Nat King Cole - Live At The Blue Note Chicago

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2024
Time: 79:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 182,4 MB
Art: Front

(0:16) 1. Frank Holzfeind Introduction
(2:30) 2. Little Girl
(3:44) 3. Unforgettable
(3:29) 4. It's Only A Paper Moon
(3:45) 5. Love Is Here To Stay
(3:42) 6. Too Marvelous For Words
(2:34) 7. What Does It Take
(2:34) 8. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
(3:59) 9. Exactly Like You
(4:14) 10. Sweet Lorraine
(3:55) 11. Can't I
(0:09) 12. Band Introduction
(3:30) 13. Calypso Blues
(0:27) 14. Frank Holzfeind Introduction #2
(2:08) 15. Walkin' My Baby Back Home
(3:50) 16. Mona Lisa - Too Young
(2:28) 17. Blue Gardenia
(3:17) 18. Straighten Up And Fly Right
(3:37) 19. Funny (Not Much)
(2:46) 20. Somewhere Along The Way
(2:16) 21. Nature Boy
(3:22) 22. Pretend
(3:52) 23. A Fool Was I
(3:20) 24. If Love Is Good To Me
(2:53) 25. I Am In Love
(2:40) 26. This Can't Be Love
(3:36) 27. Route 66

A great small club performance from Nat King Cole of the sort he never really recorded for Capitol Records, even though this set is right in the middle of his glory days on the label! In some ways, the set hearkens back to Nat's roots maybe no surprise, as he's back in Chicago and the combo here features John Collins on guitar, Charlie Harris on bass, and Lee Young on drums working with Cole to offer up some nicely lean versions of tunes you might know from his fuller, more polished studio versions.

The set's a great reminder that at the core, even during the big years, Nat was still a jazzman at heart as you'll hear on tunes that include "Funny", "Straighten Up & Fly Right", "Nature Boy", "Route 66", "This Can't Be Love", "Somewhere Along The Way", "Mona Lisa/Too Young", "Exactly Like You", "Sweet Lorraine", and "Calypso Blues".© 1996-2024, Dusty Groove, Inc.
https://www.dustygroove.com/item/171853/Nat-King-Cole:Live-At-The-Blue-Note-Chicago-2024-Record-Store-Day-Release

Live At The Blue Note Chicago

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The Keynoters With Nat King Cole: The Essential Keynote Collection 9

Styles: Swing, Jazz
Year: 1986
Time: 47:29
File: MP3 @ 128K/s
Size: 47,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:17) 1. You're Driving Me Crazy (Alternate Take)
(4:15) 2. You're Driving Me Crazy
(4:38) 3. I'm In The Market For You
(4:31) 4. Blue Lou (Unissued Master 1)
(4:22) 5. Blue Lou (Unissued Master 2)
(4:20) 6. I Found A New Baby (Unissued Master)
(3:18) 7. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (Alternate Take)
(3:06) 8. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
(3:11) 9. The Way You Look Tonight (Alternate Take)
(3:10) 10. The Way You Look Tonight
(2:38) 11. Airiness A La Nat (Alternate Take)
(2:39) 12. Airiness A La Nat
(3:00) 13. My Old Flame

Valuable anthology in the huge Complete Keynote Sessions anthology line. This set featured Cole playing with group assembled for recording sessions organized by Harry Lim for his Keynote label. They are solidly in swing mode and present Cole at his peak as soloist and accompanist. Unfortunately, both this and the total 21-disc package are difficult to find and expensive.By Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-keynoters-with-nat-king-cole-mw0000651253#review

Personnel: Trumpet – Charlie Shavers (tracks: 1 to 6), Jonah Jones (tracks: 1 to 6); Tenor Saxophone – Budd Johnson (tracks: 1 to 6); Alto Saxophone – Willie Smith (2) (tracks: 7 to 13); Bass – Milt Hinton (tracks: 1 to 6), Red Callender (tracks: 7 to 13); Drums – J. C. Heard (tracks: 1 to 6), Jackie Mills (tracks: 7 to 13); Piano – Johnny Guarnieri (tracks: 1 to 6), Nat King Cole (tracks: 7 to 13)

The Keynoters With Nat King Cole: The Essential Keynote Collection 9

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Nat King Cole - From The Capitol Vaults (Vol. 1), (Vol.2), (Vol.3)

Nat King Cole - From The Capitol Vaults (Vol. 1)
Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2022
Time: 42:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 97,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:16) 1. Roses And Wine
(3:06) 2. Tunnel Of Love
(2:49) 3. Get Out And Get Under The Moon (feat. Maria Cole)
(2:44) 4. The Way I'm Loving You
(2:51) 5. My Brother
(3:03) 6. Hey, Not Now! (I'll Tell You When) (feat. Maria Cole)
(3:05) 7. The Magic Tree
(3:12) 8. Home (When Shadows Fall)
(2:56) 9. It's A Man Every Time (feat. Maria Cole)
(3:04) 10. Early American
(3:09) 11. I'll Always Remember You
(2:51) 12. The Day Isn't Long Enough
(3:18) 13. My First And My Last Love
(2:59) 14. Easter Sunday Morning

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Nat King Cole - From The Capitol Vaults (Vol. 2)
Time: 34:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 78,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:05) 1. Why Can't We Try Again? (Final Take / Remastered 1992)
(3:15) 2. For A Moment Of Your Love (Remastered 1992)
(1:33) 3. I'm Shooting High
(2:49) 4. Maybe It's Because I Love You Too Much
(1:58) 5. One Sun
(2:32) 6. You Are My First Love
(1:45) 7. It's None Of My Affair
(2:42) 8. How Did I Change?
(2:20) 9. When Rock And Roll Come To Trinidad
(2:32) 10. Laughable
(2:39) 11. Something Happens To Me
(2:09) 12. Do I Like It?
(2:28) 13. When You Belong To Me
(2:10) 14. Give Me Your Love

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Nat King Cole - From The Capitol Vaults (Vol. 3)
Time: 39:47
File: MP3 @ 128K/s
Size: 38,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:10) 1. Make Believe Land
(3:04) 2. I Still See Elisa
(2:25) 3. O.K. For TV
(2:38) 4. I Envy
(2:42) 5. Marilyn
(3:03) 6. I'll Never Settle For Less
(2:30) 7. Up Pops Love
(3:23) 8. My Dream Sonata
(3:46) 9. How Little We Know
(2:43) 10. Like Someone In Love
(2:04) 11. Should I
(2:38) 12. Lorelei
(2:52) 13. I Heard You Cried Last Night
(2:41) 14. Misery Loves Company

Nat King Cole was one of the most popular singers ever to hit the American charts. A brilliant recording and concert artist during the 40's, 50's and 60's, he attracted millions of fans around the world with a sensitive and caressing singing voice that was unmistakable.

Cole has a rare blend of technical musical knowledge and sheer performing artistry topped off with an abundance of showmanship. In the 23 years that he recorded with Capitol Records, he turned out hit after amazing hit - nearly 700 songs - all the while managing to remain a gentle, tolerant and gracious human being.

Nathaniel Adams Coles was born in Montgomery, Alabama on March 17, 1919. He was the son of Baptist minister, Edward James Coles, and mother, Perlina Adams, who sang soprano and directed the choir in her husband's church. Cole grew up in Chicago, met and married a girl in New York; they had five children and lived in Hancock Park in Los Angeles.

He had a distinctive voice, which has been compared to the quality of velvet, a pussy willow, a calm evening breeze, a still summer morning and a soft snow fall. In the case of Nat King Cole, who dropped an "s" off his last name and put a nickname in the middle, the lyricism is merited.

The first sign that Cole was destined for a musical life was at age four, when he was able to pick out a fairly good two-handed rendition of "Yes, We Have No Bananas." He later played the organ in his father's church. In high school he organized a 14-piece band, with himself as pianist and leader.

In 1937, after finishing high school, Cole joined a road company of the revue, "Shuffle Along." The show broke up a few months later in Long Beach, California, when a sticky-fingered member of the troop made off with the show's $800 treasury. He also wrote a song called "Straighten Up and Fly Right," which he sold for $50.

Cole spent the next period looking for work and not having much luck. Finally a night club manager offered him $75 per week for an instrumental quartet. He hired a guitarist, bass fiddle player and a drummer. On opening night the drummer didn't show up but the manager took trio and didn't cut the price.

Even though instrumental trios were not highly popular in those days, the King Cole Trio developed a large and faithful following. With Cole on the piano and later, vocals, Oscar Moore on guitar and Johnny Miller on bass, the trio eventually played the best clubs in the country and had their own radio show. They eventually won awards from every music publication in the U.S., and their jazz records are now treasured collectors' items.

A new career was inadvertently created for Cole when a tipsy customer at a small Hollywood bistro insisted on hearing him sing "Sweet Lorraine." To quiet the drunk, he sang the tune and thus launched his legendary singing career. In 1942, Cole became one of the first artists to join Capitol Records, then a fledgling company. With his King Cole Trio, he recorded such popular songs as "Straighten Up and Fly Right," "Sweet Lorraine" and "Embraceable You." For the remainder of this life, Cole always sang with the trio even when he began to sing with an orchestra.br />
"Capitol and I felt that a big band behind me would sell more records," said Cole. 'Nature Boy' was the first of these and it proved we were right. "He never regretted the decision."

Cole became one of the world's leading record-sellers. It is not correct to say that every Nat King Cole recording was a hit. There was one, in 1953, that was a decided bust. But, as far as anyone at Capitol can recall, that was the only one to reach flop status. From the time he recorded one of his very first discs, "Straighten Up and Fly Right," through "Mona Lisa," "Too Young," "Route 66," "Non Dimenticar," "Rambling Rose," and countless others, Cole probably had more hit records than any other artist of his day, including the number- one-selling holiday recording of all time, The Christmas Song. Cole's consistent ability to make best-selling records prompted one record columnist to remark that Nat's recordings were "practically legal tender."

In 1956, Cole had his own network television show on NBC- TV. The "Nat King Cole Show" attracted a wide audience and celebrity guests like Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett and Mel Torme. It could not, however, attract national advertisers willing to back a show hosted by a black. Rather than submit to an airtime change, Cole abandoned the show after 64 weeks. In December 1957, Cole telecast his last show. It was a bitter disappointment. He put it best when he explained his TV demise, "Madison Avenue," he said, "is afraid of the dark."

Throughout Cole's career there was a woman who supported him with love and enthusiasm. His wife, the former Maria Ellington, was a vocalist in Duke Ellington's (no relation) band. She met Cole in 1947 when they were both performing at the Club Zanzibar in New York, and then ten months later they were married. They had five children - Carole, Natalie, Kelly and twins, Timolin and Casey.

When Nat King Cole died of lung cancer on February 15, 1965, he was only 45. It was a loss felt all over the world."Nat was a very humble man." Maria said after the death of her husband. "I don't think he ever realized what a great international talent he had become."

He made us music millionaires while he lived, and he left a musical legacy to generations to come. All over the world today, his songs are played and as long as those sounds continue, Nat King Cole will live.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/nat-king-cole/

From The Capitol Vaults (Vol.1) (Vol.2) (Vol.3)

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Nat King Cole - From The Capitol Vaults (Vol. 4)

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:50
Size: 87,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:01) 1. Little Child
(2:49) 2. You Will Never Grow Old
(2:27) 3. You Are My Sunshine
(3:09) 4. True Blue Lou
(2:50) 5. We Are Americans Too
(3:03) 6. This Holy Love
(2:54) 7. Peace Of Mind
(2:19) 8. Steady
(2:28) 9. The First Baseball Game
(2:47) 10. Goodnight, Little Leaguer
(2:53) 11. The Right Thing To Say
(2:04) 12. Nothing Goes Up (Without Coming Down)
(2:28) 13. More And More Of Your Amor
(2:31) 14. Wanderlust

Continuing Capitol/UMe's ongoing roll-out of rare tracks by Nat King Cole comes the highly anticipated From The Capitol Vaults (Vol. 4) out June 16, 2023, just in time for Father's Day and Juneteenth. This fourth digital-only collection features 14 timeless tracks, 12 of which are available for the first time on streaming platforms.

From The Capitol Vaults (Vol. 4) highlights Cole's velvety smooth voice that is perfectly suited to some of the greatest love songs ever written, capturing him at his most engaging. From the dramatic and lilting "Little Child" (1951) to the charming romantic waltz of "You Will Never Grow Old" (1952), to the whimsical "The First Baseball Game" (1961), the fourth volume of From the Capitol Vaults shows a playful side of Cole's music. The bossa nova and samba of "More and More of Your Amor" (1964) perfectly captures the steamy tropical vibes as we enter the dog days of summer. His jazzy take on "You Are My Sunshine" puts a big band spin on the 1940 American standard by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell.

His focus on harmony in music and in life allowed him to effortlessly inject a poignant and important Civil Rights message in the track "We Are Americans Too" (1956), featured on this compilation. Echoing the sentiments celebrated by the Juneteenth holiday toward emancipation, he conveys the well-documented struggle for equality in the eyes of his fellow Americans ("By the pick and the plow and the sweat of our brow / We are Americans too / We have given up our blood and bone / Helped to lay the Nation's cornerstone").

While he is best known as an iconic vocal legend, Nat King Cole is also remembered as being a loving father to his five children. His daughter Casey Cole told People.com in 2021, "We are so proud that our father touched the soul with his voice and was a quiet leader in the arts. He believed that he could bring harmony among people with his music. We want to continue that dream in a time when we really need it."

Cole's effervescent swing and moonlit balladry propelled him to the forefront of the most iconic performers ever to emerge from the jazz/pop sphere. An icon from the bygone Swing Era and Jazz Age, this volume is a great way to revisit and enjoy the Cole tracks that permeate our culture. But when it comes to American geniuses like him, digging a little deeper now and again is always an excellent idea.https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/capitolume-releases-from-the-capitol-vaults-vol-4-by-nat-king-cole-digitally-today-301852790.html

From The Capitol Vaults (Vol. 4)

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Nat King Cole - The Very Best Of Nat King Cole

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 79:46
Size: 182.6 MB
Styles: Vocal, Easy Listening
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[3:14] 1. Stardust
[3:07] 2. Sweet Lorraine
[3:00] 3. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
[2:24] 4. Straighten Up And Fly Right
[2:51] 5. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
[3:01] 6. What'll I Do
[2:55] 7. Morning Star
[3:04] 8. Penthouse Serenade
[3:52] 9. Candy
[2:38] 10. Walkin' My Baby Back Home
[3:10] 11. Unforgettable
[3:14] 12. Mona Lisa
[2:38] 13. Nature Boy
[2:51] 14. Somewhere Along The Way
[2:52] 15. Smile
[2:31] 16. A Blossom Fell
[3:13] 17. Can't I
[2:43] 18. Let There Be Love
[1:51] 19. Almost Like Being In Love
[2:48] 20. Ballerina
[2:34] 21. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter)
[2:23] 22. Let's Face The Music And Dance
[2:33] 23. Autumn Leaves
[3:08] 24. When I Fall In Love
[3:10] 25. That Sunday, That Summer
[2:25] 26. Looking Back
[2:30] 27. L-O-V-E
[2:54] 28. I Wish You Love

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Nat King Cole's death in 1965, this compilation is the CD companion of an excellent DVD/documentary. Produced with the blessing of his estate, this disc is a thorough survey of his timeless genius--all recorded on the Capitol label. It captures his sumptuous and soothing tenor voice crooning on the pop tunes he made famous, like the ethereal "Nature Boy," the melancholy "Mona Lisa," and the bouncy "Straighten Up and Fly Right," and "Route 66." It also features Cole's often-overlooked skills as an Earl Hines-style pianist. "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps)," and "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup," attest to his international appeal, and see if you can keep a dry eye when you listen to Natalie Cole's posthumous, digitally-enhanced duet with her father on "Unforgettable." From strings to big bands, Nat King Cole is never out of style. ~Eugene Holley, Jr.

The Very Best Of Nat King Cole

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Various - Capitol Sings Johnny Mercer

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:03
Size: 162.7 MB
Styles: Vocal, Easy Listening
Year: 1991
Art: Front

[3:17] 1. Ella Mae Morse - Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive
[3:11] 2. Martha Tilton - And The Angels Sing
[2:49] 3. Gordon MacRae - Autumn Leaves
[3:12] 4. Jo Stafford - Blues In The Night
[1:53] 5. Blossom Dearie - Charade
[3:40] 6. Judy Garland - Come Rain Or Come Shine
[2:22] 7. Nat King Cole - Day In-Day Out
[3:16] 8. Matt Monro - Days Of Wine And Roses
[2:47] 9. The Pied Pipers - Dream
[2:32] 10. Benny Goodman - Goody Goody
[2:52] 11. Johnny Mercer - Glow Worm
[2:55] 12. The Four Freshmen - I Thought About You
[2:49] 13. Dinah Shore - I'm Old Fashioned
[2:57] 14. Dean Martin - In The Cool Cool Cool Of The Evening
[2:16] 15. Stan Kenton & His Orchestra - Jeepers Creepers
[2:22] 16. Vic Damone - Laura
[3:26] 17. Lena Horne - Moon River
[3:03] 18. Johnny Mercer - On The Atchison, Topeka & The Sante Fe
[4:13] 19. Harold Arlen - One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)
[2:58] 20. Kay Starr - P.S. I Love You
[2:21] 21. Nancy Wilson - Satin Doll
[4:00] 22. Hoagy Carmichael - Skylark
[2:54] 23. Keely Smith - That Old Black Magic
[2:47] 24. Andy Russell - Too Marvelous For Words

Singer/songwriter Johnny Mercer was one of the founders of Capitol Records in the early '40s, so it's appropriate that he rates his own volume in the label's various-artists songbook compilation series of the 1990s (one that has already had discs devoted to Cole Porter and George Gershwin). As a lyricist working over a long career, Mercer provides a varied range of material for inclusion. This is a man who was setting words to 1930s swing hits like "And the Angels Sing," "Goody Goody," and "Satin Doll," and was still going strong in the 1960s, when he was writing movie themes like "Moon River" and "The Days of Wine and Roses" with Henry Mancini. In between, there were standards of the ‘40s such as "Blues in the Night" and "That Old Black Magic," and ‘50s favorites like "Autumn Leaves" and "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening." Capitol was devoted to singers, which allowed it to take advantage of the post-swing era of the late ‘40s and ‘50s when singers ruled. Tops among them was Frank Sinatra, a Capitol artist, who apparently didn't allow his recordings to be compiled on this sort of collection. But many other important singers are included, among them Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Dinah Shore, and Dean Martin. And Mercer himself pops in several times, as do a couple of his composer collaborators, Harold Arlen and Hoagy Carmichael. Although Mercer has an identifiable writing style, full of a self-invented Southern slang ("swingeroonie!," "my huckleberry friend"), his teaming with different sorts of composers allows for many different musical styles on this disc, making it one of the rangier volumes in the series. ~William Ruhlmann

Capitol Sings Johnny Mercer

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Various - Capitol Sings Harry Warren

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:33
Size: 127.2 MB
Styles: Easy Listening, Vocal
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[2:49] 1. Nat King Cole - I Found A Million Dollar Baby (In A Five And Ten Cent Store)
[2:36] 2. Ray Anthony & His Orchestra - Chattanooga Choo Choo
[2:53] 3. Bobby Darin - You'll Never Know
[2:22] 4. Dakota Staton - September In The Rain
[2:39] 5. Helen Forrest - I Had The Craziest Dream
[3:07] 6. The Four Freshmen - Lulu's Back In Town
[3:09] 7. Ethel Ennis - Serenade In Blue
[2:59] 8. Chet Baker - There Will Never Be Another You
[2:12] 9. Nancy Wilson - The More I See You
[3:10] 10. Nat King Cole Trio - I'll String Along With You
[3:02] 11. Al Belletto - Jeepers Creepers
[2:56] 12. Ann Richards - Lullaby Of Broadway
[3:01] 13. Time-Life Orchestra - At Last
[2:09] 14. June Christy - I Know Why (And So Do You)
[1:32] 15. Count Basie - With Plenty Of Money And You
[3:35] 16. Dinah Shore - I Only Have Eyes For You
[2:26] 17. The Four Freshmen - On The Atchison, Topeka & The Santa Fe
[2:41] 18. Peggy Lee - You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me
[3:00] 19. Nat King Cole - An Affair To Remember
[3:06] 20. Dean Martin - That's Amore

If this era and genre of music is your taste then you will love this collection. The various singers add a wonderful blend of variety and the orchestrations are time capsules of a day long gone by. (Sad). But this music will bring you back and make you appreciate popular music again. ~Aurexia

Capitol Sings Harry Warren

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Various - Capitol Sings Cole Porter: Anything Goes

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 64:44

Size: 148.2 MB

Styles: Standards, Easy Listening

Year: 1991

Art: Front

[2:16] 1. Annie Ross - All Of You

[2:03] 2. Peggy Lee - Always True To You In My Fashion

[2:21] 3. Count Basie - Anything Goes

[3:26] 4. Gordon Macrae - Begin The Beguine

[2:44] 5. Martha Tilton - Blow, Gabriel, Blow

[3:47] 6. Stan Kenton - Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

[1:50] 7. Peggy Lee - From Now On

[2:41] 8. Stan Kenton - I Get A Kick Out Of You

[2:53] 9. Judy Garland - I Happen To Like New York

[2:15] 10. Helen O'connell - In The Still Of The Night

[2:38] 11. Dinah Shore - It's All Right With Me

[2:35] 12. Louis Prima - I've Got You Under My Skin

[2:13] 13. Nat King Cole - Just One Of Those Things

[2:37] 14. Liza Minnelli - Looking At You

[2:08] 15. Frances Faye - Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Lunch Today)

[2:25] 16. John Raitt - So In Love

[2:30] 17. Dean Martin - True Love

[1:51] 18. Keely Smith - What Is This Thing Called Love

[3:16] 19. Margaret Whiting - Why Shouldn't I

[2:48] 20. Jo Stafford - Wunderbar

[2:35] 21. Nancy Wilson - You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To

[2:35] 22. Jean Turner - You're The Top

[2:11] 23. Trudy Richards - Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)

[3:03] 24. Jeri Southern - Get Out Of Town

[2:50] 25. The Andrews Sisters - You Do Something To Me

As far as all-star Cole Porter compilations go, Capitol Sings Cole Porter: Anything Goes is recommended as an entertaining sampler of 25 titles performed by some of the label's biggest stars. These include, on the hip end of the spectrum, Nat King Cole, Nancy Wilson, Frances Faye, Jo Stafford, and Annie Ross, a disarming vocalist who collaborates warmly with baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan. Peggy Lee is heard with George Shearing, Keely Smith with Louis Prima, Dinah Shore with Red Norvo, Tony Bennett with Count Basie and Chris Connor, and June Christy with Stan Kenton. Pop singers heard on this collection include Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Margaret Whiting, Dean Martin, Gordon MacRae, and the Andrews Sisters. This mini-survey of great moments in mid-20th century pop culture is suitable for casual listening (and optional singalong) while cleaning house, preparing food, shampooing the cat, or operating heavy machinery during rush hour. ~arwulf arwulf

Capitol Sings Cole Porter: Anything Goes

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Nat King Cole - Penthouse Serenade (Remastered)

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1952
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:08
Size: 120,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:08)  1. Penthouse Serenade (When We're Alone)
(3:05)  2. Somebody Loves Me
(2:46)  3. Laura
(2:57)  4. Once In A Blue Moond
(3:05)  5. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
(2:21)  6. Down By The Old Mill Stream
(3:13)  7. If I Should Lose You
(2:48)  8. Rose Room
(3:00)  9. I Surrender, Dear
(2:48) 10. It Could Happen To You
(3:05) 11. Don't Blame Me
(1:51) 12. Little Girl
(3:03) 13. I Surrender, Dear
(2:13) 14. Walkin' My Baby Back Home
(1:56) 15. Too Marvelous For Words
(2:35) 16. Too Young
(1:48) 17. That's My Girl
(2:11) 18. It's Only A Paper Moon
(3:06) 19. Unforgettable

The year after he had formally disbanded his trio to turn his attention to vocal pop music, Nat King Cole reversed himself and went into the studio with guitarist John Collins, bassist Charlie Harris, and drummer Bunny Shawker and recorded the eight-song 10" LP Penthouse Serenade, a quiet, reflective set of standards like "Somebody Loves Me" and "Laura" that he performed instrumentally at the piano. The album confirmed that, whatever success he might be having as a singer, he hadn't lost his touch. ~ William Ruhlmann https://www.allmusic.com/album/penthouse-serenade-mw0000042446

Personnel: Nat King Cole - piano, vocals; John Collins - guitar; Jack Costanzo - bongos, congas; Charlie Harris Bass; Norris "Bunny" Shawker - drums; Lee Young - drums

Penthouse Serenade

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Nat King Cole, George Shearing - Nat King Cole Sings George Shearing Plays

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:07
Size: 105.6 MB
Styles: Vocal, Piano jazz
Year: 1962/1987/2000
Art: Front

[2:56] 1. September Song
[3:12] 2. Pick Yourself Up
[3:39] 3. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
[2:42] 4. Let There Be Love
[3:51] 5. Azure-Te
[3:20] 6. Lost April
[2:37] 7. A Beautiful Friendship
[3:27] 8. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
[2:58] 9. Serenata
[3:26] 10. I'm Lost
[2:22] 11. There's A Lull In My Life
[2:28] 12. Don't Go
[3:16] 13. Everything Happens To Me
[2:54] 14. The Game Of Love
[2:50] 15. Guess I'll Go Back Home

This 1961 album is a classic. It not only spawned a long-running chart hit (Let There Be Love) but it paired two of the most talented jazzmen in a true meeting of minds. George Shearing called it “one of my favourite albums of all time” and gave as an example the time that Nat Cokle suggested they should play Pick Yourself Up. Shearing had already made a version of this tune famous with his trademark quintet and didn’t feel like doing it again, but Cole chose just the right tempo to refresh the song.

The two men were in a way blood brothers, both being important pianists and sharing an easy approach to swing which was both clever and accessible. Their empathy and generally gentle approach makes for a perfect blend. The above-mentioned Pick Yourself Up is an excellent example. Shearing’s previous version took the song at a fair lick but Cole turns down the intensity and increases the intimacy. George’s solo with his quintet is cushioned by discreet strings arranged by Ralph Carmichael.

Let There Be Love is still one of the outstanding tracks, with Shearing’s bluesy introduction wafted in on the strings before the key changes to bring in Nat’s enticing vocal. George’s piano is always subtle, making no attempt at dominance but behaving as the finest accompanist. Other notable tracks include A Beautiful Friendship, where the Shearing Quintet sound comes into its own, and the deliciously slow I’m Lost. Tracks 13 to 15 are extra tracks added to the original LP. The remaining items come from Nat Cole’s album 1962 LP Dear Lonely Hearts, which consists mainly of soupy countrified ballads overloaded with heavenly choirs. It seems like an anti-climax after the numbers with Shearing. But those numbers make this CD worth buying for its first 15 tracks alone. ~Tony Augarde

Nat King Cole Sings George Shearing Plays

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Nat King Cole - St. Louis Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:35
Size: 74.6 MB
Styles: Jazz-blues vocals
Year: 1958/2011
Art: Front

[3:06] 1. Overture (Medley) A) Love Theme B) Hesitating Blues
[1:49] 2. Harlem Blues
[2:34] 3. Chantez Les Bas
[3:14] 4. Friendless Blues
[2:36] 5. Stay
[2:39] 6. Joe Turner Blues
[2:55] 7. Beale Street Blues
[2:43] 8. Careless Love
[2:10] 9. Morning Star
[3:04] 10. Memphis Blues
[3:15] 11. Yellow Dog Blues
[2:25] 12. St. Louis Blues

Hall of Fame innovative singer & jazz pianist Nat King Cole was a distinctive vocalist whose smooth baritone stylings generated his big-selling career popular music success for Capitol records: the distinctive Capitols records building in Hollywood is know as the ‘building Nat Cole built’ through his many hits. But it was as a jazz and soul song stylist that Cole created his early success with songs such as “Get Your Kicks on Route 66”. On Cole’s acting debut as legendary blues man W. C. Handy in the movie “St Louis Blues”, he also joins forces with arranger/conductor Nelson Riddle and his orchestra to produce these winsome tunes based on the music from the soundtrack.

The 'best of the best' begins with a lovely, soaring “Overture (Medley) Love Theme” which is a beautiful brass & reed-driven, string-laden theme that gives way to Cole singing the lovely, “Hesitating Blues” with great lyrics, all wrapped within the same track. Songs from St Louis Blues contains some marvelous blues and popular music that could have been lost in time, but have made the jump to MP3 as a tribute to W. C. Handy based on the musical prowess of Nat King Cole, Nelson Riddle, and a bevy of talented musicians in the orchestra with strings. Cole’s persuasive, gentle “Stay” pleads for someone who is leaving. “Memphis Blues”, the awesome 'song within a song' “Yellow Dog Blues”, and the famous “St. Louis Blues” are outstanding examples of Cole’s smooth blues 'with an edge' delivery. My Highest Recommendation. ~RBSProds.

St. Louis Blues mc
St. Louis Blues zippy

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VA - Sleepless In Seattle

Styles: Soundtrack
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:26
Size: 84,8 MB
Art: Front

 1. Jimmy Durante - As Time Goes By (2:27)
 2. Louis Armstrong - A Kiss To Build A Dream On (3:01)
 3. Nat King Cole - Stardust (3:14)
 4. Dr. John & Ricky Lee Jones - Makin' Whoopee (4:08)
 5. Carly Simon - In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning (3:15)
 6. Gene Autry - Back In The Saddle Again (2:35)
 7. Joe Cocker - Bye Bye Blackbird (3:29)
 8. Harry Connick, Jr. - A Wink And A Smile (2:47)
 9. Tammy Wynette - Stand By Your Man (2:41)
10. Soundtrack - An Affair To Remember (2:31)
11. Jimmy Durante - Make Someone Happy (1:52)
12. Celine Dion & Clive Griffin - When I Fall In Love (4:21)

Sleepless in Seattle is a 1993 American romantic comedy-drama film directed and co-written by Nora Ephron, based on a story by Jeff Arch. It stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, alongside a supporting cast featuring Bill Pullman, Ross Malinger, Rob Reiner, Rosie O'Donnell, Gaby Hoffmann, Victor Garber, and Rita Wilson. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $220 million worldwide.  After Chicago architect Sam Baldwin loses his wife Maggie to cancer, he and his eight-year-old son Jonah start a new life in Seattle, Washington, but Sam continues to grieve. A year and a half later, on Christmas Eve 1992, Jonah who wants his father to find a new wife calls in to a radio talk show. Jonah persuades a reluctant Sam to go on the air to talk about how much he misses Maggie. Hundreds of women from around the country who hear the program and are touched by the story write to Sam. One of the listeners is Annie Reed, a Baltimore Sun reporter who is engaged to amiable Walter but feels there is something missing from their cordial relationship. After watching the film An Affair to Remember, Annie impulsively writes a letter suggesting that Sam meet her on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day. She does not intend to mail it, but her friend and editor Becky does it for her and agrees to send Annie to Seattle.

Sam begins dating a co-worker Victoria, whom Jonah dislikes. Jonah, a baseball fan, reads Annie's letter and likes that it mentions the Baltimore Orioles, but he fails to convince his father to go to New York to meet Annie. On the advice of his playmate Jessica, Jonah replies to Annie, agreeing to the New York meeting. While dropping Victoria off at the airport for a flight, Sam sees Annie exiting from her plane and is mesmerized by her, although he has no idea who she is. Annie later secretly watches Sam and Jonah playing on the beach together but mistakes Sam's sister for his girlfriend. He recognizes her from the airport and says "Hello," but Annie only responds with another "Hello" before fleeing. She decides she is being foolish and goes to New York to meet Walter for Valentine's Day. With Jessica's help, Jonah flies to New York without his father's permission and goes to the Empire State Building searching for Annie. Distraught, Sam follows Jonah and finds him on the observation deck. Meanwhile, Annie sees the skyscraper from the Rainbow Room where she is dining with Walter and confesses her doubts to him, amicably ending their engagement. She rushes to the Empire State Building just moments after the doors to the down elevator close with Sam and Jonah inside. In spite of the observation deck being deserted, Annie discovers a backpack that Jonah left behind. As she pulls out Jonah's teddy bear from the backpack, Sam and Jonah emerge from the elevator, and the three meet for the first time. On the advice of the elevator operator, Sam indicates they should go and offers his hand to Annie. The three then enter the elevator together before the door closes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleepless_in_Seattle

Sleepless In Seattle

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Nat King Cole Trio - Live At The Circle Room & More

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:40
Size: 173,6 MB
Art: Front

(0:39)  1. Opening Theme
(2:57)  2. Oh, But I Do
(3:10)  3. I'm Thru With Love
(3:49)  4. ''C'' Jam Blues
(3:13)  5. My Sugar Is So Refined
(4:11)  6. I'm In The Mood For Love
(2:35)  7. I Found A New Baby
(3:03)  8. I Don't Know Why
(2:29)  9. If You Can't Smile And Say Yes
(3:05) 10. It's Only A Paper Moon
(3:55) 11. One O'Clock Jump
(2:23) 12. Everyone Is Saying Hello Again
(2:34) 13. Sweet Georgia Brown
(3:26) 14. Sweet Lorraine
(2:44) 15. Oh, But I Do
(3:21) 16. My Sugar Is So Refined
(1:44) 17. Closing Theme (F.S.T.)
(2:58) 18. My Mother Told Me
(2:43) 19. Exactly Like You
(3:25) 20. Part Of Me
(2:35) 21. What Have You Got In Those Eyes
(3:16) 22. Top Hat Bop
(3:07) 23. Go Bongo
(2:37) 24. Rhumba Blues
(2:28) 25. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams

This Live at the Circle Room date has been issued before, but the bonus material of the same band from a later date makes this an extra special set. For starters, the Circle Room, in the Hotel La Salle in Milwaukee, was the town's premier jazz spot in 1946. The first 17 tracks on this CD come from four performances between September 21 and 25 of that year. Cole, with Oscar Moore and Johnny Miller, had begin his singing career in earnest, and playing in front of a lounge crowd seemed like the most natural thing in the world for him. Indeed, as bottles click, and the periodic murmur of voices in the foreground appear in the mix, the listener will be transported into Cole's magical space. From Ellington's "C Jam Blues," to "I'm in the Mood for Love," "I'm Thru With Love," and "Sweet Georgia Brown," the Cole trio kicks it with grace and elegance. The latter eight cuts here are form 1949, from a date in Los Angeles, and feature Joe Comfort and Jack Constanzo as the rhythm section. While the development of Cole's voice and arrangements were well-suited for the nightclub, his harmonic adventures were curtailed in this setting. ~ Thom Jurek https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-circle-room-more-mw0000104438

Personnel:  Nat King Cole (vocals, piano);  Oscar Moore, Irving Ashby (guitar);  Johnny Miller, Joe Comfort (bass);  Jack Costanzo (bongas, congas)

Live At The Circle Room & More

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Various - Capitol Sings Rodgers & Hart

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:24
Size: 165.8 MB
Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[1:51] 1. Susan Barrett - Manhattan
[2:27] 2. June Christy - You Took Advantage Of Me
[2:32] 3. Vic Damone - I Could Write A Book
[2:37] 4. The Dinning Sisters - Where Or When
[2:49] 5. Nancy Wilson - Little Girl Blue
[3:09] 6. Mel Tormé - Blue Moon
[3:04] 7. Margaret Whiting - Lover
[2:18] 8. Sarah Vaughan - Have You Met Miss Jones
[3:30] 9. Gordon MacRae - My Funny Valentine
[2:38] 10. The Andrews Sisters - My Romance
[2:41] 11. Peggy Lee - My Heart Stood Still
[2:28] 12. Nat King Cole - This Can't Be Love
[4:56] 13. June Christy - Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
[2:42] 14. Margaret Whiting - Thou Swell
[3:15] 15. Dean Martin - It's Easy To Remember
[2:49] 16. Nancy Wilson - It Never Entered My Mind
[2:34] 17. Dolores Gray - Isn't It Romantic
[2:08] 18. Vic Damone - The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
[4:10] 19. Sarah Vaughan - Glad To Be Unhappy
[2:31] 20. Peggy Lee - The Lady Is A Tramp
[3:43] 21. The Four Freshmen - Spring Is Here
[2:58] 22. Dinah Shore - Falling In Love With Love
[2:26] 23. Jane Froman - With A Song In My Heart
[5:57] 24. Les Brown & His Band Of Renown - Slaughter On Tenth Avenue

The songwriting partnership of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart ended with Hart's death on November 22, 1943. The earliest track on this album of Rodgers & Hart songs from the Capitol Records vaults, the Dinning Sisters' version of the 1937 copyright "Where or When" (from the Broadway musical Babes in Arms), was recorded less than a month later, on December 17, 1943, and the latest one, Nancy Wilson's reading of "It Never Entered My Mind" (from the 1940 show Higher and Higher), on November 3, 1967. So, the collection consists of recordings made in the quarter-century after the Rodgers & Hart era. That's appropriate, since Capitol was co-founded by singer/songwriter Johnny Mercer to showcase the rise of individual pop singers in the waning days of the big-band period, and they often sang old show tunes with new, post-swing arrangements like those here, written by the likes of Billy May and Nelson Riddle. The leader in this sort of thing, of course, was Frank Sinatra, who was a Capitol artist. But he must have had a contractual right of refusal to have his recordings used on compilations like this, since he appears only as the conductor of Peggy Lee's version of "My Heart Stood Still." Most of the rest of Capitol's roster of singers is included, however, such as June Christy, Margaret Whiting, Nat King Cole, and Dean Martin. Only four of the tracks date from the 1940s, so this is really the music of the ‘50s and early ‘60s primarily, with the swing charts varied occasionally by a Latin treatment (Lee's "The Lady Is a Tramp") or a bongos-and-flute accompaniment (Dinah Shore's "Falling in Love with Love"). Variety is also provided by vocal groups like the Andrews Sisters and the Four Freshmen. Most of these performers are not jazz singers, but Mel Tormé gets to apply his pipes to "Blue Moon," and Sarah Vaughan goes all-out on an individual treatment of "Have You Met Miss Jones?" (or "old Jones," as she alters it), scatting like crazy. Richard Rodgers was notoriously hostile to liberal rearrangements of his songs, but he and Hart were done many favors by the Capitol singers who helped keep their copyrights alive and flourishing decades after the tunes were written. ~William Ruhlmann

Capitol Sings Rodgers & Hart

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Nat King Cole - A Mis Amigos

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 27:58
Size: 64.0 MB
Styles: Vocal, Easy Listening
Year: 1959/2009
Art: Front

[2:14] 1. Ay, Cosita Linda
[2:09] 2. Aquellos Ojos Verdes
[2:19] 3. Suas Maos
[2:25] 4. Capullito De Aleli
[1:51] 5. Caboclo Do Rio
[1:56] 6. Fantastico
[2:31] 7. Nadie Me Ama (No One Loves Me)
[2:20] 8. Yo Vendo Unos Ojos Negros
[2:17] 9. Perfidia
[2:09] 10. El Choclo
[3:25] 11. Ansiedad
[2:15] 12. Nao Tenho Lagrimas

Nat King Cole's first foray into singing in Spanish, Cole Español, was successful enough to lead to this follow-up, on which a slightly different approach was taken. For Cole Español, Capitol Records imported instrumental tracks recorded in Cuba and had Cole sing over them, having learned the lyrics phonetically. A Mis Amigos, however, was recorded in Rio de Janeiro during Cole's South American tour of 1959, with Brazilian musicians in the studio alongside the singer. That, the benefit of experience, and the reception his concerts were receiving may have helped improve his performances. He still didn't have much feeling for Spanish (or, in three instances, Portuguese), but some of the material was more familiar to him, notably "Aquellos Ojos Verdes," better known in the U.S. as the Jimmy Dorsey hit "Green Eyes," and "Fantastico," a specially written number brought in by American songwriters Jack Keller and Noel Sherman. ~William Ruhlmann

A Mis Amigos

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Nat King Cole - More Cole Espanol

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:39
Size: 65.6 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 1962/2007
Art: Front

[1:48] 1. La Feria De Las Flores
[2:05] 2. Tres Palabras
[2:32] 3. Las Chiapanecas
[2:50] 4. Adios Marquita Linda
[1:58] 5. Aqui Se Habla En Amor
[2:29] 6. Vaya Con Dios
[2:54] 7. La Golondrina
[2:59] 8. No Me Platiques
[2:07] 9. A Media Luz
[1:58] 10. Guadalajara
[2:44] 11. Solamente Una Vez
[2:08] 12. Piel Canela

Despite the similarity in titles, More Cole Español (1962) was not the immediate successor to Cole Español (1958), although both are albums on which Nat King Cole sang songs in Spanish. There is also a third album of Cole's Spanish work, A Mis Amigos (1959), and chronologically it comes in between. In 1987, early in the CD era, Capitol Records put material from all three LPs together on two compilations confusingly titled Cole Español & More, Vol. 1 and Cole Español & More, Vol. 2, presenting the tracks in chronological order by splitting the A Mis Amigos tracks, half at the end of the first disc and half at the start of the second. Mail-order firm Collectors' Choice Music, in its 2007 Cole reissue series, takes a different tack, presenting A Mis Amigos separately (with bonus tracks) and combining the first and third Spanish albums on this two-fer. These discographical details are worth pointing out because the differences between the two albums (Cole Español and More Cole Español, that is) are great. Although Cole did not speak Spanish, he learned the song lyrics for Cole Español phonetically. Nine of the 11 selections had backing tracks recorded by conductor Armando Romeu, Jr., in Havana, Cuba, in February 1958, with Cole adding his vocals in Hollywood in June. The other two, "Cachito" and "Noche de Ronda," were cut with Hispanic musicians in Hollywood under the direction of Capitol Records' Dave Cavanaugh. The tunes were a mixed bag of Latin standards including Mexican mariachi music ("Adelita") and even the Italian "Arrivederci Roma" (sung in Spanish), and Cole's vocals were augmented by the Rivero Quartet and other uncredited singers. While that no doubt was intended to shore up his tentative performances, it actually showed him up, as the native Spanish singers offered a painful contrast to his own pedestrian readings of words he did not understand and pronounced with no flair. (On one track, "Tú, Mi Delirio," he abandoned the microphone for the piano to delightful effect.) Cole's singing voice was as smooth and attractive as ever, which must have helped, though, and the album's sales -- it reached the Top 20 in the U.S. and was a big hit internationally -- indicated that Spanish-speaking audiences were flattered that an American singer would try so hard to communicate with them in their own language. Four years later, More Cole Español was recorded in Mexico City with Mexican singers and musicians, but arranged and conducted by Ralph Carmichael. This collection (tracks 12-23) demonstrated that Cole had made significant advances as a singer in Spanish. He still didn't sound like he always knew what he was singing, and he still seemed to be working on his pronunciation, but on More Cole Español he was clearly having a lot more fun. In part, this had to be because the arrangements were more rhythmic and up-tempo, and Cole must have been taking enthusiasm from the Mexican musicians who accompanied him. And he must have been more familiar with material that included crossover hits like "Vaya con Dios." Whatever the reasons, More Cole Español was his most successful effort at making music for fans south of the border. ~William Ruhlmann

More Cole Espanol

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Nat King Cole Trio - Swiss Radio Days Vol. 43: Nat King Cole Trio Zurich 1950

Size: 125,2 MB
Time: 53:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz, Vocal Jazz
Art: Front

01. Nothing To Fret About (2:14)
02. Tea For Two (3:51)
03. Body And Soul (4:34)
04. Too Marvelous For Words (2:58)
05. Bop Kick (3:37)
06. Saint Louis Blues & Bluesology (6:22)
07. In The Cool Of The Evening (3:58)
08. Go Bongo (4:24)
09. How High The Moon (5:02)
10. Summertime (2:45)
11. Embraceable You (2:44)
12. Poor Butterfly (3:41)
13. Little Girl (2:08)
14. Sweet Lorraine (2:56)
15. Route 66 (2:34)

Nat King Cole means two very different things to two different segments of the music-loving populace today. To those simply plugged into popular culture he's the golden-voiced baritone crooner, debonair and delightful as can be while travelling over the airwaves. But to those steeped in jazz history he's known as a mighty and true pianist, throwing down the gauntlet at Jazz at the Philharmonic shows, pushing a then-progressive agenda with fellow giants Buddy Rich and Lester Young, and walking a beautifully straight line in a more conventional trio setting. For some, never the twain shall meet when it comes to these two different Coles. But in reality there was only one, and this date shows it.

By 1950, both sides of Cole's musical persona were already established. He'd been making waves as a pianist as far back as the mid-to-late '30s and his status as a vocalist, bolstered by a string of hits like "The Christmas Song" and "Nature Boy," contributed greatly in his steady rise toward mainstream pop stardom a decade later. This live recording, captured in October of 1950 at Kongresshaus Zurich and seeing its first release in its entirety here, favors the ivory-tickling side of Cole's personality. But it does so without denying the voice its place. The pipes produce an appropriately upbeat and swoon-inducing "Too Marvelous For Words," a dreamy "Embraceable You," a peppy and charming "Little Girl" (met with rapturous applause and whistling), a gently gliding "Sweet Lorraine," and a "Route 66" that's as snazzy as any take of that Cole-associated classic; the piano does the talking for him on the other two-thirds of the program.

The ten instrumental numbers found herein don't find Cole completely cutting loose—this is a concert after all, not a jam session—but they do find him near the peak of his expressive powers. He runs wild over Jack Costanzo's bongos on his own "Bop Kick," extemporizes on "Saint Louis Blues" in stellar fashion, commands attention in setting the scene for a purposeful "Summertime," tickles the keys on "Poor Butterfly," and paints a picture of pure class on "Body And Soul." Had Cole never opened his mouth, he still would've been a star.

While Cole captures attention throughout with his musical mastery and banter, he's never a glory hound. Each of his sidemen gets a feature number—guitarist Irving C Ashby is showcased on his own "Nothing To Fret About," bassist Joe Comfort on "Tea For Two," and Costanzo on the somewhat tacky "Go Bongo"—and Cole constantly shares the spotlight elsewhere. His rapport with the musicians in this augmented trio is always evident during the program. Whether you love the man for his voice, his piano, his personality, or a combination of all three, there's much to enjoy on this one. ~Dan Bilawsky

Personnel: Nat King Cole: piano, vocals; Irving Ashby: guitar; Joe Comfort: bass; Jack Costanza: bongos.

Swiss Radio Days Vol. 43

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Nat King Cole - The Extraordinary (Deluxe Edition) 2-Disc Set

Nat King Cole was a pretty fair jazz piano player, but it was his rich, warm, and smoothly elegant vocal style (which pretty much allowed him to sing even a soup recipe and make it work) that made him into an icon. This 70-track set has "Mona Lisa," "Sweet Lorraine," "Unforgettable," and dozens of other Cole classics, and while it doesn't have all of his hits or essential tracks by any means, there's still plenty here. [A Deluxe Edition of Extraordinary was released in 2014.] ~Steve Leggett

Album: The Extraordinary (Deluxe Edition) Disc 1
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:23
Size: 129.1 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals, Easy Listening
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[2:32] 1. L-O-V-E
[2:48] 2. Walkin'
[1:45] 3. (I Would Do) Anything For You
[2:45] 4. The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)
[3:27] 5. Unforgettable
[2:39] 6. Walkin' My Baby Back Home
[2:36] 7. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter)
[2:11] 8. Midnight Flyer
[2:37] 9. Send For Me
[2:26] 10. Open Up The Doghouse (Two Cats Are Coming In)
[2:54] 11. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
[2:00] 12. Love
[2:39] 13. Papa Loves Mambo
[1:47] 14. You've Got The Indian Sign On Me
[3:25] 15. Mona Lisa
[2:25] 16. Let's Face The Music And Dance
[1:53] 17. Almost Like Being In Love
[3:10] 18. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
[2:32] 19. Orange Colored Sky
[2:17] 20. Long, Long Ago
[2:29] 21. Breezin' Along With The Breeze
[2:57] 22. You're Wrong All Wrong

The Extraordinary (Deluxe Edition) Disc 1

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Album: The Extraordinary (Deluxe Edition) Disc 2
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:13
Size: 101.2 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals, Easy Listening
Year: 2014

[3:05] 1. You Weren't There
[2:45] 2. How (How Do I Go About It )
[3:21] 3. Sweet William (And Lily At The Valley)
[3:01] 4. Sleeping Beauty
[2:49] 5. When I'm Alone
[3:22] 6. The Magic Window
[2:49] 7. Little Fingers
[2:47] 8. Ain't She Sweet
[2:32] 9. What To Do
[2:55] 10. Straighten Up And Fly Right (Alternative Take)
[3:25] 11. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons (Alternative Take)
[4:16] 12. Unforgettable (Alternative Take)
[3:41] 13. Mona Lisa (Alternative Take)
[3:16] 14. The Christmas Song (Alternative Take)

The Extraordinary (Deluxe Edition) Disc 2

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Various - Capitol Sings Duke Ellington

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 71:57

Size: 164.7 MB

Styles: Easy Listening

Year: 1994

Art: Front

[ 5:04] 1. Duke Ellington - Duke's Place

[ 2:20] 2. Nancy Wilson - Satin Doll

[ 3:49] 3. Sarah Vaughan - Solitude

[ 3:20] 4. Nat King Cole - Mood Indigo

[ 2:53] 5. June Christy - Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin'

[ 4:46] 6. Annie Ross - I'm Just A Lucky So And So

[ 2:44] 7. Lou Rawls - Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)

[ 3:06] 8. Dinah Washington - I Didn't Know About You

[ 3:49] 9. Dinah Shore - I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues

[ 3:08] 10. Nat King Cole - Don't Get Around Much Anymore

[ 2:54] 11. Hank Jones - In A Sentimental Mood

[ 3:04] 12. Harry James & His Orchestra - I'm Beginning To See The Light

[ 5:31] 13. Duke Ellington - I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)

[ 2:10] 14. Peggy Lee - Jump For Joy

[ 2:15] 15. Dinah Washington - Do Nothing 'til You Hear From Me

[ 2:43] 16. June Christy - I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart

[ 2:42] 17. Nat King Cole - Caravan

[ 2:29] 18. Nancy Wilson - Sophisticated Lady

[ 2:42] 19. The King Sisters - Take The A Train

[10:17] 20. Duke Ellington - It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

If you like Duke Ellington's music, you will love this collection. The disc includes some very well known versions of Ellington's big hits. As expected from the title, all the versions are from the Capitol Records' vault. I miss Ella Fitzgerald. A few cuts from her would have made this album perfect. But that's a minor point as the overall collection of artists represented here is outstanding. The artists range from Duke's own orchestra to Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee, Lou Rawls and the King Sisters. The title track, "Mood Indigo" is performed by Nat King Cole - simply the best.

The songs have been digitally remastered and the sound is as close to perfect as modern technology can make it. The music is as clean and bright on this album as it was when it was originally recorded. Great songs; great artists; excellent sound -- so, turn up the volume and swing the house! Highly recommended! ~Penumbra

Capitol Sings Duke Ellington

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Various - Capitol Sings Coast To Coast

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:46
Size: 118.5 MB
Styles: Easy Listening, Vocal
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[2:45] 1. Margaret Whiting - Moonlight In Vermont
[2:24] 2. Susan Barrett - Old Cape Cod
[2:48] 3. Dakota Staton - Broadway
[2:39] 4. Jo Stafford - Autumn In New York
[2:48] 5. Dean Martin - When It's Sleepy Time Down South
[3:03] 6. Judy Garland - Carolina In The Morning
[2:39] 7. The Four Knights - Georgia On My Mind
[3:02] 8. Peggy Lee - Basin Street Blues
[2:05] 9. Dinah Shore - Mississippi Mud
[2:36] 10. Ray Anthony & His Orchestra - Chattanooga Choo Choo
[2:13] 11. Kay Starr - Indiana (Back Home Again In Indiana)
[3:38] 12. Nat King Cole - (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
[2:00] 13. Sandler & Young - Chicago
[2:17] 14. June Christy - You Came A Long Way From St. Louis
[2:13] 15. Gordon Macrae - When It's Springtime In The Rockies
[2:50] 16. Peggy Lee - I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City
[2:54] 17. Johnny Mercer - San Fernando Valley
[2:21] 18. Nancy Wilson - I Left My Heart In San Francisco
[2:15] 19. Ella Fitzgerald - Hawaiian War Chant (Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai)
[2:07] 20. The Pied Pipers - Avalon

In the 1950's, Capitol Records had some of the best talent in the music industry, including Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, both of whom were at the apex of their respective forms. At least Dean is present in this collection of songs, all of which are tied to the theme of places within the United States (continental and otherwise). Even though Frank is not represented, some of my favorite voices of the era are here, including Jo Stafford, Margaret Whiting, Nat "King" Cole, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett and the incomparable Johnny Mercer. Unfortunately, the songs don't always match up to the talent. There are some stand-outs, such as "Moonlight in Vermont," "Old Cape Cod," "Autumn in New York" and "Georgia on My Mind." ~Sarah Bellum

Capitol Sings Coast To Coast

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