Artist: Nat King Cole Rating: Release Date: 1950 08 16-1961 09 06Total Time: 43:33Type: Compilation (best of)Genre: Vocal Music
Review Nat King Cole 's collaborations with the Count Basie Orchestra and the Stan Kenton Orchestra (all of which are included on this CD) found him mostly sticking to singing but enjoying the jazz-oriented backgrounds. He first met up with Kenton in 1950, recording the memorable "Orange Colored Sky" and starring on piano during the instrumental "Jambo." They had a reunion in 1960-1961, cutting a remake of "Orange Colored Sky" and two more poppish songs. The matchup with Basie showcased Cole purely as a singer in 1958;
Gerald Wiggins took Basie's place at the keyboards. One of Cole's better vocal sessions, he is in top form on a variety of standards (particularly on "The Late, Late Show" and "Welcome to the Club"); pity he did not sit in with the band on piano. This CD is recommended for its rare examples of
Nat King Cole as a big-band singer. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Tracks
She's Funny That Way
Richard Whiting , Neil Moret Nat King Cole (3:00)
Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere
Lee Wiley , Ned Washington , Victor Young Nat King Cole (2:20)
I Want a Little Girl
Billy Moll , Murray Mencher Nat King Cole (2:47)
Mood Indigo
Irving Mills , Barney Bigard , Duke Ellington Nat King Cole (3:20)
The Blues Don't Care
Vic Abrams Nat King Cole (2:09)
Avalon
Al Jolson , Buddy DeSylva , Vincent Rose Nat King Cole (1:44)
Baby Won't You Please Come Home
Clarence Williams , Charles Warfield Nat King Cole (2:11)
The Late, Late Show
Roy Alfred , Murray Berlin Nat King Cole (2:31)
Welcome to the Club
Noel Sherman , Dick Wolf Nat King Cole (2:43)
Look Out for Love
Colin Romoff , Danny Meehan Nat King Cole (1:55)
Wee Baby Blues
Big Joe Turner , Pete Johnson Nat King Cole (3:15)
Madrid
Nat King Cole (2:47)
Orange Colored Sky
Milton DeLugg , William Stein Nat King Cole (2:30)
Jambo
Shorty Rogers Nat King Cole (2:52)
Orange Colored Sky
Milton DeLugg , William Stein Nat King Cole (2:32)
Steady
Al Hoffman , Dick Manning Nat King Cole (2:17)
My Love
Stan Kenton , Ollie Jones Nat King Cole (2:40)
Credits Laurindo Almeida (Guitar), Conte Candoli (Trumpet) , Buddy Childers (Trumpet) , Bob Cooper (Sax (Tenor)) , Maynard Ferguson (Trumpet) , Freddie Green (Guitar) , Al Grey (Trombone) , Herbie Harper (Trombone) , Plas Johnson (Sax (Tenor)) , Thad Jones (Trumpet) , Stan Kenton (Piano) , Stan Kenton (?) , Mel Lewis (Drums) , Shelly Manne (Drums) , Billy Mitchell (Sax (Tenor)) , Red Mitchell (Bass) , Joe Newman (Trumpet) , Art Pepper (Sax (Alto)) , Marshall Royal (Sax (Alto)) , Bud Shank (Sax (Alto)) , Paul Smith (Piano) , Marvin Stamm (Trumpet) , Gerald Wiggins (Piano) , Irving Ashby (Guitar) , Don Bagley (Bass) , Gabe Baltazar (Sax (Alto)) , Pete Candoli (Trumpet) , Sam Donahue (Sax (Tenor)) , Lennie Niehaus (Sax (Alto)) , Pete Rugolo (Arranger) , Jack Marshall (Guitar) , Mike Pacheco (Percussion) , Shorty Rogers (Trumpet) , Shorty Rogers (Arranger) , George Acevedo (Percussion) , Jim Amlotte (Trombone) , Bob Behrendt (Trumpet) , Milt Bernhart (Trombone) , Harry Betts (Trombone) , Bud Brisbois (Trumpet) , Larry Bunker (Percussion) , Henry Coker (Trombone) , Nat King Cole (Piano) , Nat King Cole (Vocals) , Nat King Cole (Main Performer) , John Collins (Guitar) , Joe Comfort (Bass) , Jack Costanzo (Bongos) , Jack Costanzo (Conga) , Wendell Culley (Trumpet) , Michael Cuscuna (Producer) , Wayne Dunstan (Sax (Baritone)) , Bob Fitzpatrick (Trombone) , Frank Foster (Sax (Tenor)) , Charlie Fowlkes (Sax (Baritone)) , Will Friedwald (Liner Notes) , Bob Gioga (Sax (Baritone)) , Al Hendrickson (Guitar) , Marvin Holladay (Sax (Baritone)) , Frank Huggins (Trumpet) , Jack Sheldon (Trumpet) , Bobby Knight (Trombone) , Kent Larsen (Trombone) , Jay Migliori (Sax (Tenor)) , Jack Nimitz (Sax (Baritone)) , Bud Parker (Trombone) , Sonny Payne (Drums) , Bill Pittman (Guitar) , Benny Powell (Trombone) , Paul Renzi (Sax (Tenor)) , Bob Rolfe (Trumpet) , Ronnie Rubin (Sax (Tenor)) , Tommy Shepard (Trombone) , Dalton Smith (Trumpet) , Frank Wess (Sax (Alto)) , Dave Wheeler (Trombone) , Snooky Young (Trumpet) , Lee Gillette (Producer) , Johnny Halliburton (Trombone) , Lee Young (Drums) , Eddie Jones (Bass) , John Anderson (Trumpet) , Count Basie Big Band (?) , Chico Álvarez (Trumpet) , Jerry McKenzie (Drums) , Jim Salco (Trumpet) , John Spurlock (Trombone) , Bert Calderal (Sax (Tenor)) , Dave Cavanaugh (Arranger) , Charlie Harris (Bass)
