Cole Sings Shearing Plays

Nat King Cole, George Shearing | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 23, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Indent Series
• ASIN: B000005JJ6
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #733,781 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. September Song

2. Pick Yourself Up

3. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)

4. Let There Be Love

5. Azure-Te

6. Lost April

7. A Beautiful Friendship

8. Fly Me to the Moon

9. 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 (This Summer) [#]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you can find it in stock somewhere, BUY IT!, May 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cole Sings Shearing Plays (Audio CD)

Cole and Shearing are exceptional together on this CD. Shearing's light style is a perfect complement to Cole's "relaxed" way of singing a tune. Great songs on this CD, including some you'll have a hard time finding anywhere else. I just don't get tired of this CD.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An album for the ages., September 21, 2005

By 

Mary Whipple (New England) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Cole Sings Shearing Plays (Audio CD)

Though Cole and Shearing came from totally different backgrounds, their approach to music was similar, and in this remastered CD of the original 1961 album, the two find the perfect blend of sound and mood, allowing each to be himself while complementing the other. Cole is a crooner here, singing mellow, usually romantic ballads, and often sliding down the scale to his lower notes. Shearing plays quiet, inventive, and "tinkly" accompaniments in the background, without ever stepping on Cole's notes. Both are gentlemen of the old school who maintain a professionalism and formality which shows clear respect for the audience and for each other, while at the same time conveying a sense of controlled passion and warmth for the music.

Varying the sound from the easy swing beat of "Pick Yourself Up," in which Cole offers gentle advice, rather than an assertive recommendation, to the Latin beat of "Serenata" and "The Game of Love," the very slow ballads of "Lost April" and "I Got It Bad," and the less familiar songs of "There's a Lull in My Life" and "Don't Go," Cole uses phrasings which make overly familiar lyrics suddenly come alive. Shearing, keeping his piano accompaniments relatively simple, adds to the moods Cole creates, while Ralph Carmichael, with the String Choir, fills in the arrangements.

Three songs stand out: "Let There Be Love" begins with a bluesy piano intro and light percussion, until Cole and Shearing guide the song into somewhat louder and jazzier realms near the end. "Fly Me to the Moon" is sung much more slowly than usual, sounding more intimate and private as a result, as if Cole is singing directly to the audience in phrasings that sound conversational. "The Game of Love," with its syncopated Latin beat has a great piano solo by Shearing, flute-y piccolo sounds, and a more integrated accompaniment with the strings. Cole's phrasing is reminiscent of Belafonte here.

For listeners more accustomed to the minimalist percussion and piano accompaniments of modern jazz and ballad soloists, the inclusion of the heavy strings of the String Choir may sound a bit dated and a bit intrusive, an overly romantic (Nelson Riddle-like) element commonly included on recordings at that time. Cole and Shearing adapt to the strings beautifully, leaving room for them while keeping their own styles simple. With beautiful songs rendered even more beautiful by the partnership of Cole and Shearing, this is an album for the ages. Mary Whipple

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I bought the casette 10 year ago and it's gone bad., July 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cole Sings Shearing Plays (Audio CD)

Nat and George are great togather. I especially like the cuts of "Let There Be Love" and "There's a Lull in My Life" I really want to replace my worn out tape; please restock this item.