YUMMY, YUMMY, YUMMY   -   Julie London

YEAR:  1969
LABEL:  Liberty
TRACK LISTING:  Stoned Soul Picnic,  Like To Get To Know You,  Light My Fire,  It's Nice To Be With You,  Sunday Morning,  Hushabye Mountain,  The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo),  Come To Me Slowly,  And I Love Him,  Without Him,  Yummy Yummy Yummy,  Louie Louie
IMPRESSIONS:  One of the prime delirious examples of older performers in the 60's who try to make music that "the kids will dig".  Julie London however doesn't sound as totally at sea as most singers who try this trick; however, she is obviously in unfamiliar territory.  But this is what makes such a treasure trove of loungy lusciousness as London trades on her sultry image and smoky voice while negotiating the tricky (for her generation) tempos of contemporary pop hits by such trippy acts as the 5th Dimension, Spanky and Our Gang and the Ohio Express.  Her version of the Doors' "Light My Fire" is breathtaking (in whatever way you choose to interpret the word) while her slow version of "Louie Louie" is simply . . . well, unexpected would perhaps be the best word.  None of this implies bad, I'll have you know.  This isn't a "so bad it's good" album by any means.  London knows what she's doing musically (even if the goal itself may be questionable) and we have here a great "late lounge music" record.  If you don't "get" this album then the angels weep for you.
MY FAVOURITE TRACKS:  Stoned Soul Picnic,  Like To Get To Know You,  Sunday Morning,  Hushabye Mountain,  Come To Me Slowly,  And I Love Him,  Without Him,  Yummy Yummy Yummy,  Louie Louie
FACT SHEET:  YUMMY, YUMMY, YUMMY is Julie London's 30th album.  Can that be right?!?!  It was also her final album for Liberty Records:  her label since 1955.  "Stoned Soul Picnic" was written by Laura Nyro and was a hit for the 5th Dimension.  "Like To Get To Know You" and "Sunday Morning" are covers of Spanky & Our Gang songs.  "Light My Fire" is a Doors cover.  "It's Nice To Be With You" is a Monkees cover song.  "Hushabye Mountain" was written by Richard & Robert Sherman for "CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG".  "The Mighty Quinn" is a Bob Dylan cover.  "And I Love Him" is a cover of the Beatles' "And I Love Her".  "Without Him" is a cover of Harry Nilsson's "Without Her".  "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy" is a cover of an Ohio Express hit single.  "Louie Louie" is a cover of Richard Berry's hit also covered by countless other artists.