Unheralded, Julie London is one of the great female singers of the 20th century. Smoky, languid and sensual, she belongs to a pre-rock, lounge culture that many wish would be revived. She's underrated because she doesn't possess the melodrama or self-possession of a Celine Dion and other nerve-shattering divas so annoying. She also wasn't helped by the corny TV show “Emergency,” in which she starred as a nurse in the 1970s, produced by her ex-husband, Jack Webb. But she's one sexy female and her “molten mezzo,” described by Bill Ballance on her first record in 1955, only got steamier in the ’60s when she made her best records for the Liberty label.

On the “Julie London Collection,” her vocals slide across every track like the hot kiss of a streetwalker. (Though in truth, she didn’t even start recording until after she had children). Once you hear her sultry, throaty voice on these tunes, you'll never forget it...and it will definitely put you “in the mood for love.”

This compilation pretty well covers her 14-year recording career. We especially like her straight pop recordings like “Wives and Lovers” and “Girl Talk,” though there are also plenty of racy insinuations on tunes like “House,” “Black Coffee” and “Making Whoopie” — the latter of which is intimate even as it is understated. Yet she also includes “Nice Girls Don’t Stay For Breakfast.”

Julie London always had a sly, tongue-in-cheek quality and with her smoky read of “Mickey Mouse March,” we're finally let in on the joke. (It's a classic children’s song and its choice as part of her repertoire — though rather odd — works much better than we thought it would). The same is true of her playfulness on the lushly-orchestrated “My Heart Belongs To Daddy” — which will make you smile. “Come On-A My House” — a breakthrough hit for Rosemary Clooney — gets a fine, jazzy treatment from Ms. London, who sings this in a much slower tempo. What a steamy rendition!

“You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To” — another classic — is truly a highlight of this album. Julie sings this without a superfluous note. “Blues In the Night,” penned by Harold Arlen, gets a fine interpretation from Julie London. “You And The Night And The Music” is another elegant tune that Julie was born to sing, and she does so sweetly. “Mad About The Boy” is a pop selection that London delivers with all her might.

There are 22 tracks on this album, with nice orchestrations including an intimate, two-piece combo (featuring the sublime Barney Kessel).

The only problem with this CD is the lousy cover art, which is cartoonish and inappropriate. Vinyl collectors prize any of Julie's albums for the great, sophisticated art direction. Though Capitol Records has done an exemplary job with its Ultra-Lounge series, this particular CD cover looks rather weak.

But it's the music that counts! So mix a shaker of martinis, put this CD on your player, turn down the lights, and curl up with your sugar!

To sample some of the tracks, click the speaker icon below to hear them. Then scroll down the page to order today!