Search - June Christy :: Big Band Specials

Wow!

10/02/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just a note: The original vocal of "Skyliner" was a hit single on Decca by Carmen McRae. That aside, "Big Band Specials" was a big Capitol project for June and it's a bombastic production. Swinging' arrangements, great singing and propulsive start to finish. She's obviously loving what she's doing. Shorty Rogers' arrangement for "Prelude to a Kiss," incidentally, popped almost identically for a cut on Lena Horne's "Lena Like Latin" and was great both times. This album was recorded carefully so June would not be overwhelmed by the band. This album was followed by its exact opposite, "The Intimate Miss Christy." This is the Wow Miss Christy."

She's always great; here the band matches her

Robert C. Topper | Richardson, Texas | 07/30/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of all the vocalists to have come out of the big band era, June Christy has always been one of my favorites. After she left Stan Kenton and went solo, she recorded a wealth of great music, and we are fortunate that so much of her repertoire has been reissued recently. Unfortunately, as a big band fan, I can't say that I have always been thrilled with the arrangements Pete Rugolo used in many of her Capitol albums. Too often, he would overuse the trombones to the near exclusion of the reeds. Now don't get me wrong; I think a trombone chorus behind a female singer can create a great contrast (and my brother plays symphonic trombone), but many of those recordings seem to be missing an element of the big band sound. Not so with this album, which has solid arrangements with a full band sound and outstanding sidemen. Except for "Prelude to a Kiss", which does lose a little of the intimacy that June had in the duet version with Kenton, none of these tunes are the common ones she recorded with other bands. I believe that this is the only vocal version of Charlie Barnet's "Skyliner" that I have ever heard, and I also enjoy Jimmy Dorsey's "Time Was". My complaint: many of the cuts are too short, particularly "Swingin' on Nothin'" and "Frenesi"."

Vintage Christy--Like a GOOD mellow WINE

Robert C. Topper | 06/15/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Listening to June is like hearing the Angles sing.The sweet tones coming from her vocal pipes is like the bitter end!"