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.
No Moon At All
Julie London Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even lightnin' bugs have dimmed their lights
Stars have disappeared from sight
And there's no moon at all
Don't make a sound, it's so dark
Even Fido is afraid to bark
What a perfect chance to park
Should we want atmosphere for inspiration, dear
One kiss will make it clear
That tonight is right and bright moonlight might interfere
No moon at all way up above
This is nothin' like they told us of
Just to think we fell in love
And there's no moon at all
Should we want atmosphere for inspiration, dear
One kiss will make it clear
That tonight is right and bright moonlight might interfere
No moon at all up above
Aww, this is nothin' like they told us of
Just to think we fell in love
And there's no moon at all
Aww, there's no moon at all
There is no moon at all
No moon at all
Julie London's song "No Moon at All" portrays a night where there is no moon and the darkness is all-encompassing. The absence of the moon is juxtaposed with even the lightning bugs appearing dimmed, giving a sense of darkness and quietness. London's description of this environment is so vivid that even Fido, a typical barking dog, is scared to make a noise. However, the song's lyrics take an unusual turn, and London suggests that the absence of moonlight might be a perfect opportunity for romance. In essence, she seems to be saying that the darkness provides an ideal atmosphere to park and indulge in romance.
The lyrics suggest that London's character has fallen in love in a world that is different from the stories she has heard, where the moon is ever-present and romantic. By pairing the idea of "the night with no moon" and "falling in love," London creates a wholly new, romantic experience that is different from anything that has come before. The lyrics are notably playful, using the absence of moonlight as a way to set the scene for a romantic utopia where a kiss means everything.
Line by Line Meaning
No moon at all, what a night
The night is dark and lacks even a glimpse of moonlight.
Even lightnin' bugs have dimmed their lights
The natural light sources such as fireflies are also scarce, adding to the darkness.
Stars have disappeared from sight
The spectacle of the twinkle stars has vanished in the absence of the moonlight.
And there's no moon at all
The artist emphasizes the fact that moon is absent in the sky.
Don't make a sound, it's so dark
The darkness of the night is evident, and even sounds that one would ignore, are scary now.
Even Fido is afraid to bark
The singer implies that even the fearless is afraid of this darkness.
What a perfect chance to park
Taking advantage of the absence of moon and light, the singer suggests a perfect parking spot for two.
And there's no moon at all
The line re-emphasizes the absence of moon yet again in the song.
Should we want atmosphere for inspiration, dear
The artist questions the need for moon and atmosphere for inspiration, suggesting a kiss can do the job too.
One kiss will make it clear
The artist suggests the power of love and what just a kiss on a moonless night can convey.
That tonight is right and bright moonlight might interfere
The singer believes that the absence of moonlight is beneficial, as moonlight might have interfered with the atmosphere and mood of the night.
No moon at all way up above
The song focuses on the lack of moon and its impact on the surroundings.
This is nothin' like they told us of
The singer implies that the current situation is entirely different from what was presumed or expected.
Just to think we fell in love
Despite the stark contrast to the expectations, the singer acknowledges that they are still in love.
And there's no moon at all
The line repeats the absence of moon and its impact on the environment.
Aww, this is nothin' like they told us of
The artist repeats the sentiment of the previous line, implying a discrepancy between the expectations and reality.
There's no moon at all
The song ends with the repetition of the absence of moon.
Contributed by Sophie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.