Julie Andrews Sings is the second solo studio album by English actress and singer Julie Andrews, released in 1958 by RCA Victor.[1] Following her debut album, The Lass with the Delicate Air (1957), which focused on English folk songs, this release marked a shift toward a repertoire of musical theater classics.[2] The album was recorded during a period when Andrews was gaining prominence for her role as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady on Broadway, reflecting her rising status in the entertainment industry.[2]
The album features compositions by some of the most celebrated songwriters of the 20th century, including Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, and Noël Coward, among others.[3] With arrangements and conducting by Irwin Kostal, Andrews' performances emphasize her clear soprano voice and precise delivery.[4] The tracklist includes a mix of sentimental ballads and theatrical numbers, highlighting her versatility as an interpreter of diverse musical styles. It represents a deliberate turn toward the Broadway and American Songbook traditions.
Overall, the album was seen as a competent but not groundbreaking effort, with Andrews' vocal prowess acknowledged even as critics called for more emotional depth and variety in her performances.
William Ruhlmann from AllMusic website awarded the album three and a half out of five stars, noting that while Andrews demonstrated her ability to sing, the album did not fully showcase her range. The reviewer highlighted her familiarity with British composers like Noël Coward and Ivor Novello, suggesting that her best performances were reserved for their works. However, the critic felt the album could have benefited from livelier selections to balance the string-filled ballads.[3]
John S. Wilson, The New York Times's music critic, compared Julie Andrews Sings to her debut album, The Lass with the Delicate Air, noting that while she moved from folk songs to show tunes, she remained too reserved to fully connect with the material. The critic observed that Andrews' performances lacked the emotional depth needed to convincingly interpret the works of composers like Gershwin, Kern, and Rodgers.[2]Cash Box magazine offered a more positive take, describing the album as a "superb attraction to the musical-comedy set". The review emphasized Andrews' precise phrasing and her ability to connect with her American audience through songs by American composers.[5]
The critic from DownBeat magazine appreciated Andrews' "clear, meadow-brook soprano" and her cool, disciplined charm. The critic found her voice enchanting, particularly for fans who enjoyed her performance in My Fair Lady.[4]Billboard had a more critical view, suggesting that the album did not fully succeed in showcasing Andrews' talents. The review described her as charming in sentimental numbers but compared her to a "coy British version of Shirley Temple" in others. Despite these criticisms, the reviewer acknowledged that staunch fans of Andrews might still appreciate the album.[6]
The Boys' Life magazine recommended the album in Bob Hood's column "Plater Chatter".[7]
Comercial performance
According to Robert Windeler, writer of Julie Andrews — A Biography, Andrews's solo albums released between the late 1950s and early 1960s, like Julie Andrews Sings, did not do well in sales, which prevented her from making more albums later on.[8]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
