| Love, July | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 3 September 1987[1] | |||
| Genre | Middle of the Road | |||
| Label | USA Music Group | |||
| Producer | Bob Florence | |||
| Julie Andrews chronology | ||||
| ||||
Love, Julie is the ninth studio album by English singer and actress Julie Andrews, released in 1987 by USA Music Group and produced by Bob Florence. It marked Andrews' first solo album in five years, with work on the LP beginning two years earlier. Initially, she had not intended it as a commercial release.
The album originated as a private birthday gift for Julie Andrews' husband, director Blake Edwards, before expanding into a full release at his suggestion. Featuring classic love songs and show tunes with minimal arrangements, it showcased Andrews' vocals and included collaborations with arranger Bob Florence. Some tracks were incorporated into her 1987 tour setlist.
Critics noted Andrews' strong vocal delivery and the album's intimate warmth, with one praising her live performance of its material. The project remained a testament to her versatility beyond musical theater. While it didn't chart on Billboard, the album sold over 50,000 copies by 1988, prompting label president Martin Braude to highlight its success as proof of MOR (Middle of the Road) music's commercial viability.
Background and release
[edit]The project began as a deeply personal endeavor—a birthday gift for her husband, director Blake Edwards, who turned 65 on July 26, 1987.[2] Reflecting on its evolution, Andrews explained: "The album was originally recorded as a birthday gift for Blake. However, several people heard it and encouraged me. It just kind of grew from there". She added, "Blake suggested fleshing it out a little, and I think some radio stations have picked it up, which is lovely. It's a happy accident."[3][4]
The album features a collection of show tunes and love songs, including "Come Rain or Come Shine", "Where or When" and "Tea for Two", performed with minimal accompaniment, allowing Andrews' voice to take center stage.[3][5] A selection of songs from the album was added in the setlist of the tour the singer was performing that same year.[6] Andrews created the album in collaboration with arranger-musical director Bob Florence. An extended version of Florence's original piece, "A Soundsketch", can be heard in the track entitled "Jewels" on his album called Trash Can City.[7]
In 1999, the British budget record label Hallmark Music & Entertainment re-released the album with a new cover and renamed it Tea for Two (catalog No. 309522).[8]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [2] |
The critic William Ruhlmann from AllMusic rated the album three and a half stars out of five and suggested that Andrews seek a commercial release, resulting in an album featuring classic pop standards and recent film songs, with arrangements ranging from acoustic piano to unexpected electronic sounds for Andrews. According to the critic, at 52, the singer maintains a strong voice and delivers the songs with sincerity and taste. He concluded the review by saying that despite the electronic touches, the album is intimate and warm, making it an ideal romantic gift for occasions like Valentine's Day or anniversaries.[2]
Commenting on Andrews's performance at the Chicago Theatre, critic Larry Kart mentioned the album in his column for the Chicago Tribune: "Mightily impressed by Andrews' recent album, "Love, Julie", on which she sings some of the best American popular songs (including "Come Rain or Come Shine") with a caressing intimacy and warmth, this listener votes for the present. And that choice was bolstered by the way she sang "Come Rain" Thursday night-giving an extra little nudge of emphasis to the final word in the line "I'm gonna love you," which suffused the performance with a lovely personal glow".[9]
Commercial performance
[edit]Commercially, the album did not chart on Billboard but sold over 50,000 units by July 1988, turning a profit for USA Music Group. Martin Braude, the label's president, highlighted this success as evidence of a viable market for MOR (Middle of the Road) music, a genre targeting mainstream, adult audiences. According to him, despite challenges like limited airplay and competition from youth-oriented genres, the album's performance showed the potential profitability of investing in established MOR artists. Braude emphasized the need for the industry to reconsider its approach to MOR music, as it appeals to an affluent audience willing to support high-quality productions, even if radio formats often overlook this genre.[10]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Out of This World" | Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer | 4:48 |
| 2. | "Come Rain or Come Shine" | Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer | 6:24 |
| 3. | "Love" | Ralph Blane / Hugh Martin | 2:57 |
| 4. | "Tea for Two" | Irving Caesar / Vincent Youmans | 4:34 |
| 5. | "How Deep Is the Ocean?" | Irving Berlin | 3:47 |
| 6. | "My Lucky Day" | Lew Brown / Buddy DeSylva / Ray Henderson | 3:41 |
| 7. | "The Island" | Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Ivan Lins / Vitor Martins | 5:14 |
| 8. | "A Soundsketch" | Bob Florence | 4:01 |
| 9. | "So in Love" | Cole Porter | 3:20 |
| 10. | "Where or When" | Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers | 3:15 |
| 11. | "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" | Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Michel Legrand | 5:19 |
| 12. | "Nobody Does It Better/Nobody Does It Better (Reprise)" | Marvin Hamlisch / Carole Bayer Sager | 3:58 |
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from the liner notes of the album Love, Julie.[11]
- Executive producer: Martin Braude
- Produced by: Bob Florence
- Arranged by: Bob Florence
- Engineered by: Garry Ulmer
- Recorded at: Village Recorders, Record Plant
- Mastered by: Brian Gardner, Bernie Grundman Mastering
- Musicians
- Keyboards: Bob Florence
- Bass: Tom Warrington, Bob Badgley
- Drums/percussion: Nick Ceroli, Mike Stephans
- Guitar: Dennis Budimir
- Cover photos: Zoë Dominic
- Graphic design: PS Design
References
[edit]- ^ Briggs, Tracey Wong (3 September 1987). "Sound of Music". USA Today. 305941920. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ a b c Ruhlmann, William. "Love, Julie - Julie Andrews | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ a b Williams, Stephen (15 November 1987). "Andrews Herself". Newsday. ProQuest 277888224. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ Lloyd, Jack (19 November 1987). "Julie back on stage-and disc". The Ottawa Citizen. 239125067. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ Stirling, Richard (18 March 2008). Julie Andrews: An Intimate Biography. Macmillan + ORM. p. 290. ISBN 978-1-4299-4387-1.
- ^ Bittan, Dave (23 October 1987). "Here, there and everywhere". Philadelphia Daily News. 1831769231.
- ^ Arntz & Wilson 1995, p. 232
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Tea for Two - Julie Andrews | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ Kart, Larry (29 January 1988). "Reaching back only slows down a stellar Julie Andrews". Chicago Tribune. Chicago: Tribune Publishing Company, LLC: 8. ISSN 1085-6706. 282425835. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ Braude, Martin (30 July 1988). "MOR records can sell with airplay" (PDF). Billboard. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ Julie Andrews (1987). Love, Julie (liner notes). USA Music Group. USACD539.
Bibliography
[edit]- Arntz, James; Wilson, Thomas S. (1995). Julie Andrews. Two Prudential Plaza, Chicago. Illinois: Contemporary Books, Inc. ISBN 0-8092-3267-7.