Search - Julia Lee :: Proper Introduction to Julia Lee: That's What I

Risque R&B Never Done Better

12/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Julia Lee was born on October 31, 1902 in Boonville, Missouri and at age 44 had her first of what would become 12 hit singles for Capitol and Capitol American when Gotta Gimme Whatcha Got reached # 3 on the Harlem Hit Parade (HHP), the forerunner of the current R&B charts, in December, 1946. The risque lyrics, already introduced in an earlier uncharted tune (Come On Over To My House in 1944) would become the norm for most of her ensuing hits, a couple of which would become the biggest R&B hits of all time.



Billed to Julia Lee And Her Boy Friends, a band that would included some giants of the industry, those two were followed in late May 1947 by I'll Get Along Somehow which topped out at # 5 HHP featuring teno saxophonist Dave Cavanaugh, all three released on Capitol, and in August by My Sin on Capitol American which, although not making the HHP, did score at # 25 on the Pop charts featuring Red Nichols on trumpet and Red Norvo on the xylophone, giving her three decent introductory hit singles. But they paled in comparison to (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It, which climbed to # 1 HHP late in 1947 and remained at that position for twelve solid weeks, again on Capitol American, and again featuring Norvo and Cavanaugh. It also charted at # 24 Pop.



The delightful King Size Papa was also released on Capitol American in early 1948, once more featuring Cavanaugh and alto saxophonist Benny Carter, and it too soared to # 1 HHP, where it stayed for nine weeks, as well as # 15 Pop. Both Cavanaugh and Carter were involved as well on That's What I Like which, again back on the main Capitol label (as were the remainder of her releases), made it to # 6 HHP in June 1948 b/w Crazy World (track 16), followed in August by the # 8 HHP, Tell Me Daddy. In December, she then had Christmas Spirits rise to # 14 HHP, but for some reason that is omitted here.



In March 1949 the wonderfully wicked I Didn't Like It The First Time (aka The Spinach Song to circumvent the censors) peaked at # 4 HHP and # 29 Pop. By the time of her next hit the Harlem Hit Parade had become the Most Played Juke Box Rhythm & Blues Records and in September, Tonight's The Night topped lut at # 13, followed in November by her final hit, You Ain't Got It No More (# 9).



Julia died from a heart attack on December 8, 1958. This perfect little package from yet another quality U.K. outlet, Proper Records, is presented in a fold-out jewel case containing a complete discography of the contents, including the musicians involved with each track, three pages of background notes by Joop Visser, and several more nice photos of the beautiful Julia. Another insert contains the other CDs offered by Proper, which includes the likes of Howlin' Wolf, Peggy Lee, Little Walter, Ella Fitzgerald, and too many more to mention. But giants all, and if the sound quality is as good as this one, they will be gems I'm sure.



"