was deeply nocturnal and consistently relaxed. And she loved off-beat songs and aced them with a beckoning delivery backed by seemingly effortless vocal power. Her movie star looks have nothing to do with her appeal for me. It's her underappreciated jazz voice and with-it disposition that knocks me out.

Her sole holiday side of a 45—I'd Like You for Christmas (1957)—was written by her husband, Bobby Troup. Did London avoid an album because it was square? Or did her label, Liberty Records, decide to avoid one to preserve her cool image? Or maybe she did record one but it's lost among dozens of other forgotten reels in some vault.

Whatever the reason, I asked myself in 2014, “Why should we be London-less this time of year?" So I crafted a London holiday album by assembling her winter-themed tracks at JazzWax. I playfully named it Julie London Wishes You a Merry Christmas. I see that some have lifted the idea as their own on YouTube, creating a cover that looks as if London had recorded such an album, going so far as to use my title and order of presentation. Makes no difference to me. Imitation is the most delightful form of flattery.

This Christmas weekend, it's time once again to give a listen to my phantom London holiday classic using eight seasonal songs. Happy holidays, to one and all:

Here's I'd Like You for Christmas...



Here's Warm in December...



Here's I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm...



Here's Sleigh Ride in July...



Here's November Twilight...



Here's The Thirteenth Month...



Here's The Party's Over...



And here's London with Pat Boone singing Winter Wonderland on TV's Pat Boone in Hollywood in 1967...