June Christy - The Best Of June Christy (2007)

June Christy's reputation always goes hand in glove with the Stan Kenton Orchestra as she was Anita O'Day's replacement in 1945 and managed to hold her own against the esoteric merits of the band's progressive arrangements by becoming a follower of the "cool school" style of vocal delivery with its influence still studied today by many singers; amongst them Sarah Partridge and UK's Claire Martin. That touch of melancholy, combined with an individual vocal approach, made June's vocal efforts instantly memorable, and with the influence of arranger Pete Rugolo to guide her solo recording work for the Capitol label during the 50's and beyond, she made numerous albums with the precursor SOMETHING COOL(1954) becoming one of those vinyl classics no one should be without.
This excellent compilation extracts tracks from this and about a dozen other Christy albums plus some bonus random songs never previously on CD, with a reminder the nearest she ever got to having a hit in the early 50's was when the included MY HEART BELONGS TO ONLY YOU became a slow-burning single.
This is by far and away the best June Christy anthology presently available with fifty tracks spotlighting June's expressive approach to standards like I REMEMBER YOU, FOR ALL WE KNOW, I WANT TO BE HAPPY, HOW HIGH THE MOON and ANGEL EYES, but it's hard to really select tracks as June could swing with style and also deliver a tender ballad in a way no one else could quite manage. Maybe not technically the world's best singer, I defy anyone not to be drawn into June's unique and enchanting vocal web and with such a great budget-priced package deal as this, I thoroughly recommend its early acquisition.