London's 35-year acting career began in films in 1944 and included playing opposite Gary Cooper in Man of the West (1958) and Robert Mitchum in The Wonderful Country (1959). She achieved continuing success in the TV medical drama Emergency! (1972–1979), co-starring her real-life husband, Bobby Troup, and produced by her ex-husband, Jack Webb, in which London played the female lead role of nurse Dixie McCall. She and Randolph Mantooth, who played one-half of her medical students, a paramedic, in the series, were very close to her family, until her death in 2000.
Born in Santa Rosa, California, she was the daughter of Jack and Josephine Peck, who were a vaudeville song-and-dance team. When she was fourteen the family moved to Los Angeles. Shortly after that, she began appearing in movies. She graduated from the Hollywood Professional High School in 1945.
London began singing under the name Gayle Peck in public in her teens before appearing in a film. She was discovered by talent agent Sue Carol (wife of actor Alan Ladd), while working as an elevator operator. Her early film career, however, did not include any singing roles.
London recorded 32 albums in a career that began in 1955 with a live performance at the 881 Club in Los Angeles. Billboard named her the most popular female vocalist for 1955, 1956, and 1957. She was the subject of a 1957 Life cover article in which she was quoted as saying, "It's only a thimbleful of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microphone. But it is a kind of oversmoked voice, and it automatically sounds intimate."
London's debut recordings were for the Bethlehem Records label. While shopping for a record deal, she recorded four tracks that would later be included on the compilation album Bethlehem's Girlfriends in 1955. Bobby Troup backed London on the album, for which London recorded the standards "Don't Worry About Me", "Motherless Child", "A Foggy Day", and "You're Blasé".
London's most famous single, "Cry Me a River", was written by her high-school classmate Arthur Hamilton and produced by Troup. The recording became a million-seller after its release in December 1955 and also sold on reissue in April 1983 from the attention brought by a Mari Wilson cover. London performed the song in the film The Girl Can't Help It (1956), and her recording gained later attention in the films Passion of Mind (2000) and V for Vendetta (2006). The song "Yummy Yummy Yummy" was featured on the HBO television series Six Feet Under and appears on its soundtrack album. London's "Must Be Catchin'" was featured in the 2011 premiere episode of the ABC series Pan Am. Her last recording was "My Funny Valentine" for the soundtrack of the Burt Reynolds film Sharky's Machine (1981).
Other popular singles include "Hot Toddy", "Daddy", and "Desafinado". Recordings such as "Go Slow" epitomized her career style: her voice is slow, smoky, and playfully sensual.
She was married to Jack Webb, of Dragnet fame. Her obvious beauty and self-poise (she was a pinup girl prized by GIs during World War II) contrasted with his pedestrian appearance and stiff-as-a-board acting technique (much parodied by impersonators). This unlikely pairing arose from his and her love for jazz; their marriage lasted from July 1947 to November 1953. They had two daughters, one who was killed in a traffic accident in the 1990s and one who survived London. In 1954, having become somewhat reclusive after her divorce from Jack Webb, she met jazz composer and musician Bobby Troup at a club on La Brea Blvd. They married on December 31, 1959 and remained married until Troup's death in February 1999. Together, they had one daughter and twin sons.
London suffered a stroke in 1995, and was in poor health until her death in Encino, California, at the age of seventy-four, survived by four of her five children. She died on18th October 2000, and was buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Louie
Julie London Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Louie Louie, oh no
Me gotta go
Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said
Louie Louie, oh baby
Me gotta go
Fine little girl waits for me
Sail that ship about, all alone
Never know if I make it home
[Chorus]
Three nights and days I sail the sea
Think of girl, constantly
On that ship, I dream she's there
I smell the rose in her hair.
[Chorus]
Okay, let's give it to 'em, right now!
See Jamaica, the moon above
It won't be long, me see me love
Take her in my arms again
Tell her I'll never leave again
[Chorus]
Let's take it on outa here now
Let's go!
The song "Louie Louie" by Julie London is a classic anthem that expresses the desire for adventure and love in a sailor's heart. The song opens with the chorus, emphasizing the urgency of the singer's need to go, singing "Me gotta go, Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said, Louie Louie, oh baby, Me gotta go." The following stanza reveals that his motivation is the promise of a fine little girl waiting for him, compelling him to catch a ship across the sea, sailing alone with the uncertainty whether he will make it back home. However, the thoughts of the girl he left behind never leave his mind, as he dreams of her presence on the ship and the rose in her hair, as if he were still there with her.
As the song progresses, the singer imagines himself in Jamaica under the moon, finally united with his beloved. He pledges never to leave again and savors the moment of joy and fulfillment with his special someone. The final chorus brings the song to a resolution, expressing the urgency to leave the events of the past behind and move on to the next adventure.
Line by Line Meaning
Louie Louie, oh no
Expressing reluctance to leave or depart from a certain place or situation.
Me gotta go
I have to leave now, it's time to move on.
Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said
An exclamation indicating excitement or anticipation about what is to come next.
Louie Louie, oh baby
An expression of endearment or affection towards someone dear or loved.
Fine little girl waits for me
Describing a young, beautiful lady who is waiting patiently for me.
Catch a ship across the sea
Boarding a ship to travel far across the sea.
Sail that ship about, all alone
Sailing on the ship all by myself, with no company or companion.
Never know if I make it home
Uncertainty or doubt about whether I will be able to return home after the long journey.
Three nights and days I sail the sea
Describing the long and tiring journey for a period of three days and nights.
Think of girl, constantly
Recollecting pleasant memories and thoughts about the dear lady who is waiting for me at home.
On that ship, I dream she's there
Daydreaming or fantasizing about the girl accompanying me on the ship, even though she is not physically present.
I smell the rose in her hair.
Recalling the sweet and pleasant fragrance of the girl's hair, which is distinctive and unique to her.
See Jamaica, the moon above
Describing the scenic beauty of the Jamaican surroundings with the moon brightly shining above.
It won't be long, me see me love
Expressing excitement and anticipation about meeting the loved one shortly.
Take her in my arms again
Experiencing a gentle and loving embrace with the girl who is eagerly waiting for me.
Tell her I'll never leave again
Making a promise to the loved one that I will never go away again, as I belong to her forever.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICHARD BERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
velenjak4ever
This version is by many considered to be one of the ten best ever. I must agree :)
The Italian Alien
the ten best ever louie louie covers?
oh my sth oh my sth
I don't know what else were chosen as the ten best but I feel like casting a vote for the version by kinks or troggs.
NorAI
The other 9 on the top 10, please?
Laura Shimamoto.嶋本 ローラ
I really like the subtle, sultry mellow feeling this version by Julie London has!
Sergio Zaza
This is beautiful , great version .
U.N. Owen
I wholeheartedly agree. When I initially heard about this album - in the early 90's, it was talked about in a sort of 'Julie goes hippy-ish' way. Not disrespectful, but, I thought they didn't give the album it's proper due. When I finally tracked a copy down (this was before the internet, so it took some time), I was blown away - with the production, with Julie. I LOVED this version of LOUIE, LOUIE. In fact, I said back then it sounded like almost proto- trance music, (Cont)...
John Helle
I LOVE THIS ALBUM... AND JULIE LONDON!!! I have listened to this countless times!
U.N. Owen
I don't know if Ms. London took it seriously at the time she worked on the album, but, as a consummate professional, she did give it her best. I love that slow, incessant drum-line, and the Moog/Piano opening. It's almost Brian Wilson-ish, instrumentally (a little!). Anyway, since originally getting Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, I've had this song, and a few others always on whatever music listening device I had at the time (WalkMAn, iPhone). Love you, Ms. London!
Bee Hive
I’ve replayed this a ludicrous amount of times!