Gone For The Day

by June Christy

Product Description:

2 LPs on 1 CD: GONE FOR THE DAY (1957)/FAIR & WARMER (1957).

Personnel includes: June Christy (vocals); Pete Rugolo (arranger); Bud Shank, Bob Cooper, Don Fagerquist, Frank Rosolino, Shelly Manne.

Apart from Sinatra and Nat "King" Cole, the '50s Capitol artist most reissued by that august label in recent years has been the former Stan Kenton "Something Cool" singer, June Christy. The autumnal GONE FOR THE DAY is perhaps the singer's most relaxed and listenable session ever. Of all the major '50s jazz vocalists, Christy was probably the most technically limited, hindered by problems of pitch and timing her whole career. No matter, since she showed such independent good judgement in songs, in collaborators, and in knowing what was right for her.

Skillfully arranged by her most trusted collaborator, Pete Rugolo, GONE is a "theme" album largely centered around songs celebrating quiet days spent in and out of doors. Opening appropriately enough with Alec Wilder's "It's So Peaceful In The Country" and featuring a lyric-added Kenton theme "Interlude" as well as that most ubiquitous of '50s cult songs, "Lazy Afternoon," GONE succeeds splendidly in evoking happy moments spent in a quiet place. FAIR AND WARMER finds Christy and Rugolo reunited the following year for a slightly more "swinging" but still high quality session.