Customer Reviews

Tell Me All About Yourself/Touch Of Your Lips

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Tell Me All About Yourself/Touch Of Your Lips is a fantastic two-fer CD that gives us all of the tracks on two of Nat King Cole's record albums, Tell Me About Yourself and The Touch Of Your Lips. The sound quality couldn't be better; and Nat is in excellent form throughout.

"Tell me About Yourself" features a more mature Nat King Cole and he does a great job on this; he switches tempos and keys effortlessly and the big band style arrangement is very well done. "Until The Real Thing Comes Along" is a classic love ballad that has Nat crooning like the very best of them! "Until The Real Thing Comes Along" showcases Nat's excellent voice and his diction is flawless. Listen also for "Dedicated To You;" this beautiful love song has Nat swaying slowly and gently and this tune is flawless--it's THAT good.

"You Are My Love" has a more upbeat, relentlessly happy Nat King Cole as he sings of his one true love. The big band arrangement makes use of the brass to great advantage. "This Is Always" again proves Nat still could do his best even as late as the very early 1960s; Nat sings this to perfection and he never sings a superfluous note.

"Touch Of Your Lips" again showcases Nat's vocals as he croons yet another beautiful love ballad that just doesn't get enough recognition. "I Remember You" is more recognizable; and Nat sings this with a slower than usual tempo to enhance the natural beauty of this number. Great!

"Funny (Not Much)" gives us Nat in fine form and the strings do a great job on this number; and listen for "Sunday Monday Or Always." "Sunday Monday Or Always" has always been one of my favorite tunes--when Nat sings it, that is. "A Nightingale Sung In Berkeley Square" is an equally stunning ballad when Nat takes it into his capable hands.

Kudos for David Cavanaugh and Ralph Carmichael; their lush musical arrangements truly make the grade here. I'm very impressed.

Overall, Nat King Cole fans have much to be happy about with this CD. I highly recommend this CD for Nat's fans; and people who enjoy classic pop vocals are bound to enjoy this, too.

These two outings from 1960 and 61, prove what skill the great king had over a ballad. Even better, they are both remastered from the original stereo tapes this time, (something EMI failed to do with sincerely & the beautiful ballads). Also added, a chilling echo effect on "Touch of your Lips" not present on the original LP nor on American cuts from this album. Alomost sounds like Cole is singing to us from the great beyond! i would highly reccomend this album for any collection.

Once again, Nat 'King' Cole has shown us just why he is THE KING. His baritone voice, which is rich and tempting like a Godiva chocolate, entrances the listener. TELL ME ALL ABOUT YOURSELF, from 1960, is the more upbeat of the two CDs, reminiscent of Billy May's work with Nat (JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS, LET'S FACE THE MUSIC), only the arranger and band orchestrator here is Dave Cavanagh. This is a real jazzy toe tapper that swings. My favorite tunes here are the cute "You've Got The Indian Sign On Me", "Until The Real Thing Comes Along" and "The Best Thing For You".

However, of the two Nat 'King' Cole CDs presented here, my favorite is THE TOUCH OF YOUR LIPS from 1961. Definitely in the class with LOVE IS THE THING and THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU...beautifully romantic. With lush orchestrations by long-time Cole collaborator Ralph Carmichael, you can just fall in love listening to this masterpiece. Outstanding cuts are the title song, "Funny (Not Much)", "Sunday, Monday, Or Always", composed by the men who were also writing for Sinatra, Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen; the hauntingly lovely "Poinciana", where in the beginning and end of the song, Nat's voice echoes, like he's far away, then right in front of you, then fades away again; "Not So Long Ago" and the wonderfully sweet "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square". Both of these CDs have wonderful material, and even though most of these songs are not as popular as Nat's hits, they are no less enchanting. Nathaniel Cole continues his awesome reign as KING, and CDs like these two are the reason. Pick this one up.

From the vaults of Capitol Records, brought to you on an import by EMI/Int'l with lush arrangements by David Cavanaugh and Ralph Carmichael from the early '60s with have "Tell Me All About Yourself" and "The Touch of Your Lips", another smooth ballad release featuring Nat "King" Cole...he 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 twofer album are wonderful ballads complete with romantic lyrics...some are timeless and remain classics, while others are songs that have never seen the light of day....but this release is a dream come true...more selections from the greatest entertainer of our time!

Both are excellent, many are hard-to-find not well known...such as "TELL ME ALL ABOUT YOURSELF", "WHEN YOU WALKED BY", "DEDICATED TO YOU", "YOU ARE MY LOVE", "THIS IS ALWAYS", "MY LIFE" and "I WOULD DO ANTHYING FOR YOU"...more familiar songs among vocalist on this album are, "THE BEST THING FOR YOU", "CRAZY SHE CALLS ME", "FOR YOU", "I REMEMBER YOU", "POINCIANA", "SUNDAY, MONDAY OR ALWAYS", "THE TOUCH OF YOUR LIPS", "UNTIL THE REAL THING COMES ALONG", "YOU'RE MINE, YOU!"...an my favorite song on this twenty-four release is "A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELEY SQUARE", this tune completely reeks with romance and all it stands for, when it comes to interpretation and expertly performed, Nat is the master at his craft.

This collection is available on EMI/Capitol Import label...but the care that was taken is incredible...a must have for all the fans of this beloved man...they'll never be another pass this way again...thank you to the UK for this release of Nat "King" Cole and the songs that will remain with us always and forever...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 69:39 on 24 Tracks ~ EMI/Int'l 855390 ~ (2/26/1997)

This set is a great example of the perfect use of a voice as an instrument. Nat King Cole was already known for his velvet voice when he started to work with Nelson Riddle as an arranger. Like Sinatra, Riddle was able to perfectly compliment Coles voice, and add it to the melody as an instrument. This set is a prime example. Though the first set is more of Coles basic stuff, the second half is the star. Especially on "I Remember You ", You feel the melody and the precise blending of vocal and music. Highly recommended, remastered very well.

This guy had a voice like no one else and this disc (especially the latter of the two, "Touch Of Your Lips") is proof of that.

The re-issue of "The Touch Of Your Lips" is absolutely breathtaking, a jazz vocal masterpiece, with lush arrangements very worthy of Cole. His voice was at it's peak at the time of this wonerful session of lovely ballads. On the other hand "Tell Me All About Yourself" swings hard, Cole pounces though great swing and jazz standards. Overall we have 2 great LP's on one CD.

This is THE CD to get of the EMI Nat King Cole two-fers. "Tell Me All About Yourself" is a very good big band album. Not quite as good as the Billy May Sessions, but still very good.

The second album, "the Touch of Your Lips" which was recorded in December 1960, is why this CD is a must have. It's simply a masterpiece and in my humble opinion is perhaps Nat's best album ever. This collection of ballads is brilliantly sung by Nat with incredible warmth and depth, and the arrangements by Ralph Carmichael are SO smooth. Carmichael is the arranger who did Nat's classic "A Christmas Song" album in 1960 and this set has the same basic sound. Of particular note is the way Carmichael uses the sound of mellow tenor flutes throughout the album, as well as a slight jazz bass beat, unusual for a ballads album. The arrangements are just gorgeous without being cheesy. Sound quality is excellent, and what can you say about the material? "You're Mine You" and "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" are standouts for me, but frankly there is not one weak track here.

Nat King Cole was a man of incredible musical taste and personal character, based on conversations I have had with musicians who recorded with him. And all that character comes through here in these recordings. Simply one of the best ballads albums ever... pure class. Enjoy.

Nat can do no wrong in whatever he sings - whether its a ballad or swing. Always a pleasure to listen to!