Customer Reviews

Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer

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These two albums are not Nat King Cole's best original albums. In fact, creatively, they're probably the least of them all. However, that's a relative statement! Enjoying Nat's albums are hardly difficult, and these are no exceptions. This is probably the most "cheerful" set.

The first is a collection of very old 'Americana' (in the form of turn-of-the-20th century "chestnuts") and newer material of a compatible spirit. Some of the authentics here - 'On a Bicycle Built for Two' or 'After the Ball' for example - would have their last mainstream outing here, I suspect. Most should enjoy the affable way these long-cherished but now largely forsaken ditties are done.

The newer cuts are enjoyable, particularly the showpiece ballad 'That Sunday, That Summer'. The title track 'Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer' was a very popular hit in '63, but I would single out 'That Sunday, That Summer' and the almost barbershop-quartet real oldie 'You Tell Me Your Dream' as the best of the lot.

By this time (1963), the "Mitch Miller sing-along" approach (bouncy tempos, a chorus singing along much of it, large orchestra with occasional novelty adaptations like a bicycle horn to fit 'On a Bicycle Built for Two') was popular, and this album does reflect that. It does so in an engaging way, however, and of course the main attraction is clearly Nat's game performances.

The second album (also 1963) is Nat "covering" select songs from the Broadway show 'My Fair Lady'. It is admittedly uneven. Nat is not an ideal Henry Higgins in those numbers, excepting of course, 'I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face'. He obviously enjoyed himself, and it's hard not to let quibbles go and enjoy the somewhat ironic readings. What's harder to enjoy is 'The Rain in Spain' which, out of the context of the program, sounds as close to "throw away" as Nat's albums get. Perhaps cutting it way down and adding 'Why Can't the English?' would've been ideal.

On the upside, however, there's several wonderful examples of classic pop. 'On The Street Where You Live', 'I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face' and 'I Could Have Danced All Night' are particularly loverly. 'Show Me' is the most interesting. Its transformation to tender Nat ballad is both notable and effective. The uptempo numbers 'Get Me To The Church On Time' and 'With a Little Bit Of Luck' retain their roughish charm.

The sound quality of this CD won't be a factor to most, as these were good sounding stereo recordings to begin with, and are passably, if hurriedly, transferred. They sound okay. In all fairness I should probably point out that the sound transfer is not of the quality of the above titles. Although the thin, hazy quality of the mediocre digital resolution may not be a known artifact to many, the difference will be apparent with a comparison of the track 'That Sunday, That Summer' or 'On the Street Where You Live' on the 1990's 4-CD Nat King Cole box set where it is cleaner, clearer and richer. At least we're spared another over-processed Capitol CD "remastered by Bob Norburg."

Commendably, both original album sleeves are reprinted at about the full size of the booklet, both front and back. Imagine that! Check out the original cover for 'Summer' - wow is that ever an "idealized" '63 Los Angeles beach! The cover of 'Lady' features a handsome picture of Nat.

For Nat's premium titles in the EMI 2-on-1 CDs series in terms of creative quality, I suggest the following before the purchase of this CD:

- Tell Me All About Yourself (big band) / The Touch of Your Lips (ballads)
- Where Did Everyone Go (ballads) / Looking Back (pop singles)

EMI deserves thanks for this issue, and it's significant: this release reissues both of the two remaining original Nat King Cole LPs not to be issued on CD (counting both the USA and the UK together). Would that Capitol USA, for whom all were originally recorded, had released them all. They've only had twenty years to do it. And of course, most of the ones they have issued are now out of print.

Enjoy while you may, and a "thank you" to EMI!

- CJ

Two long out-of-print LPs -- "Those Lazy ..." from 1963 and "My Fair Lady" from 1964 -- make a welcome return on CD. The remastered sound is excellent and the program is relaxed and upbeat on two albums that fit together quite nicely.

Ordered this from Amazon and received it within that same week...and the shipping was FREE, great service and outstanding album of "Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer" and "My Fair Lady", featuring early songs from the early 1900's and one of the most popular musicals every to hit Broadway...both albums were in my LP collection for years, almost forty of them during the early years while my children were growing up...and now that they are adults, they appreciate the one and only master of interpretation NAT "KING" COLE...no other singer in the business had the warmth that this man gave during a performance...along with Frank Sinatra, Cole built the Capitol Towers and brought them fame and fortune. Cole in my estimation did more for Capitol Records than any other recording artist of that time (and that my friend is saying something), but is the gospel.

Nat had a major hit with "THOSE LAZY HAZY CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER", remember hearing this on all the major radio stations and everyone during that time was sitting around the local swimming pool enjoying it...other highlights are "GET OUT & GET UNDER THE MOON", "THAT SUNDAY, THAT SUMMER", "THAT'S WHAT THEY MEANT BY THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME"...and then "I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT", "ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE", "I'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HER FACE", each song has been remastered to perfection...now on digital compact disc we can continue being delighted by Nat's God given talent.

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 twofer album are happy upbeat and Broadway musical tunes...some are timeless and remain classics, while others are songs that have never seen the light of day...the sound quality of this collection isn't the main issue here...but this release is a dream come true...more selections from the greatest entertainer of our time!

For many of Cole's fans, this has been a long awaited release...now we can relive the songs that gave us so much pleasure...remember Nat was with us for such a short time...just sit back, give a listen and enjoy the sounds we grew up with...songs we've come to love over these past plus decades...his music is never out of date...a wonderful human being NAT "KING" COLE!

Total Time: 63:32 on 24 Tracks ~ Universal Int'l 592656 ~ (10/27/2003)

When I was a child my Mom and Dad used to play this album all the time on the weekends and especially in summer. Over the years the record got scratched and I wanted to replace it for my Dad and to share some memories with him for his birthday. He loved it and remembered not just Lazy Crazy Days of Summer. He remembered all of them and he was very happy. I had not heard that smile in his voice for quite some time-he is 93 years younger now.
Thanks for the opportunity to share.

I could have sent my LP album of 'Those Lazy, Hazy...' off to be converted to a CD by a private service, but at an average price of $50.00, I found this dual-album CD an appealing prospect. However, I don't care for the 'My Fair Lady' soundtrack, so I will keep looking for the former to be released by itself. Cole is a fine vocalist, but 'My Fair Lady' was not a good choice for his style. I find myself rushing to change or end it after "Those Lazy,...' has ended, and that dampens an otherwise good experience.

The seller, however, provided excellent service and fast shipping.

I am lucky to have been introduced to all kinds of music. Nat King Cole is a legend and his music will live forever. He's smooth and nostalgic. I own a lot of his albums and love them all. These particular albums are just another great batch of songs by this fantastic singer.

The late Nat Cole is one of those treasures of American Music. He was a great Jazz pianist and singer, no doubt. Also a stylish balladeer with great albums but with some neglectable ones.

This EMI twofer shows his two sides as a balladeer. First a neglectable album of unimportant repertoire with some few exceptions. Second there is the splendid album with 'My Fair Lady' repertoire. This is worth buying the CD.

Here you'll find Mr. Cole at his best in vocal performance.

A Note on UK's EMI twofers: it's incredible that we could ever have the opportunity to listen to such old and rare material. EMI has issued a long series of CD twofers in a memorable initiative to show all the splendid material by splendid artists never before released in CD.