Nat King Cole

[JSngry]

It's closer to one of the dark Sinatra albums, definitely.

For a single cut, this is absolute perfection. Total pocket, and thank your diety of choice that this is preserved on a record. There is nothing else where the band so totally  gives it up. Perfection, every single note. and I don't think you get that without Nat  taking that tempo and making sweet foreplay love to it.

[Teasing the Korean]

Also, be sure to check out the Snader Transcription trio videos, which were made for the early days of TV if they had to fill time.  The trio by this time included Irving Ashby on guitar and Joe Comfort on bass.  On some videos, they did some weird things with makeup to lighten Cole's complexion, but once you get past that, there is much to like here.  

 

[JSngry]

Joe Comfort...the man who made Sinatra swing (a bit of an oversimplication, but I'll take it). One of the unsung heroes of American Popular music.

[Teasing the Korean]

 

[Ken Dryden]

Although she didn’t typically play in a piano/guitar/bass trio nor did she sing, Marian McPartland told me that Cole influenced her in one way: she used her left foot on the pedal in order to turn slightly toward the audience like he did.

[Teasing the Korean]

"Day In, Day Out" with Billy May is fantastic.

 

[JSngry]

I wonder how many times that song was recorded on Capitol....and how much in royalties Johnny Mercer made from them.

Hey, if you own a stake in the label and you got good songs, why not?

[Teasing the Korean]

1 hour ago, JSngry said:

I wonder how many times that song was recorded on Capitol....and how much in royalties Johnny Mercer made from them.

Hey, if you own a stake in the label and you got good songs, why not?

Sinatra's version on Come Dance With Me is pretty great too.  That album seems to be overlooked among his Capitol albums.  

[Late]

Based on this thread, I recently picked up this album on CD. The singing is fine. Still getting used to Riddle's work—I like it, but I'm not hearing all of it yet.

Edited October 16, 2022 by Late

[Late]

I realized I didn't have this title in my collection. Purchased.

I've had After Midnight for decades, but not this one.

[Ken Dryden]

The first version of After Midnight that I bought in the 1970s was a 10 track reissue that deleted two tracks. I found a used original, then an import lp with bonus tracks, the Mosaic set, then I think there was another cd reissue with additional music.

Edited November 5, 2022 by Ken Dryden

[Teasing the Korean]

1 hour ago, Ken Dryden said:

The first version of After Musnight that I bought in the 1970s was a 10 track reissue that deleted two tracks. I found a used original, than an import lp with bonus tracks, the Mosaic set, then I think there was another cd reissue with additional music.

Yes, the CD has 5 bonus tracks for a total of 17.

I even have a French LP reissue with all 17 tracks, but it teeters into groove-cramming territory.  Luckily, because it is mono, you can hit the mono button and reduce distortion.

[mikeweil]

1 hour ago, Ken Dryden said:

..... then I think there was another cd reissue with additional music.

Yes, this one:

https://www.discogs.com/release/1025401-Nat-King-Cole-And-His-Trio-The-Complete-After-Midnight-Sessions/image/SW1hZ2U6MTMzNjM3OA==

[JSngry]

"You're Looking At Me" is a great song. Who has covered it instrumentally?

[Teasing the Korean]

4 minutes ago, mikeweil said:

Yes, this one:

https://www.discogs.com/release/1025401-Nat-King-Cole-And-His-Trio-The-Complete-After-Midnight-Sessions/image/SW1hZ2U6MTMzNjM3OA==

Love how they reproduce the hype blurb from the LP, but insert "digital" where it originally read "hi-fi."  

[mikeweil]

14 minutes ago, JSngry said:

"You're Looking At Me" is a great song. Who has covered it instrumentally?

[JSngry]

Thanks. I'd think there should be more, but hey. People gonna play what they gonna play.

It's a really good song. Bobby Troup, right?

[mikeweil]

Found this one, too, only as a bonus track on this reissue. All others listed in Lord are with vocals.

https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/don-fagerquist-albums/4280-portrait-of-a-great-jazz-artist.html

Yes, Bobby Troup.

[Late]

On 10/18/2022 at 7:02 AM, Late said:

I realized I didn't have this title in my collection. Purchased.

I've had After Midnight for decades, but not this one.

Listened to this yesterday. Great vocals, but I don't know what to make of Jenkins' arrangements yet. It's like being stuck in a swimming pool full of Cool Whip.

[Teasing the Korean]

Are there any interviews with Nat Cole - print, audio, or video - in which he discusses his piano playing to a significant degree?

[Gheorghe]

On 11/5/2022 at 6:20 PM, Late said:

Listened to this yesterday. Great vocals, but I don't know what to make of Jenkins' arrangements yet. It's like being stuck in a swimming pool full of Cool Whip.

My favourite: "Love is the thing" ! I love that ballad and play it often !