Something Cool

Last updated
Something Cool
Something Cool.jpg
Studio album by
June Christy
ReleasedAugust 2, 1954 Capitol H516
August 1, 1955 Capitol T516
October 15, 1960 Capitol ST516
Recorded1953, 1954, 1955, 1960
Genre Vocal jazz
Label Capitol
Producer Lee Gillette
June Christy chronology
Something Cool
(1954)		 Duet
(1955)
Stereo issue cover art
Somethingcoolstereocover.jpeg
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [1]
Penguin Guide to Jazz 👑 [2]

Something Cool is the debut solo album by June Christy, released on Capitol Records first as a 10-inch LP of seven selections in August of 1954, and then as a 12-inch LP of eleven selections the following August, both times in monophonic sound. The original seven selections for the 1954 release were recorded over seven sessions from August of 1953 through March of 1954, with the additional four for the 1955 issue from four additional sessions in December of 1954 as well as May and June of 1955, with arrangements for all sessions written and conducted by Pete Rugolo. [3] Her saxophonist husband, Bob Cooper, also played on many of these sessions. [1] In April of 1960, Christy and Rugolo re-recorded all 11 selections in stereophonic sound, so that a stereo version of Something Cool could be issued. For many years, this re-recorded version of the album was the only one commercially available.

Contents

Background and reception

Christy had been associated with "cool" jazz since her vocal work with the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the 1940s and early 1950s. [4] Hired by Kenton to replace departed singer Anita O'Day, Christy's tenure with Kenton included sessions for his Innovations Orchestra in 1950 and 1951. [5] Arranger Rugolo worked for the Kenton big band in the late 1940s during Christy's tenure, and in addition to husband Cooper many of the players on sessions for this album were Kenton alumni — Milt Bernhart, Conte Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, John Graas, Skeets Herfurt, Shelly Manne, George Roberts, Shorty Rogers, Frank Rosolino, and Bud Shank. As well as launching her career as a solo artist, according to jazz writer John Bush Something Cool was responsible for launching the cool movement in jazz singing. [6]

The original ten-inch mono album peaked at #8 on the Billboard Best-Selling Popular Albums chart published January 8, 1955, the precursor to the Billboard 200. [7] A compact disc reissue comprising both the 1955 mono LP and the 1960 stereo LP has been awarded a rare "crown" accolade by The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings . [8] Will Friedwald placed the album on his desert island discs list in the 1996 republication of Jazz Singing, [9] stating in his 2010 tome A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers that:

"...it's closer to being a perfect album, in every respect, than most of the albums made by superior jazz singers, like O'Day and Fitzgerald." [10]

Release history

Something Cool was released first as a ten-inch LP in 1954, and then upgraded to a twelve-inch LP in 1955 with four additional tracks for the expanding albums market. Notably, the 1955 edition was re-recorded for stereo by Christy and Rugolo, with variations in session musicians, in its entirety over three days, April 26-28 1960, and released again under the same title in 1960. [11] The 1960 stereo version had the same track listing in the same order as the 1955 mono version, but with a variant on the original cover art.

A compact disc reissue appeared in 1991 comprising the eleven tracks of the original 12-inch 1955 LP with an additional 13 tracks, all mono recordings from August 14, 1953, through July 28, 1955, with arrangements by Rugolo. Controversially, the songs were sequenced in the order they were recorded, meaning that this package did not duplicate the original running sequence of the album. Ten of the bonus tracks for this release had appeared as both sides of five singles; one track, "Until the Real Thing Comes Along," first appeared on the 1958 compilation This Is June Christy, while the two remaining tracks were first issued on this 1991 compact disc. Although the 24 tracks on this reissue are all mono recordings, the cover art for the stereo edition was used. No information is given as to what, if any, remastering techniques were used for analog to digital conversion.

In 2001 a further compact disc reissue appeared, 22 tracks with the entirety of both the 1955 mono and the 1960 stereo LPs in correct original running order. For this issue, recordings were remastered using 24-bit Super Bit Mapping, and the 1960 stereo recordings were remixed from the original three-track tapes. [12] This edition garnered the crown status by the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. [13]

Track listing

The original ten-inch LP comprised the first three songs on side one below, and the first four songs of side two below. Those running orders were duplicated with two tracks added to each side for the twelve-inch LP, as below. The 1960 twelve-inch stereo LP duplicated the running order of the 1955 mono twelve-inch LP, and the 2001 compact disc repeats the order in stereo after the mono.

Side one

Side two

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Midnight Sun" Lionel Hampton, Sonny Burke, Johnny Mercer3:16
2."I'll Take Romance" Ben Oakland, Oscar Hammerstein II 2:21
3."A Stranger Called the Blues" Mel Tormé, Robert Wells 3:59
4."I Should Care" Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl 2:11
5."Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" Sigmund Romberg, Oscar Hammerstein II2:21
6."I'm Thrilled" Sidney Lippman, Sylvia Dee 2:43

1991 compact disc reissue

No.TitleWriter(s)Original issueLength
1."Not I"Sammy Gallop, Dick Manning Capitol F2590 
2."Whee Baby" Peggy Lee, Alice LarsonCapitol F2590b 
3."Why Do You Have to Go Home"Larry Gilbert, Lee TompkinsCapitol F2664b 
4."You're Making Me Crazy"Roy Alfred, Bill DarlelCapitol F2664 
5."Something Cool" Billy Barnes Something Cool Capitol H516 
6."Magazines" Dick Rogers, Jimmy Eaton, Larry Wagner Capitol F2765b 
7."Midnight Sun" Lionel Hampton, Sonny Burke, Johnny Mercer Something Cool Capitol H516 
8."Lonely House" Kurt Weill, Langston Hughes Something Cool Capitol H516 
9."I Should Care" Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl Something Cool Capitol H516 
10."It Could Happen to You" Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke Something Cool Capitol H516 
11."The First Thing You Know, You're in Love" Mel Tormé, Robert Wells Capitol F2765 
12."A Stranger Called the Blues"Mel TorméSomething Cool Capitol H516 
13."I'll Take Romance" Ben Oakland, Oscar Hammerstein II Something Cool Capitol H516 
14."Look Out Up There" Milt Raskin, Pete Rugolo Capitol F3375b 
15."Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" Sigmund Romberg, Oscar Hammerstein IISomething Cool Capitol T516 
16."Out of Somewhere" Jimmy Giuffre previously unreleased 
17."Love Doesn't Live Here Anymore" Frederick Martin Lehman previously unreleased 
18."I'm Thrilled" Sidney Lippman, Sylvia Dee Something Cool Capitol T516 
19."This Time the Dream's on Me" Harold Arlen, Johnny MercerSomething Cool Capitol T516 
20."The Night We Called It a Day" Matt Dennis, Tom Adair Something Cool Capitol T516 
21."Kicks" Michael Barr, Marvin FisherCapitol F3213 
22."Pete Kelly's Blues" Ray Heindorf, Sammy Cahn Capitol F3213b 
23."Until the Real Thing Comes Along"Holiner, Nicholas, Chaplin, Cahn, FreedmanThis Is June Christy Capitol T1006 
24."I Never Want to Look into Those Eyes Again"Milt Raskin, Johnny MercerCapitol F3375 

Collective personnel

Production personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Rugolo</span> American jazz composer, arranger, and record producer (1915–2011)

Pietro Rugolo, known professionally as Pete Rugolo, was an American jazz composer, arranger, and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">June Christy</span> American singer

June Christy was an American singer, known for her work in the cool jazz genre and for her silky smooth vocals. Her success as a singer began with The Stan Kenton Orchestra. She pursued a solo career from 1954 and is best known for her debut album Something Cool. After her death, she was hailed as "one of the finest and most neglected singers of her time."

<i>After Midnight</i> (Nat King Cole album) 1957 studio album by Nat King Cole

After Midnight is a 1957 jazz album by "Nat King Cole and his trio" on Capitol Records. It peaked at #13 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Albums chart. The Penguin Guide to Jazz listed the album as part of its suggested “core collection”.

<i>Dig</i> (Miles Davis album) 1956 compilation album by Miles Davis

Dig is an album by Miles Davis on Prestige Records, catalogue number 7012. It features tracks from a 1951 session at Apex Studios. First released in the 12-inch LP format in 1956, The original album was later released as Diggin' with the catalogue number PR 7281 and a different cover. Dig was reissued as a compact disc with additional tracks.

Arthur Relsmond "Skeets" Herfurt was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist.

<i>Open Sesame</i> (Freddie Hubbard album) 1960 studio album by Freddie Hubbard

Open Sesame is the debut album by then 22 years old trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, recorded on June 19, 1960 by Rudy Van Gelder at his studio in Englewood Cliffs, NJ and released on the Blue Note label in 1960 in mono as BLP 4040 and in stereo as BST 84040. It features performances by Hubbard, Tina Brooks, McCoy Tyner, Sam Jones and Clifford Jarvis. In 1988, Capitol Records issued it on compact disc with Michael Cuscuna as reissue producer and in 2001, they released a version remastered by Rudy Van Gelder.

<i>Stan Getz and J. J. Johnson at the Opera House</i> 1957 live album by Stan Getz

Stan Getz and J.J. Johnson at the Opera House is a 1957 live album by Stan Getz and J. J. Johnson. They were accompanied by the Oscar Peterson trio and Connie Kay on drums. Two different versions of the same material, one recorded in Chicago and one recorded in Los Angeles by the same musicians, were released by Verve under the same title. One recording was mono and the other was stereo.

<i>Blue Rose</i> (album) 1956 studio album by Rosemary Clooney and Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

Blue Rose is the debut studio album by Rosemary Clooney, in collaboration with Duke Ellington and his orchestra, released in mono on Columbia Records, catalogue CL 872. Although she had appeared on albums before, it had been in the context of either a musical theater or multiple artist recording. The album also marked the return of Ellington to Columbia after an absence of four years, and was one of the first examples of overdubbing being used as an integral part of the creation, rather than for effects or to correct mistakes.

<i>Swingin New Big Band</i> 1966 live album by Buddy Rich

Swingin' New Big Band is a 1966 live album by Buddy Rich and his big band.

<i>The Legendary Prestige Quintet Sessions</i> 2006 box set by Miles Davis

The Legendary Prestige Quintet Sessions is a four compact disc box set of recordings by the Miles Davis Quintet released in 2006 by the Concord Music Group. It collates on three discs the entire set of recordings that made up the Prestige Records albums released from 1956 through 1961 — Miles, Cookin', Relaxin', Workin', and Steamin'. The track "'Round Midnight" was released on the album Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants. The fourth disc contains live material from a television broadcast and in jazz club settings. It peaked at #15 on the Billboard jazz album chart, and was reissued on December 2, 2016, in a smaller compact disc brick packaging.

<i>City of Glass</i> (Stan Kenton album) 1951 studio album by Stan Kenton

City of Glass, an album originally issued as a 10" LP by Stan Kenton, consists entirely of the music of Bob Graettinger. The original album has been reconstituted in different LP re-issues, and the entire set of Kenton/Graettinger Capitol Records sessions is on the digital CD City of Glass.

<i>Kentons West Side Story</i> 1961 studio album by Stan Kenton

Kenton's West Side Story is an album by the Stan Kenton Orchestra recorded in 1961 and released by Capitol Records. It won the Grammy Award in 1962 for Best Jazz Performance – Large Group (Instrumental). The album was recorded in 1961 and released quickly to take advantage of the movie premiere of the musical West Side Story. Kenton won his first Grammy Award and he won again the next year in the same category with Adventures in Jazz. Kenton's West Side Story peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard magazine album chart.

<i>Stan Kenton Presents</i> 1950 studio album by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra

Stan Kenton Presents is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton with his "Innovations" Orchestra featuring performances recorded in 1950 and originally released as 78 RPM records and a 10-inch LP on Capitol before being reissued in 12-inch LP format in 1955.

<i>Artistry in Rhythm</i> 1946 studio album by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra

Artistry in Rhythm is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton featuring performances recorded in 1946 and originally released on the Capitol label as four 78rpm discs, reissued as a 10-inch (25 cm) LP in 1953, and then as a 12-inch (30 cm) LP in 1955 with additional tracks.

<i>Encores</i> (Stan Kenton album) 1949 studio album by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra

Encores is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton featuring performances recorded in 1945–47 and originally released on the Capitol label as three 78rpm discs in 1949, reissued as a 10-inch LP in 1950, and then as a 12-inch LP in 1955 with additional tracks.

<i>A Presentation of Progressive Jazz</i> 1948 studio album by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra

A Presentation of Progressive Jazz is a 1948 jazz album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton.

<i>Kenton in Hi-Fi</i> 1956 studio album by Stan Kenton

Kenton in Hi-Fi is an album by bandleader and pianist Stan Kenton featuring performances of Kenton's signature compositions from the 1940s recorded in 1956 and released on the Capitol label. This album was re-released as 'Kenton in Stereo' in 1959. A 7-1/2 i.p.s.stereo reel tape - Catalog no. ZDS -10 - was recorded by Capitol and released in 1956. Apparently the stereo mix for the reel tape is unique, but the same stereo master tape was probably used for the stereo vinyl LP record.

<i>Stan Kenton Classics</i> 1952 compilation album by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra

Stan Kenton Classics is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton compiling performances recorded between 1945 and 1947 and originally collected on the Capitol label as a 10-inch LP in 1950 then reissued as a 12-inch LP with additional tracks in 1955.

<i>The Innovations Orchestra</i> 1997 compilation album by Stan Kenton and the Innovations Orchestra

The Innovations Orchestra is a compilation album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton's "Innovations" Orchestra featuring performances recorded in 1950 and 1951. The CD includes the albums Innovations in Modern Music and Stan Kenton Presents and was released by Capitol in 1997.

<i>Adventures in Rhythm</i> 1954 studio album by Pete Rugolo and His Orchestra

Adventures in Rhythm is an album by bandleader, composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo featuring performances recorded in 1954 and originally released on the Columbia label as a 12-inch LP.

References

  1. 1 2 AllMusic review.
  2. ↑ "Penguin Guide to Jazz: 4-Star Records in 8th Edition". Tom Hull . Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  3. ↑ June Christy Discography retrieved 31 March 2024
  4. ↑ Holden, New York Times.
  5. ↑ Friedwald, Will. A Biographical Guide to the Greatest Jazz and Pop Singers. New York: Pantheon Books, 2010, ISBN 978-0-375-42149-5, p. 85.
  6. ↑ AllMusic website biography retrieved 31 March 2024.
  7. ↑ World Radio History website retrieved 31 March 2024
  8. ↑ Cook, Richard, and Morton, Brian, editors. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings , ninth edition. London: Penguin Books Ltd., 2008, ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0, p. 251.
  9. ↑ Friedwald, Will. Jazz Singing - America's Great Voices from Bessie Smith to Bebop and Beyond. New York: Da Capo Press, 1996 ISBN 0-306-80712-2, p. 435.
  10. ↑ Friedwald, Guide, p. 86.
  11. ↑ June Christy discography retrieved 31 March 2024.
  12. ↑ Something Cool. Capitol Jazz 7243 5 34069 2 9, 2001, liner notes.
  13. ↑ Tom Hull Crown Albums list retrieved 8 April 2024.
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.