This is the first of two Bear Family boxes devoted to Nat King Cole, the second covers his final five years of recording (1960-1964) and together will form the definitive statement of the last and most amazing decade of one of the greatest stars of all time
Nat King Cole (1919-1965) was the most popular male singer of his generation, and, along with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, one of the four best known male vocalists of all time. Making Cole's story all the more remarkable, he began his career not as a pop singer but as one of the greatest of all jazz pianists. Yet by the time he had made the transition from jazz to pop, he had sold more records and racked up more hit singles than anyone in the immediate post-war era, even Frank Sinatra. He was also the first Afro-American pop music superstar - and still the greatest.
This Bear Family box contains Cole's complete recordings, all done for Capitol Records, of the years 1955-1959. The 11 CDs and 298 tracks contain a combination of Nat King Cole's most famous and most obscure work.
The set includes all the material for no less than 16 classic Nat King Cole albums: The two piano-centric albums of 1955-'56: 'The Piano Style' (with Nelson Riddle) and 'After Midnight' (with Sweets Edison, Juan Tizol, Willie and Stuff Smith) as well as the 'bonus session' for 'Penthouse Serenade.' The 1955 albums with Nelson Riddle, 'Night Lights' and the 'bonus session' for 'Two In Love.' The two classic albums with Gordon Jenkins, 'Love Is The Thing' (1956) and 'The Very Thought Of You' (1958), as well as the spiritual album with Gordon Jenkins, 'Every Time I Feel The Spirit' (1958). Nat's great jazz-ballad album with Billy May, 'Just One Of Those Things.' King Meets Count! Nat King Cole's classic meeting with the Count Basie Orchestra, 'Welcome To The Club' (1958), and another great album of swinging standards from the same year arranged by Dave Cavanaugh, 'Tell Me All About Yourself.' Two best-selling albums recorded for the Latin-American market of classic Latin songs sung in Spanish, 'Cole Espanol' (1958) and 'A Mis Amigos' (1959). Two masterpiece albums with Nelson Riddle, 'To Whom It May Concern' and his magnificent album of W. C. Handy classics, 'St. Louis Blues,' both from 1958. The rock-inspired material that was later collected in the 'Looking Back' compilation LP, issued here for the first time without the dreadful overdubbed rhythm sections that were added after Nat King Cole died in 1965.
In addition to these classic albums, the box contains nearly a hundred singles, which range from major hits like Ballerina, Looking Back and Non Dimenticar to some of the rarest recordings in his career, including many selections previously only heard as singles and EPs. All selections are presented without the overdubs that were often artificially imposed in the mid-'60s.
CD01 (01:14:23)
01. I'd Rather Have The Blues (The Blues From 'kiss Me Deadly') [02:53]
02. I Hear Music [03:04]
03. My Heart Stood Still (1) [01:41]
04. My Heart Stood Still (2) [02:44]
05. I Never Knew [02:34]
06. Tea For Two [02:32]
07. Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You [02:39]
08. Breezin' Along With The Breeze [02:30]
09. Someone You Love [02:53]
10. What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry [02:25]
11. Takin' A Chance On Love [02:04]
12. Don't Blame Me [03:04]
13. It Could Happen To You [02:47]
14. I Surrender Dear (1) [03:02]
15. I Surrender Dear (2) [02:58]
16. Little Girl [01:49]
17. Imagination [03:28]
18. April In Paris [03:51]
19. Love Walked In [03:27]
20. I See Your Face Before Me [02:34]
21. Stella By Starlight [03:47]
22. I Didn't Know What Time It Was [03:09]
23. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight) [02:40]
24. Autumn Leaves (English Version) [02:38]
25. I Get A Kick Out Of You [03:22]
26. Intro To We Are Americans, Too [00:46]
27. We Are Americans, Too [02:51]
CD02 (01:16:33)
01. There Will Never Be Another You [03:37]
02. My Dream Sonata [03:25]
03. Let's Fall In Love [02:47]
04. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing [02:40]
05. Ask Me [02:55]
06. Just One Of Those Things [03:07]
07. I Want To Be Happy [01:45]
08. You Are My Sunshine [02:29]
09. Up Pops Love [02:31]
10. Take Me Back To Toyland [02:53]
11. Love Me As Though There Were No Tomorrow [02:34]
12. Too Young To Go Steady [02:54]
13. Dreams Can Tell A Lie [02:59]
14. Back In My Arms [03:04]
15. Mr. Juke Box [02:32]
16. Dame Crazy [02:38]
17. I Just Found Out About Love [02:45]
18. I Got Love [02:11]
19. My Personal Possession [02:55]
20. Stay [02:26]
21. Believe [02:22]
22. That's All There Is To That [02:18]
23. Night Lights [02:49]
24. The Shadows [02:32]
25. To The Ends Of The Earth [02:18]
26. I Promise You [03:05]
27. The Way I Love You [02:51]
28. Never Let Me Go (From Film 'scarlet Hour') [02:57]
CD03 (01:18:57)
01. Unfair [02:03]
02. Make Me [02:42]
03. Sometimes I Wonder [03:09]
04. Once Before [03:13]
05. I'm Willing To Share This With You [02:51]
06. I Need A Plan [02:34]
07. The Story's Old [02:28]
08. You Can Depend On Me [03:52]
09. Candy [03:52]
10. Sweet Lorraine [04:35]
11. It's Only A Paper Moon [03:06]
12. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 [03:41]
13. Don't Let It Go To Your Head [03:11]
14. You're Looking At Me [04:14]
15. You're Looking At Me (Alt) [04:12]
16. Just You, Just Me [03:02]
17. I Was Little Too Lonely (And You Were A Little Too Late) [03:01]
18. How Little We Know [03:46]
19. Should I [02:06]
20. Ballerina [02:51]
21. Caravan [02:44]
22. Lonely One [03:47]
23. Blame It On My Youth [04:09]
24. What Is There To Say [03:35]
CD04 (01:16:18)
01. Sometimes I'm Happy [04:10]
02. I Know That You Know [02:29]
03. When I Grow Too Old To Dream [03:30]
04. Two Loves Have I [02:45]
05. True Blue Lou [03:10]
06. Like Someone In Love [02:44]
07. I'm Shooting High [01:33]
08. Tangerine [02:45]
09. One Sun [01:58]
10. You Are My First Love [02:32]
11. Maybe It's Because I Love You Too Much [02:49]
12. Love Letters [02:45]
13. I Thought About Marie [03:06]
14. Where Can I Go Without You [02:57]
15. Stardust [03:15]
16. Love Is The Thing [03:03]
17. It's All In The Game [03:07]
18. When I Fall In Love [03:09]
19. Ain't Misbehavin' [03:15]
20. When Sunny Gets Blue [02:45]
21. At Last [02:59]
22. Sray As Sweet As You Are [02:58]
23. When Rock And Roll Came To Trinidad [02:20]
24. China Gate [02:46]
25. Blue Moon [02:14]
26. With You On My Mind [02:37]
27. Don't Try [02:22]
CD05 (01:13:18)
01. Send For Me [02:37]
02. Let's Make More Love (I Want Your Love) [02:54]
03. Don't Get Around Much Anymore [03:11]
04. The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On) [02:46]
05. You'll Never Know [02:43]
06. Just For The Fun Of It (Alt) [02:34]
07. The Song Of Raintree County [02:39]
08. Who's Sorry Now [02:56]
09. Who's Sorry Now [02:58]
10. These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You) [03:47]
11. Once In A While [02:49]
12. Just For The Fun Of It [02:34]
13. Just One Of Those Things [02:14]
14. I Should Care [02:47]
15. The Party's Over [02:44]
16. A Cottage For Sale [02:58]
17. I Understand [02:25]
18. When Your Lover Has Gone [02:30]
19. When Your Lover Has Gone [02:31]
20. There's A Gold Mine In The Sky [02:45]
21. Around The World [02:35]
22. An Affair To Remember (Our Love Affair) [03:01]
23. Fascination [02:29]
24. How Did I Change [02:42]
25. It's None Of My Affair [01:45]
26. Angel Smile [02:31]
27. Nothin' In The World [02:41]
CD06 (01:18:53)
01. Overture 'love Theme-Hesitating Blues' [03:08]
02. Harlem Blues [01:51]
03. Chantez Les Bas [02:36]
04. Friendless Blues [03:15]
05. Stay [02:37]
06. Joe Turner's Blues [02:41]
07. Beale Street Blues [02:56]
08. Careless Love [02:44]
09. Morning Star [02:12]
10. Memphis Blues [03:06]
11. Yellow Dog Blues [03:16]
12. St. Louis Blues [02:26]
13. Make It Last [01:43]
14. Thank You, Pretty Baby [02:07]
15. Looking Back [02:12]
16. Just As Much As Ever [02:15]
17. Do I Like It [02:10]
18. I Wish I Knew The Way To Your Heart [03:16]
19. This Is All I Ask [04:30]
20. The More I See You [03:25]
21. I Found A Million Dollar Baby (In A Five And Ten Cent Store) [02:50]
22. Making Believe You're Here [03:39]
23. My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart) [04:12]
24. Don't Blame Me [03:56]
25. Cherchez La Femme [02:39]
26. The Very Thought Of You [03:48]
27. Paradise [03:12]
CD07 (01:21:36)
01. Cachito [02:50]
02. Noche De Ronda [02:32]
03. Maria Elena [02:41]
04. Lisbon Antigua (English) [01:44]
05. Acercate Mas (Come Closer To Me) (English) [02:47]
06. Tu Mi Delirio (You Are My Obsession) [02:35]
07. El Bodeguero (Grocer's Cha Cha) [02:22]
08. Come To The Mardi Gras [02:12]
09. Come To The Mardi Gras [02:11]
10. Te Quiero Dijiste (Mucho, Mucho) (Magic Is The Moonlight) [02:38]
11. Arrivederci Roma (Goodbye To Rome) [02:45]
12. Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps) [02:44]
13. Las Mananitas [02:55]
14. Adelita [02:09]
15. Acercate Mas (Come Closer To Me) (Spanish) [02:48]
16. There Is No Greater Love [03:04]
17. Magnificent Obsession [03:54]
18. Cherie I Love You [03:30]
19. Impossible [03:09]
20. But Beautiful [03:27]
21. For All We Know [03:14]
22. Too Much [03:20]
23. Lovesville [02:40]
24. Can't Help It [03:38]
25. I Got Love [02:02]
26. She's Funny That Way [03:02]
27. Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere [02:19]
28. I Want A Little Girl [02:49]
29. Mood Indigo [03:21]
CD08 (01:02:55)
01. The Blues Don't Care [02:10]
02. Avalon [01:45]
03. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home [02:11]
04. The Late, Late Show [02:32]
05. Welcome To The Club [02:44]
06. Look Out For Love [01:58]
07. Wee Baby Blues [03:16]
08. Madrid [02:50]
09. To Whom It May Concern [02:58]
10. Love-Wise [03:55]
11. In The Heart Of Jane Doe [03:02]
12. My Heart's Treasure [02:56]
13. You're Bringing Out The Dreamer In Me [03:09]
14. Give Me Your Love [02:10]
15. Coo Coo Roo Coo Coo Paloma [03:04]
16. Non Dimenticar (Don't Forget) [02:50]
17. Bend A Little My Way [02:24]
18. This Morning It Was Summer [03:58]
19. A Thousand Thoughts Of You [02:58]
20. For You [02:19]
21. Crazy She Calls Me [02:34]
22. Until The Real Thing Comes Along [03:08]
23. You Are My Love [01:53]
CD09 (01:20:03)
01. Ain't Gonna Study War No More [02:39]
22. This Holy Love [03:04]
02. Everytime I Feel The Spirit [01:49]
03. Standin' In The Need Of Prayer [02:12]
04. Go Down, Moses [01:51]
05. Steal Away [02:48]
06. I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray [01:54]
07. I Want To Be Ready [01:46]
08. Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen [02:44]
09. In The Sweet By And By [01:54]
10. Sweet Hour Of Prayer [01:49]
11. Oh Mary, Don't You Weep [01:58]
12. I Found The Answer [02:00]
13. The Best Thing For You Would Be Me [01:58]
14. Dedicated To You [02:51]
15. (I Would Do) Anything For You [01:45]
16. This Is Always [02:57]
17. I Had The Craziest Dream [02:35]
18. I Wish I Knew [03:18]
19. Be Still My Heart [02:33]
20. As Far As I'm Concerned [02:57]
21. Lorelei [02:40]
23. Peace Of Mind [02:56]
24. You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want To Do It) [02:54]
25. Tell Me All About Yourself [02:05]
26. When You Walked By [02:47]
27. You've Got The Indian Sign On Me [01:48]
28. My Life [02:11]
29. If You Said No [02:55]
30. That's You [02:37]
31. Something Happens To Me [02:39]
32. Sweethearts On Parade [02:24]
33. When You Belong To Me [02:27]
CD10 (01:05:50)
01. Unfair [01:55]
02. You're My Thrill [03:17]
03. Laughable [02:32]
04. For The Want Of A Kiss [02:11]
05. Again [02:27]
06. Again [02:24]
07. I Must Be Dreaming [01:48]
08. The Night Of The Quarter Moon [02:43]
09. Midnight Flyer [02:15]
10. Sweet Bird Of Youth [02:13]
11. The World In My Arms [02:04]
12. Time And The River [02:19]
13. Whatcha' Gonna Do [02:47]
14. In A Mellow Tone [01:57]
15. Perfidia [02:19]
16. Nadie Me Ama [02:32]
17. Aquellos Ojos Verdes [02:11]
18. Fantastico [01:55]
19. El Choclo [02:11]
20. Suas Maos [02:20]
21. Capullito De Aleli [02:27]
22. Nao Tenho Lagrimas (Come To The Mardi Gras) (Portuguese) [02:17]
23. Caboclo Do Rio [01:53]
24. Ay Cosita Linda [02:15]
25. Ansiedad [03:27]
26. Yo Vendo Unos Ojos Negros [02:21]
27. Brazillian Love Song [02:04]
28. Ninguem Ma Ama (Portuguese) [02:33]
CD11 (00:53:31)
01. Back In My Arms [03:05]
02. Unfair [02:03]
03. One Sun [01:57]
04. There's A Gold Mine In The Sky [02:38]
05. Around The World [02:34]
06. An Affair To Remember (Our Love Affair) [03:01]
07. Fascination [02:29]
08. Nothin' In The World [02:41]
09. Thank You, Pretty Baby [02:07]
10. Bend A Little My Way [02:18]
11. I Had The Craziest Dream [02:36]
12. I Wish I Knew [02:19]
13. Be Still My Heart [02:35]
14. Sweathearts On Parade [02:24]
15. You're My Thrill [03:19]
16. For The Want Of A Kiss [02:11]
17. Again [02:24]
18. I Must Be Dreaming [01:49]
19. Midnight Flyer [02:13]
20. Sweet Bird Of Youth [02:14]
21. The World In My Arms [02:04]
22. Time And The River [02:19]
