Elly Roberts reviews
Nat King Cole: The World Of Nat King Cole
Distributed by
Capitol/EMI
- Released: January 2005
- Rating: 10/10
- Cat.no.: 72435-60680-2-5
- Extras: Excellent 25 page booklet with black and white photographs and credits
Let's face the music and listen to one of the most popular Jazz cross-over artists of all time.
Unforgettable is what he is, and this superb collection reminds us of a gentler
age in pop music. As a child I would often hear his dulcet tones via the Sunday
morning Forces Favourites broadcasts.
Born Nathaniel Adams Coles in Montgomery Alabama (March 17, 1917-died February
15, 1965) he was one of the 20 century’s most distinctive stylists, whose 42
year singles chart span confirms his timeless songs, starting in the UK in
November 1952 through to March 1994.
His 13 albums registered from 1957 to 2003. Jazz-swing master, Harry Connick
Jnr once said, "God just put his hand on his head and said: You’re going to
be the one with this voice."
Just about every musician in the world had endorsed his undeniable singing style and
piano work.
Sandwiched between his first UK chart entry in November 1952 – Somewhere Along
The Way and his last in March 1994 – Let’s Face The Music And Dance,
you get a playlist of six other entries from the '50s, two from the '60s (Let
There Be Love and Ramblin’ Rose), one from the '90s, (Unforgettable)
and various album tracks like Route 66, and the wonderful Nature Boy
- later covered in the 70’s by George Benson.
On checking the CD song titles, I discovered that some of his most popular
tracks never made the ‘Hit Parade’, as it was once known. Examples are,
Mona Lisa, On The Street Where You Live and Love Letters.
Incredibly Nat ‘King‘ Cole never had a number one in the UK, but he faired
slightly better with albums getting two toppers with Love Is The Thing
in 1957 and 20 Golden Greats in 1978. His singles lasted 249 weeks on
chart and the albums 150 weeks.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
