Was there ever a performer in the history of
American popular music who produced such a diverse body of work, over such an
extended period of time, as Nat King Cole? In a career that spanned nearly 30
years—despite his untimely death in 1965 at age 45—Nat sang and played just
about everything at one time or another, from jazz and pop to country and
spirituals and all else in between. To this day, his music—all of it—endures. In late
1956, at a time when Cole was arguably the most successful entertainer on the
planet, he began a 13-month run as host of his own NBC television show, The Nat
King Cole Show. Over the years, bits and pieces of music and footage from the
show have surfaced, mostly on unauthorized bootlegs. This new collection from
Real Gone Music includes more than two dozen of the rarest and choicest
performances from The Nat King Cole Show, coupled with nearly 30 minutes of
additional music from a 1963 appearance on Australian television being released
for the very first time in America. On
display, particularly in the material from his own show, is Nat’s willingness
to tackle a variety of material and genres rather than simply trotting out
renditions of his most familiar and successful records. Appearing in this
2-disc set are many songs that Cole never recorded commercially or even sang
again in public, with arrangements by such giants as Nelson Riddle, Billy May
and Gordon Jenkins. And when he does sing one of his hits (like “Mona Lisa,”
“Too Young,” or “Ramblin’ Rose”), they often scarcely resemble the studio
recordings. Remastered
by Mike Milchner—who engineered Real Gone’s acclaimed set of Peggy Lee radio
performances—and offering liner notes by Cole expert Jordan Taylor festooned
with photos taken from the Nat King Cole estate archives, Stardust—The Rare
Television Performances represents a major addition to the Nat King Cole
discography. It also reminds us what a fantastic entertainer and visionary
artist he truly was. SONGS: Disc 11.
Button Up Your Overcoat2. It's
Not For Me To Say3. Sweet
Lorraine 4. April
Love5. I Am
in Love6. C'est
Si Bon7.
Passing By8. A
Blossom Fell9. Maybe
It's Because I Love You Too Much10. Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out The Barrel)11. With
You On My Mind12. My
One Sin13. When
Rock And Roll Come to Trinidad14. Once
In A While 15. I'm
in the Mood For Love16. I
Thought About Marie17. My
Heart Stood Still18. St.
Louis Blues
Disc 21. Love Is Sweeping the Country2. It's All in the Game 3. Life is Just A Bowl of Cherries 4. Rosetta5. The Nearness of You6. Careless Love7. My Personal Possession8. Stardust9. The Way You Look Tonight10. When I Fall in Love11. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down & Write Myself a Letter12. Mona Lisa13. Too Young14. Where or When15. Dear Lonely Hearts16. I Love A Piano17. Ramblin' Rose
Disc 21. Love Is Sweeping the Country2. It's All in the Game 3. Life is Just A Bowl of Cherries 4. Rosetta5. The Nearness of You6. Careless Love7. My Personal Possession8. Stardust9. The Way You Look Tonight10. When I Fall in Love11. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down & Write Myself a Letter12. Mona Lisa13. Too Young14. Where or When15. Dear Lonely Hearts16. I Love A Piano17. Ramblin' Rose
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