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.
My Baby Just Cares For Me
Julie London Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My baby don't care for clothes
My baby just cares for me
My baby don't care for cars and races
My baby don't care for high tone places
Elizabeth Taylor is not his style
Is something he can't see
My baby don't care who knows it
My baby just cares for me
I wonder what's wrong with baby
My baby just cares for
He just says his prayers for
My baby just cares
For me
The lyrics of Julie London's song "My Baby Just Cares for Me" depict the singer's contentment with the simple pleasures that her partner provides her rather than their material possessions. The initial verses describe how her partner doesn't care for ostentatious activities or fancy clothing. Instead, he finds joy in the singer's presence, which is depicted in the repeated statement "My baby just cares for me." The second set of verses accentuates this point by outlining how her partner doesn't have a particular preference for famous celebrities and high-end spots. Even the most well-regarded figures in popular culture are of no interest to him, because his focus remains solely on his significant other.
The final verse of the song shows the singer's bewilderment about why her partner doesn't desire or need the more luxurious aspects of life that are so commonly craved by others. The repetition of the phrase "My baby just cares for" at the end of the verse hints at the singer's uncertainty about what exactly captivates her lover's attention, but still reiterates their strong emotional bond by affirming the fact that they just care for each other.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby don't care for shows
My partner is not interested in going to events or performances
My baby don't care for clothes
My partner is not materialistic and is unconcerned with fashion
My baby just cares for me
My partner's primary focus and affection is directed towards me
My baby don't care for cars and races
My partner is not interested in fast-paced activities like racing or owning lavish vehicles
My baby don't care for high tone places
My partner is not attracted to fancy or luxurious settings
Elizabeth Taylor is not his style
My partner does not find the actress Elizabeth Taylor appealing
And even Ricky Martin's smile
Not even the smile of the singer Ricky Martin has an impact on my partner
Is something he can't see
My partner has no interest or attention towards these celebrities
My baby don't care who knows it
My partner is not afraid or ashamed to show love and affection for me to anyone
My baby just cares for me
My partner's love and devotion is only towards me
I wonder what's wrong with baby
I am curious as to why my partner only cares for me and not material possessions or other people
He just says his prayers for
My partner only prays for me, emphasizing his devotion
My baby just cares
My partner's love and attention is a simple but profound sentiment
For me
My partner's love and attention is solely for me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GUS KAHN, WALTER DONALDSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@floatingtrains
It doesn't matter what song Julie sings, she sings them all perfect!
@sgazzz
Julie London is such an amazing torch song singer...Goes to show you that you don't need the pipes of an Ella or Sarah Vaughn to deliver an amazing performance...this is the way torch songs are supposed to be sung...great stuff!!
@lakey180
if any young lady wants to sing for a living ,watch and learn ,it dosent get much better than this .
@sappleseed
Julie London is simply the best.
@costernocht
Holy Mackerel. I'm surprised the set didn't catch fire!
@oracle2507
wonderfull.
@keoki9
MEOW!!!
@sailorguyli
Talk about HOT I hav ethe original 33 Calendar Girl LP, vinyl yeah. Ive not heard her in years this brings me a smile Damn I love You tube
@sweetiepillow
To Matthew Yes there is a singer with great presence like Julia Robert and she is Astrud Gilberto, look her up and you will love her
@sailorguyli
I own the calendar Girl 33 treasure it Enjoy