Music fans born after 1960 are less likely to be aware that Nat King Cole began his career as an influential jazz pianist, so much so that the great Art Tatum and the up-and-coming Oscar Peterson formed trios similar to Cole's. What this comprehensive limited-edition boxed set does is put all of Cole's jazz trio recordings, including later groups that added a conga player, selected tracks from sessions that sometimes border on easy listening, and nearly the complete contents of his well-known After Midnight album from the mid-'50s, where he was joined by guests including violinist Stuff Smith, saxophonist Willie Smith, trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, and trombonist Juan Tizol. But the main emphasis is onCole's recordings from the early days, including masterpieces like "Straighten Up and Fly Right," "Sweet Lorraine," "Body and Soul," and "Sweet Georgia Brown." By listening to sessions in order, one can hear Cole gradually transform from an instrumentalist into a friendly singing pianist and eventually, a master balladeer. Of course, there are forgettable novelty tunes sprinkled in among the gems, but there are also valuable unissued tracks that appear for the first time in this set. Also, the early recordings have been pitch-corrected, as all issues prior to this 1991 Mosaic issue were slightly off. The 18-CD set is accompanied by a detailed booklet with vintage photos, excellent liner notes by Will Friedwald, and a complete discography of the contents. Unfortunately, this Mosaic box has been out of print since the mid-'90s, so it will typically fetch several times its original price when it pops up occasionally on auction lists.
CD1 - 00:56:48
01. Vom, Vim, Veedle (A1) [02:59]
02. All For You (A1) [03:25]
03. Let's Spring One (B1) [02:41]
04. Beautiful Moons Ago (B1) [02:24]
05. Pitchin' Up A Boogie (B1) [03:10]
06. I'm Lost (B1) [03:09]
07. F.S.T. (Fine, Sweet & Tasty) (C1) [03:04]
08. My Lips Remember Your Kisses (C1) [03:06]
09. Got A Penny (C1) [02:34]
10. Let's Pretend (C1) [03:15]
11. Straighten Up And Fly Right (D1) [02:26]
12. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You (D1) [02:56]
13. Jumpin' At Capitol (D1) [02:28]
14. If You Can't Smile And Say Yes (D1) [03:06]
15. Sweet Lorraine (E1) [03:10]
16. Embraceable You (E1) [03:24]
17. Embraceable You (Alt.) (E1) [03:20]
18. It's Only A Paper Moon (E1) [02:56]
19. I Just Can't See For Lookin' (E1) [03:05]
CD2 - 00:56:46
01. Tha Man I Love (F1) [03:21]
02. Body And Soul (F1) [03:21]
03. Prelude In C Sharp Minor (F1) [02:57]
04. What Is This Thing Called Love (F1) [02:58]
05. After You Get What You Want, You Don't Want It (G1) [02:48]
06. Look What You've Done To Me (G1) [03:03]
07. Easy Listening Blues (G1) [03:11]
08. I Realize Now (G1) [03:10]
09. Please Consider Me (H1) [03:15]
10. Bring Another Drink (H1) [02:21]
11. I'd Love To Make Love To You (I1) [03:10]
12. I'm A Shy Guy (I1) [02:55]
13. Katusha (I1) [02:31]
14. It Only Happens Once (I1) [02:54]
15. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You (J1) [02:51]
16. Don't Blame Me (J1) [03:25]
17. I'm In The Mood For Love (J1) [02:58]
18. What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry (J1) [02:34]
19. I'm Thru With Love (J1) [02:54]
CD3 - 00:55:33
01. Barcarolle (K1) [03:06]
02. To A Wild Rose (K1) [03:14]
03. Sweet Georgia Brown (K1) [02:19]
04. I Tho't You Ought To Know (K1) [02:54]
05. It Only Happens Once (K1) [02:57]
06. (I Call My Papa) Fla-Ga-La-Pa (L1) [03:10]
07. It Is Better To Be By Yourself (L1) [02:58]
08. It Is Better To Be By Yourself (M1) [02:55]
09. Come To Baby, Do (M1) [03:06]
10. The Frim Fram Sauce (M1) [03:18]
11. Homeward Bound (N1) [03:12]
12. I'm An Errand Boy For Rhythm (N1) [02:20]
13. This Way Out (N1) [03:03]
14. I Know That You Know (N1) [02:30]
15. But She's My Buddy's Chick (Alt.) (O1) [02:54]
16. But She's My Buddy's Chick (O1) [02:56]
17. Oh, But I Do (O1) [02:50]
18. How Does It Feel? (O1) [02:56]
19. You Must Be Blind (O1) [02:47]
CD4 - 00:57:13
01. Loan Me Two Till Tuesday (O1) [02:38]
02. I'm In The Mood For Love (P1) [03:13]
03. I Don't Know Why (I Just Do) (Alt) (P1) [03:07]
04. I Don't Know Why (I Just Do) (P1) [03:12]
05. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 (P1) [03:02]
06. Everyone Is Sayin' Hello Again (Why Must We Say Goodbye?) (P1) [02:40]
07. F.S.T (Opening Theme) (Q1) [00:54]
08. F.S.T. (Closing Theme) (Q1) [02:05]
09. Just You, Just Me (Alt Tk) (R1) [03:21]
10. Just You, Just Me (R1) [03:22]
11. I've Got The World On A String (R1) [03:17]
12. Rex Rhumba (R1) [03:33]
13. But She's My Buddy's Chick (R1) [02:31]
14. Chant Of The Blues (Dog-Gone Unlucky Blues) (R1) [03:50]
15. Roak-A-Bye Baby (R1) [03:23]
16. Lester Leaps In (R1) [02:30]
17. I Don't Know Why (I Just Do) (R1) [02:49]
18. I Want To Be Happy (R1) [02:17]
19. I Know That You Know (R1) [02:23]
20. What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry (Alt) (S1) [02:58]
CD5 - 00:54:22
01. What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry (S1) [03:03]
02. To A Wild Rose (Alt.) (S1) [03:10]
03. To A Wild Rose (S1) [03:16]
04. Baby, Baby All The Time (S1) [03:14]
05. I Don't Know Why (I Just Do) (T1) [02:47]
06. This Way Out (T1) [02:32]
07. Baby, Baby All The Time (T1) [03:17]
08. Somebody Loves Me (T1) [03:20]
09. Too Marvelous For Words (T1) [02:51]
10. Honeysuckle Rose(T1) [02:19]
11. How Does It Feel? (T1) [03:13]
12. Loan Me Two Till Tuesday (T1) [02:23]
13. What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry (T1) [02:03]
14. You Name It (T1) [01:57]
15. Could-'Ja (Alt.) (U1) [03:06]
16. Could-'Ja (U1) [03:03]
17. Baby, Baby All The Time (Alt.) (U1) [03:01]
18. Baby, Baby All The Time (U1) [03:02]
19. Oh, But I Do (U1) [02:38]
CD6 - 00:57:20
01. Rex Rhumba (U1) [03:18]
02. How High The Moon (V1) [03:59]
03. You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love) (V1) [03:27]
04. Tiny's Exercise (V1) [02:52]
05. After You Get What You Want, You Don't Want It (V1) [02:35]
06. Body And Soul (V1) [03:47]
07. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (V1) [03:00]
08. I'd Love To Make Love To You (V1) [02:52]
09. Homeward Bound (V1) [03:01]
10. What Is This Thing Called Love? (W1) [03:41]
11. Mabel, Mabel (W1) [03:17]
12. Swingin' The Blues (W1) [02:12]
13. Beautiful Moons Ago (X1) [02:48]
14. I Got Rhythm (X1) [02:21]
15. Could-'Ja (X1) [03:03]
16. One O'Clock Jump (X1) [02:54]
17. How Deep Is The Ocean (X1) [02:56]
18. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 (X1) [03:23]
19. Cole Slaw (X1) [01:45]
CD7 - 00:54:29
01. But She's My Buddy's Chick [03:08]
02. You Call It Madness [03:05]
03. Homeward Bound [02:59]
04. Chant of the Blues (Dog-Gone Unlucky Blues) [03:12]
05. The Christmas Song [03:14]
06. You Should Have Told Me [02:53]
07. The Best Man [03:07]
08. The Christmas Song (ver) [03:12]
09. You Should Have Told Me (A2) [02:59]
10. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons [02:54]
11. In The Cool of the Evening [02:55]
12. That's the Beginning of the End [03:05]
13. If You Don't Like My Apples [03:01]
14. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes [02:56]
15. I Want to Thank You Folks [03:13]
16. You're the Cream in My Coffee [02:29]
17. Come In Out of the Rain [02:56]
18. You Don't Learn That in School [03:04]
CD8 - 00:54:39
01. You Be You (But Let Me Be Me) (G2) [03:09]
02. Can You Look Me In The Eyes (And Say We're Through) (G2) [02:48]
03. Give Me Twenty Nickles (H2) [03:08]
04. Meet Me At No Special Place (And I'll Be There At No Particular Time) (H2) [03:13]
05. If You Don't Like My Apples (H2) [02:41]
06. Naughty Angeline (I2) [02:43]
07. I Miss You So (I2) [03:04]
08. That's What (I2) [02:24]
09. Honeysuckle Rose (J2) [02:39]
10. Thanks For You (J2) [03:07]
11. It's King Of Lonesome Out Tonight (J2) [03:13]
12. For Once In Your Life (J2) [02:58]
13. I Think You Get What I Mean (K2) [02:40]
14. (Everyone Has Someone) But All I've Got Is Me (K2) [02:52]
15. Now He Tells Me (K2) [03:07]
16. I Can't Be Bothered (K2) [02:45]
17. When I Take My Sugar To Tea (L2) [02:23]
18. Rhumba Azul (L2) [02:34]
19. What'll I Do (L2) [03:02]
CD9 - 00:50:50
01. I Never Had A Chance (L2) [02:51]
02. This Is My Night To Dream (M2) [02:23]
03. Makin' Whoopee (M2) [02:32]
04. There I've Said It Again (M2) [03:12]
05. I'll String Along With You (N2) [03:13]
06. Ooh, Kickeroonie (N2) [02:24]
07. (It's Easy To See) The Trouble With Me, Is You (N2) [02:24]
08. Too Marvelous For Words (N2) [02:34]
09. Three Little Words (O2) [02:39]
10. Moonlight In Vermont (O2) [03:13]
11. Poor Butterfly (O2) [02:34]
12. How High The Moon (O2) [02:41]
13. I'll Never Be The Same (O2) [02:50]
14. These Foolish Things (O2) [03:14]
15. Cole Capers (O2) [01:56]
16. Blues In My Shower (O2) [02:53]
17. I Wanna Be A Friend Of Yours (P2) [02:12]
18. Ke Mo Ki Mo (The Magic Song) (P2) [02:22]
19. Three Blind Mice (P2) [02:34]
CD10 - 00:51:18
01. Save The Bones For Henry Jones (Cause Henry Don't Eat No Meat) (Q2) [02:41]
02. My Baby Likes To Be-Bop (And I Like To Be-Bop Too) (Q2) [02:28]
03. Harmony (Q2) [02:57]
04. You Can't Make Money Dreamin' (Q2) [02:30]
05. There's A Train Out For Dreamland (R2) [02:37]
06. (Go To Sleep) My Sleepy Head (R2) [02:45]
07. Nature Boy (R2) [02:39]
08. Wildroot Charlie (R2) [02:41]
09. Nursery Rhymes: Mary Had A Little Lamb/London Bridge/Go In And Out The Window/Pop
Goes The Weasel (S2) [02:47]
10. Old MacDonald Had A Farm (S2) [02:42]
11. The Three Trees (S2) [02:39]
12. Laguna Mood (S2) [02:57]
13. I'm A Little Ashamed (S2) [02:41]
14. Now He Tells Me (T2) [02:36]
15. That's A Natural Fact (T2) [02:37]
16. Lament In Chords (U2) [02:58]
17. You've Got Another Heart On Your Hands (U2) [02:21]
18. Baby, I Need You (U2) [02:47]
19. Those Things Money Can't Buy (U2) [02:46]
CD11 - 00:57:51
01. Love Nest (V2) [02:36]
02. Dream A Little Dream Of Me (V2) [02:51]
03. Then I'll Be Tired Of You (V2) [03:11]
04. Money Is Honey (W2) [02:53]
05. Little Girl (W2) [02:26]
06. Who's Telling You Lies (W2) [03:03]
07. No Moon At All (W2) [02:59]
08. I Feel So Smoochie (X2) [02:40]
09. A Boy From Texas - A Girl From Tennessee (X2) [02:41]
10. When You Walked Out With Shoes On (X2) [02:37]
11. That's The Kind Of Girl I Dream OF (X2) [02:24]
12. It's The Sentimental Thing To Do (Y2) [03:08]
13. I've Only Myself To Blame (Y2) [03:02]
14. It's Like Taking Candy From A Baby (Y2) [02:47]
15. You've Changed (Y2) [03:05]
16. The Geek (Z2) [03:14]
17. Confess (Z2) [02:58]
18. If I Had You (Z2) [03:03]
19. Flo And Joe (A3) [02:43]
20. If You Stub Your Toe On The Moon (A3) [03:19]
CD12 - 00:58:00
01. I'm Gonna Spank My Heart (A3) [02:54]
02. I See By The Papers (A3) [02:47]
03. Return Trip (A3) [03:02]
04. A Woman Always Understands (A3) [03:02]
05. Put 'Em In A Box, Tie 'Em With A Ribbon (And Throw 'Em In The Deep Blue Sea) (B3)
[02:42]
06. Blue And Sentimental (B3) [02:35]
07. I've Got A Way With Women (B3) [02:46]
08. My Fair Lady (B3) [03:10]
09. I Wish I Had The Blues Again (B3) [03:07]
10. Didn't I Tell You So? (C3) [02:37]
11. Lost April (C3) [03:03]
12. Lost April (D3) [02:58]
13. Lillette (D3) [03:02]
14. Monday Again (D3) [03:13]
15. Lulubelle (D3) [02:14]
16. It's So Hard To Laugh (It's So Easy To Cry) (D3) [03:05]
17. Portrait Of Jennie (E3) [03:00]
18. It Only Happens Once (E3) [03:08]
19. My Mother Told Me (E3) [02:44]
20. Bang Bang Boogie (E3) [02:42]
CD13 - 00:59:00
01. Portait Of Jennie (F3) [03:08]
02. Don't Cry, Cry Baby (F3) [03:07]
03. An Old Piano Plays The Blues (F3) [03:22]
04. How Lonely Can You Get? (F3) [03:02]
05. Laugh! Cool Clown (G3) [03:21]
06. Bop-Kick (G3) [02:37]
07. For All We Know (G3) [03:03]
08. Land Of Love (Come My Love And Live With Me) (H3) [03:17]
09. Lush Life (H3) [03:18]
10. Lillian (H3) [02:44]
11. 'Tis Autumn (H3) [03:08]
12. Yes Sir, That's My Baby (H3) [02:31]
13. I Used To Love You (But It's All Over Now) (H3) [03:01]
14. Etymology (The Language Of Love) (I3) [02:42]
15. Peaches (I3) [02:40]
16. Last But Not Least (I3) [02:35]
17. I Wake Up Screaming, Dreaming Of You (I3) [02:40]
18. It Was So Good While It Lasted (J3) [02:50]
19. I Get Sentimental Over Nothing (J3) [03:08]
20. Who Do You Know In Heaven (That Made You The Angel You Are?) (J3) [02:38]
CD14 - 00:59:16
01. Your Voice (J3) [02:20]
02. A Little Yellow Ribbon (In Her Hair) (J3) [02:26]
03. My Mother Told Me (K3) [02:57]
04. Exactly Like You (K3) [02:42]
05. Part Of Me (K3) [03:24]
06. What Have You Got In Those Eyes? (K3) [02:34]
07. Top Hat Bop (K3) [03:15]
08. Go Bongo (K3) [03:06]
09. Rhumba Blues (K3) [02:36]
10. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (K3) [02:30]
11. All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) (L3) [02:31]
12. You Can't Loose A Broken Heart (L3) [03:00]
13. Bang Bang Boogie (L3) [02:59]
14. (Here Is My Heart) Nalani (M3) [02:59]
15. The Horse Told Me (M3) [03:02]
16. Don't Shove, I'm Leaving (M3) [02:46]
17. Calypso Blues (M3) [03:02]
18. Mule Train (N3) [02:56]
19. My Baby Just Cares For Me (N3) [02:47]
20. For You My Love (O3) [02:26]
21. Can I Come In For A Second? (O3) [02:48]
CD15 - 00:54:38
01. Baby, Won't You Say You Love Me (P3) [03:00]
02. I Almost Lost My Mind (P3) [03:02]
03. A Little Bit Independent (P3) [03:10]
04. I'll Never Say ''Never Again'', Again (P3) [02:49]
05. Twisted Stockings (P3) [02:51]
06. If I Were You, Baby, I'd Love Me (Q3) [03:09]
07. Third Finger, Left Hand (Q3) [03:08]
08. After My Laughter Came Tears (Q3) [02:47]
09. Calico Sal (Q3) [02:30]
10. Peaches (Q3) [02:36]
11. Don't Let Your Eyes Go Shopping (For Your Heart) (Q3) [02:24]
12. All Aboard (Q3) [02:15]
13. Ooh Kickeroonie (Q3) [02:15]
14. 'Deed I Do (Q3) [02:16]
15. The Greatest Inventor Of Them All (R3) [02:18]
16. Who's Who (R3) [03:01]
17. Time Out For Tears (S3) [03:12]
18. Orange Colored Sky (T3) [02:33]
19. Jam-Bo (T3) [02:55]
20. Get To Gettin' (U3) [02:19]
CD16 - 00:50:43
01. Paint Yourself A Rainbow (V3) [02:22]
02. Destination Moon (V3) [02:42]
03. That's My Girl (W3) [02:22]
04. Wish I Were Somebody Else (X3) [02:44]
05. You Can't Make Me Love You (X3) [02:28]
06. Poor Jenny Is A Weepin' (X3) [02:46]
07. A Robin And A Rainbow And A Red, Red Rose (Y3) [02:33]
08. The Lighthouse In The Sky (Y3) [02:39]
09. Pigtails And Freckles (Y3) [02:32]
10. It's Crazy (Z3) [02:22]
11. You Stepped Out Of A Dream (Z3) [02:36]
12. Where Were You (Z3) [02:18]
13. Summer Is A Comin' In (Z3) [03:08]
14. Funny (Not Much) (Z3) [02:59]
15. Penthouse Serenade (A4) [03:07]
16. Rose Room (A4) [02:47]
17. Down By The Old Mill Stream (A4) [02:21]
18. Laura (A4) [02:44]
19. Polka Dots And Moonbeams (A4) [03:03]
CD17 - 01:03:11
01. Somebody Loves Me (A4) [03:05]
02. Once In A Blue Moon (A4) [02:57]
03. If I Should Lose You (A4) [03:13]
04. Don't Let Your Eyes Go Shopping (For Your Heart) (B4) [02:30]
05. Almost Like Being In Love (C4) [01:53]
06. This Can't Be Love (C4) [02:31]
07. Don't Hurt The Girl (C4) [03:21]
08. The Christmas Song (D4) [03:14]
09. Don't Blame Me (E4) [03:04]
10. It Could Happen To You (E4) [02:47]
11. I Surrender Dear (Alt.) (E4) [03:02]
12. I Surrender Dear (E4) [02:59]
13. Little Girl (E4) [01:50]
14. You Can Depend On Me (F4) [03:54]
15. Candy (F4) [03:54]
16. Sweet Lorraine (F4) [04:36]
17. It's Only A Paper Moon (F4) [03:07]
18. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 (F4) [03:42]
19. Don't Let It Go To Your Head (G4) [03:13]
20. You're Lookin' At Me (G4) [04:11]
CD18 - 01:00:22
01. Just You, Just Me (G4) [03:02]
02. I Was A Little Too Lonely And You Were A Little Too Late (G4) [03:01]
03. Caravan (H4) [02:44]
04. The Lonely One (H4) [03:48]
05. Blame It On My Youth (H4) [04:11]
06. What Is There To Say? (H4) [03:36]
07. Sometimes I'm Happy (I4) [04:11]
08. I Know That You Know (I4) [02:30]
09. When I Grow Too Old To Dream (I4) [03:33]
10. Two Loves Have I (I4) [02:47]
11. Whatcha' Gonna Do (J4) [02:48]
12. In A Mellow Tone (J4) [01:57]
13. Where Or When (K4) [03:18]
14. It's Only A Paper Moon (L4) [02:59]
15. Sweet Lorraine (L4) [03:24]
16. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 (M4) [02:57]
17. Straighten Up And Fly Right (M4) [02:38]
18. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons (M4) [03:06]
19. Embraceable You (M4) [03:45]
