Julie Andrews Sings is the second solo studio album by English actress and singer Julie Andrews, released in 1958 by RCA Victor.[1] It followed her debut album The Lass with the Delicate Air (1957) and features a repertoire centered on musical theater works and American popular song.
The album was recorded during a period when Andrews was already established on Broadway, and its selection reflects her association with musicals and the Great American Songbook. It was issued in various formats, including LP and an extended play (EP) with selected tracks, and was later reissued on compact disc (CD) and included in compilation releases.
Although it did not achieve major commercial success, the album received positive reviews from critics. 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.
Background
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. 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]
Release details
Julie Andrews Sings 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. In addition to the LP, the album was also released the same year on tape and as an EP that contained some songs from the full album.[5]
The album was officially released on CD twice, both as limited editions in Japan—first in mono in 1999 and then in stereo with a paper sleeve in 2002, both by RCA.[6][7] In 2008, British reissue label Flare Records took advantage of the 50-year copyright limit to release an unauthorized version, which received three and a half stars from AllMusic.[8] The following year, Avid Easy released Julie Andrews: Four Classic Albums, a two-CD compilation featuring four of her albums from the late 1950s (Songs of Sense & Nonsense – Tell It Again (1957), The Lass with the Delicate Air (1957), My Fair Lady (1959) and Julie Andrews Sings). AllMusic's William Ruhlmann rated it three and a half stars, noting that Andrews fans might find this reissue particularly interesting.[9]
In 1966, when the artist was at the peak of her career with her film productions Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, RCA of Australia declared "May Is Julie Andrews Month" and launched a promotional campaign featuring four albums by the beloved star: The Lass with the Delicate Air, Rose Marie, The Boy Friend, and Julie Andrews Sings.[11]
William Ruhlmann from AllMusic wrote 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.[12]
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.[13]
The Boys' Life magazine recommended the album in Bob Hood's column "Plater Chatter".[14]
Commercial 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.[15]
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