Nat "King" Cole World Of Nat King Cole CD

If there are radio stations in the afterlife, one thing is certain--at least one channel is eternally playing Nat "King" Cole. With his butter-rich baritone and the intimate warmth of his delivery, Cole cuts straight to the soul and through the ages. Longtime fans will likely own the songs featured here on original studio albums or previously released compilations, but THE WORLD OF NAT KING COLE skims the cream from Cole's pop career, making it an excellent place for beginners or those seeking an economical best-of set.

Some of the finest cuts here are from Cole's early-1960s work with his trio. Spare, mellow, and flawlessly executed, treatments of "It's Only a Paper Moon" and "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons," among others, are enough to melt the heart on first listen. (These tunes also showcase Cole's deft touch on piano.) The remaining tracks feature Cole performing with orchestras led by luminaries Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Les Baxter, and Stan Kenton, along with other highly memorable sides, including "Mona Lisa" and two versions of "Unforgettable" (the original and the posthumous duet with daughter Natalie). Concise and well selected, this is an outstanding collection focusing on the key songs of a truly legendary singer.

Digitally remastered 40th Anniversary commemoration of the death of the great crooner Nat King Cole. Capitol Records compiled this 2005 selection in several different packages worldwide, created with the full cooperation of the artist's estate. This international version has 7 alternate tracks to the USA version; "It's All In The Game", "Pretend", "Autumn Leaves", "Looking Back", "Love Letters", "Somewhere Along The Way", & "Stay As Sweet As You Are".

U.K. edition has seven alternate tracks.Mojo (Publisher) (p.115) - 4 stars out of 5 - "Cole was from a smaller-group jazz background, a training that adds spice to later, ostensibly easy-listening material such as L-O-V-E."