JUNE CHRISTY — The Misty Miss Christy (1956-1992) Mono | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Using Anita Day as starting point -- but eschewing many of her scat-song histrionics in favor of pure tonal power and melancholic shading -- June Christy honed her singing skills with Stan Kenton's band before going solo in the '50s. Christy's relatively accessible vocal approach and blonde good looks eventually helped her gain success with such classic long players as Something Cool and The Misty Miss Christy. Less swinging than Something Cool, The Misty Miss Christy mostly stays on auto-stroll with a wealth of subtle and sophisticated orchestral charts. The jazz-pop environs come courtesy of longtime arranger Pete Rugolo and optimally frame the singer on highlights like "That's All," "I Didn't Know About You," and "Dearly Beloved." With West Coast-style brass and reed accents gliding atop the lush strings, Christy also turns in fine renditions of Monk's "Round Midnight" and Russ Freeman's expressionistically torchy "The Wind." Balancing out the predominant autumnal lull, Christy shows her swinging savvy on breezy gems like "Sing Something Simple," "There's No You," and "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening." Both an essential Christy title and one of the best vocal albums from the '50s. Stephen Cook
Tracklist :
1    That's All 3:20
Alan Brandt / Bob Haymes
2    I Didn't Know About You 2:51
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell
3    Day Dream 2:58
Duke Ellington / John Latouche / Billy Strayhorn
4    Sing Something Simple 2:15
Herman Hupfeld
5    Maybe You'll Be There 2:50
Rube Bloom / Sammy Gallop
6    Dearly Beloved 1:36
Jerome Kern / Johnny Mercer
7    'Round Midnight 3:57
Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams
8    A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening 2:22
Harold Adamson / Jimmy McHugh
9    Wind 3:46
Russ Freeman / Gladstone
10    This Year's Kisses 2:02
Irving Berlin
11    For All We Know  2:50
J. Fred Coots / Sam M. Lewis
12    There's No You 2:11
Tom Adair / George Durgom / Hal Hopper
13    You Took Advantage of Me 2:29
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
14    Intrigue 2:19
Ervin Drake / Paul Durand
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Bud Shank (tracks: 13, 14), Harry Klee (tracks: 13, 14)
Baritone Saxophone – Bob Gordon (tracks: 1 to 12), Chuck Gentry (tracks: 13, 14)
Bass – Harry Babasin (tracks: 1 to 12), Joe Mondragon
Conductor, Arranged By – Pete Rugolo
Drums – Alvin Stoller (tracks: 13, 14), Larry Bunker (tracks: 1 to 12), Shelly Manne (tracks: 1 to 12)
Flute – Bud Shank, Harry Klee
French Horn – John Graas (tracks: 1 to 12)
Guitar – Howard Roberts, Laurindo Almeida (tracks: 1 to 12)
Harp – Corky Hale (tracks: 1 to 12)
Percussion – Larry Bunker (tracks: 13, 14)
Piano – Benny Aronov (tracks: 13, 14), Claude Williamson (tracks: 1 to 12)
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Cooper
Trombone – Dick Noel (tracks: 1 to 12), Frank Rosolino (tracks: 1 to 12), George Roberts, Harry Betts, Herbie Harper, Milt Bernhart (tracks: 13, 14)
Trumpet – Conrad Gozzo (tracks: 13, 14), Maynard Ferguson (tracks: 13, 14), Pete Candoli