The Very Best of Nat King Cole [Capitol]

by Nat King Cole

Overview

This generous anthology, with 28 tracks and close to 80 minutes of music, is one of the best single-disc sets on the market of Nat King Cole's pop side. Spanning over 20 years, from 1943 to 1964, The Very Best of Nat King Cole includes most of his biggest hits for Capitol Records, like 1946's "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66," 1950s "Mona Lisa," 1951's "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" and "Unforgettable," and 1956's "When I Fall in Love" (with its wonderful orchestration arranged and conducted by Gordon Jenkins), although there are some intriguing omissions (1962's "Ramblin' Rose," for instance, isn't included here), but it's hard to quibble; after all, Cole charted over 100 pop singles during his career and nothing short of a massive box set could feature them all. What's most striking is how uniform everything is, as if it was all drawn from one long recording session, and Cole's rich, warm voice and perfect enunciation never falters. He was criticized for leaving his jazz roots for pop stardom, but it is worth noting how jazz-based and stripped-down most of these sides actually are, and even when orchestration is present, it is never intrusive or overwhelming, and the focus is always on Cole's steady, calm and measured vocals. It all adds up to a near-perfect introduction to Cole's Capitol years. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	05/02/2006
Label:	Capitol/Emi Records / Capitol
UPC:	0094635932423

Tracks

1. Stardust
2. Sweet Lorraine
3. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
4. Straighten Up and Fly Right
5. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
6. What'll I Do?
7. Morning Star
8. Penthouse Serenade
9. Candy
10. Walkin' My Baby Back Home
11. Unforgettable
12. Mona Lisa
13. Nature Boy
14. Somewhere Along the Way
15. Smile
16. A Blossom Fell
17. Can't I?
18. Let There Be Love
19. Almost Like Being in Love
20. Ballerina
21. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself a Letter)
22. Let's Face the Music and Dance
23. Autumn Leaves
24. When I Fall in Love
25. That Sunday, That Summer
26. Looking Back
27. L-O-V-E
28. I Wish You Love

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Nat King Cole   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Nat King Cole Trio   Primary Artist
Harry "Sweets" Edison   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Nelson Riddle   Conductor
Ralph Carmichael   Conductor
Oscar Moore   Guitar
Harry Bluestone   Violin
Frank DeVol   Conductor
Billy May   Conductor
Johnny Miller   Bass
Norris "Bunny" Shawker   Drums
Gordon Jenkins   Conductor
Charlie Harris   Bass
Antonio Morelli   Conductor
David Cavanaugh   Conductor
John Collins   Guitar
Jack Costanzo   Bongos
Lee Young   Drums

Technical Credits

Bobby Troup   Composer
Ron McMaster   Mastering
Lionel Rand   Composer
Val Burton   Composer
Nat King Cole   Composer,Performer
Nelson Riddle   Arranger,Orchestral Arrangements
Ralph Carmichael   Orchestral Arrangements
Roy Turk   Composer
Ray Evans   Composer
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Tom Recchion   Art Direction
George David Weiss   Composer
George Shearing Quintet   Performer
William "Pat" Best   Composer
Carl Sigman   Composer
Hoagy Carmichael   Composer
Frank DeVol   Orchestral Arrangements
Clifford Burwell   Composer
Billy May   Orchestral Arrangements
Fred E. Ahlert   Composer
Jay Livingston   Composer
Gordon Jenkins   Orchestral Arrangements
Victor Young   Composer
Will Jason   Composer
B. Russell   Composer
William Claxton   Photography
Deek Watson   Composer
L.C. Lovett   Composer
Albert Beach   Composer
David Cavanaugh   Arranger,Orchestral Arrangements
H.M. Barnes' Blue Ridge Ramblers   Composer
James Phillips   Composer
Paul Moore   Design
B.C. Hendricks   Composer
Uncle J. T. Young   Composer
Geoffrey Parsons   Composer
Kevin Flaherty   Compilation Producer
Bob Russell   Composer
Irving Mills   Composer
Clifford R. Burwell   Composer
W.C. Handy   Composer
Charles Trenet   Composer
Joe Sherman   Composer
Charlie Chaplin   Composer