Artist: Nat King Cole Rating: Release Date: May 13, 1991Total 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 A. Whiting , Neil Moret Nat King Cole (3:00)
Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere
Victor Young , Ned Washington , Lee Wiley Nat King Cole (2:20)
I Want a Little Girl (Lyrics) Billy Moll , Murray Mencher Nat King Cole (2:47)
Mood Indigo
Irving Mills , Duke Ellington , Barney Bigard Nat King Cole (3:20)
The Blues Don't Care
Vic Abrams , Vic Abrams Nat King Cole (2:09)
Avalon (Lyrics) Buddy DeSylva , Vincent Rose , Al Jolson Nat King Cole (1:44)
Baby Won't You Please Come Home
Charles Warfield , Clarence Williams Nat King Cole (2:11)
The Late, Late Show
Roy Alfred , Murray Berlin Nat King Cole (2:31)
Welcome to the Club (Lyrics) Noel Sherman , Dick Wolf Nat King Cole (2:43)
Look Out for Love (Lyrics) Colin Romoff , Danny Meehan , Daniel J. Meehan Nat King Cole (1:55)
Wee Baby Blues (Lyrics) Pete Johnson , Big Joe Turner Nat King Cole (3:15)
Madrid
Nat King Cole (2:47)
Orange Colored Sky
Milton DeLugg , William Stein , Willie Stein Nat King Cole (2:30)
Jambo
Shorty Rogers Nat King Cole (2:52)
Orange Colored Sky
Milton DeLugg , William Stein , Willie Stein Nat King Cole (2:32)
Steady
Dick Manning , Al Hoffman Nat King Cole (2:17)
My Love (Lyrics) Ollie Jones , Stan Kenton Nat King Cole (2:40)
Credits Conte Candoli (Trumpet), Shorty Rogers (Arranger) , Al Hendrickson (Guitar) , Bud Brisbois (Trumpet) , Joe Comfort (Bass) , Jack Marshall (Guitar) , Frank Huggins (Trumpet) , Wayne Dunstan (Sax (Baritone)) , Jack Costanzo (Conga) , Johnny Halliburton (Trombone) , Bud Parker (Trombone) , Tommy Shepard (Trombone) , Buddy Childers (Trumpet) , Marshall Royal (Sax (Alto)) , Gabe Baltazar (Sax (Alto)) , Wendell Culley (Trumpet) , Will Friedwald (Liner Notes) , Stan Kenton (Piano) , Jim Salco (Trumpet) , Art Pepper (Sax (Alto)) , Jack Sheldon (Trumpet) , Pete Rugolo (Arranger) , Jerry McKenzie (Drums) , Marvin Holladay (Sax (Baritone)) , Lennie Niehaus (Sax (Alto)) , Laurindo Almeida (Guitar) , Kent Larsen (Trombone) , George Acevedo (Percussion) , Paul Smith (Piano) , Eddie Jones (Bass) , Bert Calderal (Sax (Tenor)) , Ronnie Rubin (Sax (Tenor)) , Chico Álvarez (Trumpet) , Herbie Harper (Trombone) , Mike Pacheco (Percussion) , Stan Kenton (?) , Frank Wess (Sax (Alto)) , Nat King Cole (Piano) , Thad Jones (Trumpet) , Bob Gioga (Sax (Baritone)) , Dave Wheeler (Trombone) , Lee Young (Drums) , Dalton Smith (Trumpet) , John Anderson (Trumpet) , Sonny Payne (Drums) , Mel Lewis (Drums) , Shorty Rogers (Trumpet) , Bob Fitzpatrick (Trombone) , John Spurlock (Trombone) , Charlie Fowlkes (Sax (Baritone)) , Maynard Ferguson (Trumpet) , Marvin Stamm (Trumpet) , Jack Nimitz (Sax (Baritone)) , Benny Powell (Trombone) , John Collins (Guitar) , Bill Pittman (Guitar) , Michael Cuscuna (Producer) , Irving Ashby (Guitar) , Snooky Young (Trumpet) , Bob Behrendt (Trumpet) , Harry Betts (Trombone) , Bobby Knight (Trombone) , Freddie Green (Guitar) , Dave Cavanaugh (Arranger) , Nat King Cole (Vocals) , Jay Migliori (Sax (Tenor)) , Frank Foster (Sax (Tenor)) , Al Grey (Trombone) , Milt Bernhart (Trombone) , Red Mitchell (Bass) , Paul Renzi (Sax (Tenor)) , Charlie Harris (Bass) , Gerald Wiggins (Piano) , Pete Candoli (Trumpet) , Bob Cooper (Sax (Tenor)) , Don Bagley (Bass) , Billy Mitchell (Sax (Tenor)) , Count Basie Big Band (?) , Shelly Manne (Drums) , Lee Gillette (Producer) , Henry Coker (Trombone) , Bob Rolfe (Trumpet) , Jim Amlotte (Trombone) , Bud Shank (Sax (Alto)) , Plas Johnson (Sax (Tenor)) , Jack Costanzo (Bongos) , Joe Newman (Trumpet) , Larry Bunker (Percussion) , Sam Donahue (Sax (Tenor))
