June Christy's This Time of Year

[Teasing the Korean]

If you holiday cynics have only ONE Christmas album, this is the one to have!

Edited December 14, 2007 by Teasing the Korean

[Free For All]

I learned about this one on this board. I like it a lot, and I'm not particularly cynical.

[brownie]

One of the few June Christy albums this holiday cynic failed to purchase.

Will be looking for it in view of the recommendations. Hopefully for next year's Christmas!

[BruceH]

Love June Christy. I should check this one out.

[mikeweil]

This will have to wait until next year - it probably won't arrive before the holidays.

Please post your reminder early in November next year!

[AllenLowe]

who's the arranger? Rugolo?

[couw]

who's the arranger? Rugolo?

yes

[AllenLowe]

thank you Couw - we're getting along very well these days -

[couw]

thank you Couw - we're getting along very well these days -

I think it's something they put in the tap water

[AllenLowe]

actually, I did once suggest that they should put prozac in every city's drinking water - might just be happening right now - of course, for me, the alternative is the Clockwork Orange method -

[Teasing the Korean]

All the songs on this LP were written specifically for it. It's a concept album, of sorts, about someone trying to reconcile the idealization of the holiday season with the realities of life. Unusual for a Christmas album of this period to take such a view of things. Probably the most famous song on it is "The Merriest," which has shown up on a a few Capitol Christmas comps over the past ten years or so.

[BruceH]

I ordered it. Should get here in a few days.

[jazzbo]

I guess I should find it in my holdings and spin it. . . it is nearly Xmas.

I just. . . really don't spin Xmas music. This one is a good one though, enjoyed it last season.

[GARussell]

This will have to wait until next year - it probably won't arrive before the holidays.

Please post your reminder early in November next year!

Second!

[Kalo]

Maybe for next year...

[rockefeller center]

Maybe for next life...

[Teasing the Korean]

So who has listened to this since I posted this topic two years ago? This album is so great I allow myself to listen to it only once a season, I don't want to wear it out. God Pete Rugolo is so great.

[carnivore]

June has always been my favorite singer and I didn't even know of this album! Is it the same general period as 'The Misty...' and 'Fair and Warmerr?

[Teasing the Korean]

June has always been my favorite singer and I didn't even know of this album! Is it the same general period as 'The Misty...' and 'Fair and Warmerr?

Yes, 1961, Capitol, with Pete Rugolo.

[GA Russell]

This will have to wait until next year - it probably won't arrive before the holidays.

Please post your reminder early in November next year!

Second!

I forgot about this!

Since everyone has dropped the ball about reminding the rest of us in early November, TTK I appoint you to do so next November.

[Teasing the Korean]

Since everyone has dropped the ball about reminding the rest of us in early November, TTK I appoint you to do so next November.

It's on my calendar. In the interim, do you guys need me to pick up anything from the supermarket while I'm out?

[Norm]

TTK, thanks for the recommendation.

I have never listened to June Christy and am not familiar with her sound, but I saw this album mentioned in a thread related to Christmas music from a few years ago. How would you describe her sound/genre? And I'm quite curious about the theme of the album as you described it in one of the posts above -- does she reconcile these two things with more of a melancholy, hopeful or some other feeling/sound?

[BruceH]

So who has listened to this since I posted this topic two years ago? This album is so great I allow myself to listen to it only once a season, I don't want to wear it out. God Pete Rugolo is so great.

I got it two years ago and really dug it. Sometimes I even play it outside the holidays.

[GA Russell]

Since everyone has dropped the ball about reminding the rest of us in early November, TTK I appoint you to do so next November.

It's on my calendar. In the interim, do you guys need me to pick up anything from the supermarket while I'm out?

TTK, you're making me laugh!

[Teasing the Korean]

I have never listened to June Christy and am not familiar with her sound, but I saw this album mentioned in a thread related to Christmas music from a few years ago. How would you describe her sound/genre? And I'm quite curious about the theme of the album as you described it in one of the posts above -- does she reconcile these two things with more of a melancholy, hopeful or some other feeling/sound?

She started out as one of Stan Kenton's singers, after Anita O'Day and after (I think) Chris Conner. Vocally, I think she is kind of similar to Chris Conner. Her voice has both a dark timbre but also has a bounce and conveys a sense of lightness, if that makes sense. Her best albums were done for Capitol (after Kenton) with arrangements by THEE GREAT PETE RUGOLO. I would start with either "Something Cool," "Gone for the Day" or "The Misty Miss Christy." If you get "Something Cool," be sure you're getting the original mono (the stereo was a re-record). Avoid her volume in the Capitol "Great Ladies of Song" series. It focuses too much on ballads and is not a good representation of her style overall, IMHO.