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A first-class singer and a very talented pianist.
Before achieving international pop stardom with his vocal recordings for her Capitol label during the early Fifties, the great Nat "King" Cole (1917-1965) enjoyed considerable success fronting his own trio in Hollywood and resorting to a repertoire of jazzy/jivey/novelty numbers that made for irresistible listening. Initially backed by guitarist Oscar Moore and bassist Wesley Prince, singer-pianist Cole set for a smooth, crisp, appealing sound that gained him early popularity. Best exemplified in hit tunes such as "Route 66", "Scotchin' With the Soda", "Sweet Lorraine" or "Hit That Jive Jack", the peculiar Nat Cole style somewhat came to define the spirit of the war years. A first-class singer and a very talented pianist (inspired by Earl Hines and a big influence on Oscar Peterson), Nat Cole did frequent "soundies" during this initial period in his career, and this video is a fascinating collection of those early film shorts produced for theaters or television. Backed by sidemen such as guitarists Oscar Moore and Irving Ashby, bassists Johnny Miller and Joe Comfort or Latin percussionist Jack "Mr. Bongo" Costanzo, Cole was in peak artistic form in these true musical gems from his early West Coast period. Recommended to old-time fans and jazz enthusiasts alike, the music in this anthology sounds as enjoyable as ever.
- Route 66
- Sweet Lorraine
- Little Girl
- Home
- The Trouble with Me Is You
- Calypso Blues
- For Sentimental Reasons
- That's My Girl
- Mona Lisa
- Because of Rain
- Too Young
- This is My Night to Dream
- Nature Boy
- You Call it Madness
- Got a Penny, Benny?
- Come to Baby Do
- Errand Boy for Rhythm
- Is You or Is You Ain't My Baby
- I'm A Shy Guy
- Who's Been Eating My Porridge
- Frim Fram Sauce
- Oh, Kickeroony
- Now He Tells Me
- Breezy and the Bass
- Solid Potato Salad
- It's Better to Be By Yourself
- Always You
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