Forty-seven complete songs in 100 minutes: at an average of little more than two minutes per tune, the hits come fast and furious in this black-and-white compilation drawn from Nat "King" Cole's 1957 NBC-TV series. That's a good thing, as the buttery-smooth Cole was certainly a distinctive pop vocalist, and the repertoire includes many of his best known numbers: "Unforgettable," "Mona Lisa," "The Christmas Song," and so on. But the best moments here come when he returns to his jazz roots, singing and/or playing (he was a fine pianist) with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, the Mills Brothers, trumpeter Roy Eldridge, pianist Oscar Peterson, saxophonists Stan Getz and the incomparable Coleman Hawkins, bassist Ray Brown, and others. If tunes like "Stompin' at the Savoy," "It's Only a Paper Moon," and "Sweet Lorraine" don't get you swingin', then you better check your pulse-–to see if you still have one, that is.
--Sam Graham
The best performances from Nat "King" Cole's 19567 NBC television series featuring 47 full-length songs. Digitally remastered, this is the ultimate Nat "King" Cole collection featuring the legendary entertainer's greatest hits. Also includes performances by Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr., Johnny Mercer, the Mills Brothers, and the Oscar Peterson Trio, with Ray Brown on bass, Coleman Hawkins on sax, and Herb Ellis on guitar. Plus, Nat is joined by
Jazz at the Philharmonic all-stars Stan Getz, Illinois Jacquet, and Flip Phillips on tenor sax, Jo Jones on drums, and Roy Eldridge on trumpet. The orchestra is conducted by Nelson Riddle. 100 minutes.
Part 1: That Reminds Me, Little Girl, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face, Ballerina, Pretend, It's Only a Paper Moon, Sweet Lorraine, I Want to Be Happy, With You on My Mind, Stompin' at the Savoy, But Not for Me, You Are My First Love, Just You Just Me, Raintree County, Dig a Dig a Doo, Where or When, Dancing on the Ceiling, Too Close for Comfort, The Christmas Song, A Blossom Fell, Unforgettable.
Part 2: Somewhere Along the Way, Almost Like Being in Love, It's All in the Game, Anything Goes, Zing Went the Strings of My Heart, So Long My Love, Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful, Red Sails in the Sunset, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Mona Lisa, I'm Sitting on Top of the World, Dream, Save the Bones for Henry Jones, Autumn Leaves, Mama Look a Boo Boo, There Will Never Be Another You, Blueberry Hill, Shine On Harvest Moon, Tenderly, Opus One, When I Fall in Love, These Foolish Things I Do, How High the Moon, Shadow Waltz, I Get a Kick out of You.
