The World of Nat King Cole
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend 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… Product details and pricing info |
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25 Customer Reviews Posted
- Legacy of The King
- Nat passed away in February of 1965. He left us too soon but left us a wonderful selection of music to enjoy. I felt this remastered version might have artificial sharpness in the high frequencies but the sound is quite warm. A lot of remastered recordings from the 40's to 60's had harsh sound when compared to their vinyl counterparts. This is not a greatest hits album but a lot of them are included. The standout of missing songs for me was 'Answer Me, My Love' but I have it on other albums. 'Nature Boy' is an alternate version and works quite well. 'Day In Day Out' I've never heard before. This album has entered the top 50 Billboard charts.
- 2005-02-08, 7 of 7 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- One of the all time Greatest Talents
- be it as a Band leader or as a Vocalist stylist Nat King Cole had a way of presenting material that has remained timeless. this is a Great starter collection for new fans of Nat King Cole. "Unforgetable" alone stands the test of time. He was a very detailed Musical Genius&His work is a must have. He never gets his full due as a Piano Player or Band Leader.
- 2005-02-06, 1 of 2 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- A musical time capsule
- A treasure of Nat's best and evidence of why we miss him. From the magic of "When I Fall In Love" to "Route 66" and "Walkin My Baby Back Home", the listener gets a memory and piece of this legend's heart in every lyric. Especially nice is the inclusion of his duet with his daughter. Amazing that one family can produce such vocal richness. Excellent ear candy to share with someone you love, just in time for Valentine's Day
- 2005-02-03, 3 of 3 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- A Definitive Collection for the Casual Fan
- At 28 tracks, this is easily the best bang for your buck when looking for a single-disc collection of one of the greatest pop/jazz vocalists of all time. And amazon.com's $9.99 price makes this a no-brainer, even if you already own the out-of-print CAPITOL COLLECTORS SERIES release. [One song missing here from that earlier compilation is "The Christmas Song," but that always semed out of place on anything but a Christmas album, so its absence here is no big deal.]
The songs are roughly presented in chronological order from 1944's "Smile" through his final top ten hit, 1962's "Ramblin' Rose," as well as the remake of "Unforgettable" with his daughter Natalie, recorded twenty-five years after his death. [The CD also includes the original version.]
Forty years after his untimely death, this collection serves to show that Nat Cole belongs on a short list of the truly great vocalists of the past century, including Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme. ESSENTIAL - 2005-02-01, 4 of 5 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- "the house that Nat built ~ Capitol Records"
- From the vaults of Capitol Records, never to be forgotten arrangements "The World of Nat King Cole", another command performance release featuring the man himself Mr. Nathaniel Adams Cole...he had a tenderness in his voice, completely flawless...he could never deliver a bad tune...his style and signature of making a song his own has never been duplicated...within this album are wonderful timeless ballads complete with romantic lyrics...all remain classics from the greatest entertainer of our time!
Among the highlights..."A BLOSSOM FELL", "ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE", "DARLING, JE VOUS AIME BEAUCOUP", "MONA LISA", "SMILE", "TOO YOUNG", "UNFORGETTABLE", brilliant counter melodies interwoven for the Capitol label with Nelson Riddle's arrangements, "NATURE BOY", beautiful and heartfelt ballad sprinkled with the classic Frank DeVol arrangement featuring The King Cole Trio, "IT'S ONLY A PAPER MOON", STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT", "(GET YOUR KICKS ON) ROUTE 66", "(I LOVE YOU) FOR SENTIMENTAL REASON", "ORANGE COLORED SKY", "YOU STEPPED OUT OF A DREAM", with The King Cole trio each tune stirs your musical pulse, "WALKIN' MY BABY BACK HOME", "SEND FOR ME, "DAY IN - DAY OUT", "LET'S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE", "JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS", Nat had a special twinkle in his eye when he sings about his beautiful wife Maria, Billy May's arrangements are priceless, "STARDUST", "WHEN I FALL IN LOVE", Nat sings this from the heart and you're loving it with Gordon Jenkins gorgeous arrangements, "RAMBLIN' ROSE", "L-O-V-E", "THOU SWELL", "LET THERE BE LOVE", "ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE", "QUIZAS, QUIZAS, QUIZAS (PERHAPS, PERHAPS, PERHAPS), Nat completely takes charge and you're in for a real treat from beginning to end...so fasten your seatbelts, cause you're in for a musical journey with all the trimmings.
Hats off to Kevin Flaherty (compilation producer), Carole Cole (executive producer), Ron McMaster (Captiol mastering), Rob Christie (co-producer) and Natalie Cole (liner notes) for this one of a kind compilation of past recordings that will keep you completely satisfied...some tracks are mono but the sound quality is quite amazing with it's 24-Bit Digitally Remastered technology...a release to savor for many years...this is a dream come true...more selections from the greatest entertainer of our time...and still more to come later this year with a DVD package.
Nat was awarded a posthumous plaque to the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame, naming him one of the major early influences on rock 'n' roll...they'll never be another pass this way again...thank you Captiol for this release of Nat "King" Cole for the decades of music that followed...his songs will remain with us always and forever...just the way we like 'em!
Total Time: 77:00 on 28 Tracks ~ Capitol 74712 ~ (1/25/2004) - 2005-01-30, 4 of 4 people found this review helpful, Rated:
