Customer Reviews

Rockin Boppin & Blues

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Oh, man, what can I say about this CD? If you're only familiar with Nat's famous ballads, you are in for a treat with ROCKIN' BOPPIN' AND BLUES. Nat shows us the hip and oh-so-cool side of himself on this CD. Of course his hits with the Trio are here ("Straighten Up And Fly Right", "Route 66", "Baby, Baby All The Time", "Chant Of The Blues", "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You"), but also his 1965 "remix" version of "Send For Me" (actually it's the version from 1961's NAT KING COLE STORY with augmentation).

Other outstanding cuts are "Wee Baby Blues", "Joe Turner Blues", "Beale Street Blues" and "Walkin'". You'll love the humorous "If I Were You, Baby, I'd Love Me". Every single tune on this CD will have you up and jamming...The capper is the final song, the ironic "Mr. Cole Won't Rock And Roll", a tune that was originally recorded live in 1960 but left off of the NAT KING COLE AT THE SANDS LP, released a year after Nat's death. The song is HILARIOUS...definitely a showstopper!! Nat pokes fun at the rock and rollers of the day, and even parodies himself. That is a song that must be heard by any NKC fan! Nat had a terrific sense of humor, and it's evident on this song. Mr. Cole Won't Rock and Roll?! Ha! You'd never know it here. Get it!

Carole Cole and Paul Atkinson present a Songbook Series of classic standards performed by Nat King Cole..."Rockin' Boppin' & Blues", a compilation of the past recordings that will leave you tappin' your foot and completely satisfied...Nat had a tenderness in his voice, completely flawless...he could never deliver a bad tune...his style and signature of making a song his own has never been duplicated...within this album are timeless songs and remain classics, while others are songs that have never seen the light of day...the sound quality of this album is outstanding with all tracks 24-Bit Digitally Remastered...this release is a dream come true...more selections from the greatest entertainer of our time!

The composers are the who's who in music...W.C. Handy, Rodgers, Bobby Troup, and the man himself Nat King Cole...some stand outs and a few highlights "I'M AN ERRAND BOY FOR RHYTHM", "STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT", both tunes composed by Mr. Cole, "GEE BABY, AIN'T I GOOD TO YOU", recorded recently by Diana Krall, Lyle Lovett and Peter Cincotti, but Nat's version is still the best, "THE FRIM FRAM SAUCE", is a classic among classics for lyrics and substance, many have recorded this tune, but Nat's performance stands way up there and alone with originality, "SEND FOR ME", if your late and in a hurry, I'll be there, the lyrics leave you completely protected with Nat's delivery...and last but not least is "BEALE STREET BLUES", composed by W.C. Handy and performed by Nat in a film "The St. Louis Blues", the life story of Handy whom Nat portrayed...his voice was at it's peak during these wonderful sessions...care was taken on all 18 tracks...a must have for all the fans of this beloved man.

Nat was awarded a posthumous plaque to the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame, naming him one of the major early influences on rock 'n' roll...they'll never be another pass this way again...thank you Captiol and Carole Cole for this release of Nat "King" Cole during his rockin' boppin' & blues years...his songs will remain with us always and forever...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 58:17 on 18 Tracks ~ Capitol Records 527316 ~ (6/27/2000)

This CD is a must, particularly for the up tempo trio works, the first big hits for for up and coming Capital Records. The 24 bit sound is very attractive. Straighten Up and Fly Right, Frim Fram Sauce and Route 66 were precursors of the Rhythm and Blues era to begin a few years later. Go for it!