AMG Review of Sings the Standards

Stephen Cook
All Music Guide

While Rhino's Julie London roundup beats this one out for song selection, Sings the Standards still get kudos for its hefty 22 sides from the singer's prime. Mostly taken from London's '50s and '60s stretch in the spotlight, this import offers a sultry stroll through classic Tin Pan Alley terrain, from tailor-made numbers like "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" and "Hello, Dolly!" to such after-hours ballads as "Blue Moon" and "When I Fall in Love." The backdrop may range from slick combo swing to lush orchestrations, but London's erotically somnambulistic vocals never waiver through it all.