NAT KING COLE



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NAT KING COLE

NAT KING COLE



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The Unforgettable Nat King ColeThe Unforgettable Nat King Cole
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Nat King Cole had two overlapping careers. He was one of the truly great swing pianists, inspired by Earl Hines and a big influence on Oscar Peterson. And he was a superb pop ballad singer whose great commercial success in that field unfortunately resulted in him greatly de-emphasizing his piano after 1949. Perhaps if his talents had been divided between two different people!

Nat Cole grew up in Chicago and by the time he was 12 he was playing organ and singing in church; his three brothers ( Eddie, Fred and Isaac) would become jazz musicians. After making his recording debut with Eddie Cole's Solid Swingers in 1936, he left Chicago to lead the band for the revival of the revue Shuffle Along, and settled in Los Angeles when the show ended. Cole struggled a bit, put together a trio with guitarist Oscar Moore and bassist Wesley Prince and eventually settled in for a long residency in Hollywood. In the early days (documented on radio transcriptions), most of the group's repertoire was comprised of instrumentals although the Trio often sang jivey novelty vocals together. However by the time the Trio had its first opportunity to record for Decca in December 1940, Nat King Cole had gained more confidence in his own singing. "Sweet Lorraine" resulted from that session and the Trio soon became quite popular. In future years Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson and Ahmad Jamal would all form piano/guitar/bass combos inspired by Cole's group.

Nat Cole recorded a great deal of exciting jazz during the 1940s including dates featuring Lester Young and Illinois Jacquet, the first Jazz at the Philharmonic concert (1944) and a countless number of selections for Capitol with his trio; all of the latter are included on a gigantic Mosaic limited-edition box set. Although his singing began to become quite popular by the mid-'40s (and particularly after "The Christmas Song" and "Nature Boy"), Cole mostly performed with his Trio during this era; Johnny Miller took over on bass and in 1947 Irving Ashby became the guitarist. Nat Cole was open to the influence of bop and in 1949 started utilizing Jack Costanzo on bongo and conga for some songs. However his career changed permanently in early 1950 with the recording of "Mona Lisa" which became a number one hit. Suddenly Nat King Cole became famous to the nonjazz public as a singer, and many new fans never realized that he also played piano! During the 1950s and '60s he mostly recorded pop ballads although there were a few exceptions (including 1956's After Midnight album) and he never lost his ability to play stimulating jazz. Cole had a regular television show during 1956-57 (some of which has been released on video) but due to the racism of the period he could never find a sponsor. However the popularity of his records and public appearances remained at a remarkable level and the world mourned Nat King Cole's death from lung cancer in early 1965 at age 47. -- Scott Yanow, All-Music Guide



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LINKSYEARTITLE
1998Best Of The Nat King Cole Trio
1998A & E Biography
1997Revue Collection
1996Best Of-Vocal Classics 1947-50
1996Vol. 1-Nat King Cole Shows
1996Vol. 2-Nat King Cole Shows
1995Spotlight On Nat "King" Cole
1995Favorite Ballads
1995Swingin Easy Down Memory Lane
1995Best Of-Nat King Cole Trio
1994Greatest Hits
1993Lush Life
1992Unforgettable Nat King Cole
1962Sings George Shearin
1962Ramblin' Rose
1961Billy May Sessions
1959Big Band Cole
1958Very Thought Of You
1957Just One Of Those Things
1957Love Is The Thing
1956Complete After Midnight
1955Piano Stylings Of Nat King Cole
1945Anatomy Of A Jam Session


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Best Of The Nat King Cole Trio 1998



DISC 1
01. Jumpin' At Capitol
02. The Man I Love
03. Body And Soul
04. Prelude In C Sharp Minor
05. What Is This Thing Called Love
06. Easy Listening Blues
07. Sweet Georgia Brown
08. This Way Out
09. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
10. Honeysuckle Rose
11. Rhumba Azul
12. Moonlight In Vermont
13. How High The Moon
14. I'll Never Be The Same
15. These Foolish Things
16. Laugh! Cool Clown
17. Bop Kick
18. Peaches
DISC 2
01. All For You
02. Straighten Up And Fly Right
03. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
04. If You Can't Smile And Say Yes
05. Sweet Lorraine
06. Embraceable You
07. It's Only A Paper Moon
08. I Realize Now
09. I'm A Shy Guy
10. You're Nobody 'Till Somebody Loves You
11. What Can I Say Dear After I Said I'm Sorry
12. I'm Thru With Love
13. Do Come To Baby
14. The Frim Fram Sauce
15. How Does It Feel
16. Route 66, (Get Your Kicks On)
17. Baby, Baby All The Time
18. But She's My Buddy's Chick
19. You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)
20. The Best Man
21. For Sentimental Reasons, (I Love You)
22. You're The Cream In My Coffee
DISC 3
01. Meet Me At No Particular Place
02. Naughty Angeline
03. I Miss You So
04. That's What
05. When I Take My Sugar To Tea
06. What'll I Do
07. This Is My Night To Dream
08. Makin' Whoopee
09. There I've Said It Again
10. I'll String Along With You
11. Too Marvelous For Words
12. Love Nest
13. Dream A Little Dream Of Me
14. Little Girl
15. No Moon At All
16. If I Had You
17. For All We Know
18. 'Tis Autumn
19. Yes Sir, That's My Baby
20. I Used To Love You (But It's All Over Now)
21. Don't Let Your Eyes Go Shopping (For Your Heart)
22. Ooh Kickeroonie


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A & E Biography 1998



01. Opening (From Nat King Cole Shows)
02. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
03. St. Louis Blues
04. Unforgettable
05. Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer
06. Mona Lisa
07. Straighten Up And Fly Right(1943 Nat King Cole Trio Version)
08. Sweet Lorraine(1943 Nat King Cole Trio Version)
09. Non-Dimenticar (Don't Forget) [With Studio Introduction]
10. Embraceable You (1943 Nat King Cole Trio Version)
11. It's Only A Paper Moon (1956 Version)
12. If I May
13. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
14. I Remember You (From The Nat King Cole Shows)
15. When You're Smiling [From The Nat King Cole Shows]
16. The Party's Over
17. Smile (From The Nat King Cole Shows)



Revue Collection 1997



01. I'm Lost
02. Pitchin' Up The Boogie
03. Fine, Sweet & Tasty
04. Let's Spring One
05. Beautiful Moons Ago
06. My Lips Remember Your Kisses
07. Honky Tonk Town
08. Bugle Call Rag
09. Springtime Of Their Love/My Lips Remember Your Kisses
10. Let's Pretend
11. Got A Penny
12. Melancholy Madeline


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Best Of-Vocal Classics 1947-50 1996



01. Meet Me At No Special Place(And I'll Be There At No Particular Time)
02. Naughty Angeline
03. I Miss You So
04. That's What
05. When I Take My Sugar To Tea
06. What'll I Do
07. This Is My Night To Dream
08. Makin' Whoopee
09. There I've Said It Again
10. I'll String Along With You
11. Too Marvelous For Words
12. Love Nest
13. Dream A Little Dream Of Me
14. Little Girl
15. No Moon At All
16. If I Had You
17. For All We Know
18. 'Tis Autumn
19. Yes Sir, That's My Baby
20. I Used To Love You (But It's All Over Now)
21. Don't Let Your Eyes Go Shopping (For Your Heart)
22. Ooh Kickeroonie


Vol. 1-Nat King Cole Shows 1996



01. Intro 02. Somebody Loves Me
03. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
04. Can't You See How Happy We Will Be ( Piano Solo)
05. Unforgettable
06. This Can't Be Love
07. A Beautiful Friendship
08. ( I'll See You In ) Cuba
09. Mona Lisa
10. Thou Swell
11. Night Lights
12. Two Different Worlds
13. It's Only A Paper Moon
14. The Dream I'm Building
15. To The End Of The Earth
16. My Foolish Heart
17. Sweet Sue - Just You
18. Love Letters
19. I'm Shooting High
20. Autumn Leaves
21. Just One Of Those Things(Piano Solo)
22. There Goes My Heart
23. Closing Theme



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Vol. 2-Nat King Cole Shows 1996



01. Intro
02. Little Girl
03. Medley: Repeat After Me True Love
04. Too Marvelous For Words
05. Too Young
06. When You're Smiling
07. Night Lights
08. Take Me Back To Toyland
09. Just In Time
10. Somewhere Along The Way
11. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
12. A House With Love In It
13. Mrs. Santa Clause
14. Jingle Bells
15. The Christmas Song
16. Silent Night (Instr.)
17. Just In Time #2
18. Jealous Lover
19. You Are My First Love
20. The Banana Boat Song (Day-0)
21. Ballerina
22. Ro Ro Rolling Along
23. This Can't Be Love
24. Namely You
25. Oh Lady Be Good (With Count Basie)
26. September Song
27. Closing Theme



Spotlight On Nat "King" Cole 1995



01. She's Funny That Way
02. Sunday, Monday Or Always
03. Crazy She Calls Me
04. Spring Is Here
05. You'll Never Know
06. Funny (Not Much)
07. I Want A Little Girl
08. Am I Blue?
09. It Will Have To Do Until The Real Thing Comes Along
10. Embraceable You
11. Should I?
12. Say It Isn't So
13. Too Marvelous For Words
14. Mood Indigo
15. For You
16. I Remember You
17. That's All
18. Lights Off


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Favorite Ballads 1995



01. The Very Thought Of You
02. Just One Of Those Things
03. Stardust
04. I Had The Craziest Dream
05. These Foolish Things
06. Tenderly
07. Spring Is Here
08. I Should Care
09. Autumn Leaves
10. You're My Thrill


Swingin Easy Down Memory Lane 1995



01. It's Only A Paper Moon
02. Almost Like Being In Love
03. Straighten Up And Fly Right
04. How High The Moon
05. Sunny Side Of The Street
06. How Deep The Ocean
07. Tea For Two
08. Route 66
09. After You've Gone
10. Could You (Would You)
11. Perdido
12. Frim Fram Sauce
13. Hip Hip Hooray
14. It's Only A Paper Moon - (alternate track)
15. Give Me That Jazz
16. This Way To Love
17. Almost Like Being In Love - (version #2)
18. I've Found A New Baby
19. Nice Work If You Can Get It
20. Exactly Like You


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Best Of-Nat King Cole Trio 1995



01. All For You
02. Straighten Up And Fly Right
03. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
04. If You Can't Smile And Say Yes
05. Sweet Lorraine
06. Embraceable You
07. It's Only A Paper Moon
08. I Realize Now
09. I'm A Shy Guy
10. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You
11. What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry
12. I'm Thru With Love
13. Come To Baby, Do
14. The Frim Fram Sauce
15. How Does It Feel
16. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
17. Baby, Baby All The Time
18. But She's My Buddy's Chick
19. You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)
20. The Best Man
21. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
22. You're The Cream In My Coffee


Greatest Hits 1994



01. Unforgettable
02. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
03. Orange Colored Sky
04. Mona Lisa
05. Walkin' My Baby Back Home
06. Straighten Up And Fly Right
07. Send For Me
08. Looking Back
09. You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)
10. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
11. Nature Boy
12. Ramblin' Rose
13. Pretend
14. Too Young
15. Somewhere Along The Way
16. Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer
17. Smile
18. Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup
19. Answer Me, My Love
20. A Blossom Fell
21. If I May
22. Unforgettable


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Lush Life 1993



01. Lush Life
02. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
03. Hey, Not Now! (I'll Tell You When)
04. I'll Always Remember You
05. Where Were You?
06. Tunnel Of Love
07. It's Crazy
08. Funny (Not Much)
09. That's My Girl
10. Roses And Wine
11. It's A Man Every Time
12. Time Out For Tears
13. Get To Gettin'
14. It Was So Good While It Lasted
15. The Way I'm Loving You
16. Ev'ry Day
17. Wish I Were Somebody Else
18. Home (When Shadows Fall)
19. You Can't Make Me Love You
20. Red Sails In The Sunset
21. Get Out And Get Under The Moon
22. My Brother
23. Land Of Love (Come My Love And Live With Me)
24. Poor Jenny Is A-Weepin'
25. Summer Is A Comin' In



Unforgettable Nat King Cole 1992



01. The Very Thought Of You
02. It's Only A Paper Moon
03. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
04. Mona Lisa
05. L-O-V-E
06. This Can't Be Love
07. Smile
08. Lush Life
09. That Sunday, That Summer
10. Orange Colored Sky
11. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
12. Tenderly
13. Autumn Leaves
14. Straighten Up And Fly Right
15. Avalon
16. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
17. Too Young
18. Nature Boy
19. Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup
20. Almost Like Being In Love
21. Thou Swell
22. Non Dimenticar
23. Our Love Is Here To Stay
24. Unforgettable


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Sings George Shearin 1962



01. September Song
02. Pick Yourself Up
03. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
04. Let There Be Love
05. Azure-Te
06. Lost April
07. A Beautiful Friendship
08. Fly Me To The Moon
09. Serenata
10. I'm Lost
11. There's A Lull In My Life
12. Don't Go
13. Everything Happens To Me
14. The Game Of Love
15. Guess I'll Go Back Home



Ramblin' Rose 1962



01. Ramblin' Rose
02. Wolverton Mountain
03. Twilight On The Trail
04. I Don't Want It That Way
05. He'll Have To Go
06. When You're Smiling
07. Dear Lonely Hearts
08. All Over The World
09. All By Myself
10. Goodnight, Irene, Goodnight
11. Your Cheatin' Heart
12. One Has My Name The Other Has My Heart
13. Skip To My Lou
14. The Good Times
15. Sing Another Song (And We'll All Go Home)



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Billy May Sessions 1961



DISC 1
01. Walkin' My Baby Back Home
02. What Does It Take
03. Walkin'
04. I'm Hurtin'
05. Angel Eyes
06. Lover Come Back To Me
07. Can't I?
08. Papa Loves Mambo
09. Teach Me Tonight
10. Blue Moon
11. With You On My Mind
12. Don't Try
13. Send For Me
14. Let's Make More Love
15. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
16. The Song Is Ended
17. You'll Never Know
18. Just For The Fun Of It (Alt. Take)
19. Who's Sorry Now
20. These Foolish Things
21. Once In A While

DISC 2
01. Just One Of Those Things
02. I Should Care
03. The Party's Over
04. Just For The Fun Of It
05. A Cottage For Sale
06. I Understand
07. When Your Lover Has Gone
08. Ebony Rhapsody
09. Day In, Day Out
10. Too Little, Too Late
11. When My Sugar Walks Down The Street
12. Cold, Cold Heart
13. Let's Face The Music And Dance
14. Something Makes Me Want To Dance
15. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
16. Rules Of The Road
17. Warm And Willing
18. Bidin' My Time
19. Moon Love



Big Band Cole 1959



01. She's Funny That Way
02. Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere
03. I Want A Little Girl
04. Mood Indigo
05. The Blues Don't Care
06. Avalon
07. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
08. The Late Late Show
09. Welcome To The Club
10. Look Out For Love
11. Wee Baby Blues
12. Madrid
13. Orange Colored Sky
14. Jam-Bo
15. Orange Colored Sky
16. Steady
17. My Love



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Very Thought Of You 1958



01. The Very Thought Of You
02. But Beautiful
03. Impossible
04. I Wish I Knew The Way To Your Heart (Notorious)
05. I Found A Million Dollar Baby(In A Five And Ten Cent Store)
06. Magnificent Obsession
07. My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?)
08. Paradise
09. This Is All I Ask
10. Cherie, I Love You
11. Making Believe You're Here
12. Cherchez La Femme
13. For All We Know
14. The More I See You
15. Don't Blame Me
16. There Is No Greater Love



Just One Of Those Things 1957



01. When Your Lover Has Gone
02. A Cottage For Sale
03. Who's Sorry Now?
04. Once In A While
05. These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You
06. Just For The Fun Of It
07. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
08. I Understand
09. Just One Of Those Things
10. The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)
11. I Should Care
12. The Party's Over
13. Day In-Day Out
14. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter)
15. Something Makes Me Want To Dance With You



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Love Is The Thing 1957



01. When I Fall In Love
02. Stardust
03. Stay As Sweet As You Are
04. Where Can I Go Without You?
05. Maybe It's Because I Love You Too Much
06. Love Letters
07. Ain't Misbehavin'
08. I Thought About Marie
09. At Last
10. It's All In The Game
11. When Sunny Gets Blue
12. Love Is The Thing
13. Someone To Tell It To
14. The End Of A Love Affair
15. If Love Ain't There



Complete After Midnight 1956



01. Just You, Just Me
02. Sweet Lorraine
03. Sometimes I'm Happy
04. Caravan
05. It's Only A Paper Moon
06. You're Looking At Me
07. Lonely One
08. Don't Let It Go To Your Head
09. I Know That You Know
10. Blame It On My Youth
11. When I Grow Too Old To Dream
12. Route 66
13. What Is There To Say
14. You Can Depend On Me
15. I Was A Little Too Lonely
16. Two Loves Have I
17. Candy



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Piano Stylings Of Nat King Cole 1955



01. Love Walked In
02. My Heart Stood Still
03. Imagination
04. I Never Knew
05. Stella By Starlight
06. What Can I Say After I'm Sorry
07. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
08. Takin' A Chance On Love
09. April In Paris
10. I Want To Be Happy
11. I See Your Face Before Me
12. Just One Of Those Things
13. I Get A Kick Out Of You
14. If I Could Be With You
15. I Hear Music
16. Tea For Two
17. My Heart Stood Still (Alternate Take)



Anatomy Of A Jam Session 1945



01. Black Market Stuff - (incomplete)
02. Black Market Stuff - (take 1)
03. Black Market Stuff - (take 2)
04. Black Market Stuff - (take 3)
05. Laguna Leap - (take 1)
06. Laguna Leap - (take 2)
07. Laguna Leap - (take 3)
08. I'll Never Be The Same - (take 1)
09. I'll Never Be The Same - (take 2)
10. Swingin' On Central - (take 1)
11. Swingin' On Central - (take 2)
12. Kicks


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