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.
| Disc: 1 |
|---|
| 1. Button Up Your Overcoat |
| 2. It's Not For Me To Say |
| 3. Sweet Lorraine |
| 4. April Love |
| 5. I Am in Love |
| 6. C'est Si Bon |
| 7. Passing By |
| 8. A Blossom Fell |
| 9. Maybe It's Because I Love You Too Much |
| 10. Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out The Barrel) |
| 11. With You On My Mind |
| 12. My One Sin |
| 13. When Rock And Roll Come to Trinidad |
| 14. Once In A While |
| 15. I'm in the Mood For Love |
| 16. I Thought About Marie |
| 17. My Heart Stood Still |
| 18. St. Louis Blues |
| Disc: 2 |
| 1. Love Is Sweeping the Country |
| 2. It's All in the Game |
| 3. Life is Just A Bowl of Cherries |
| 4. Rosetta |
| 5. The Nearness of You |
| 6. Careless Love |
| 7. My Personal Possession |
| 8. Stardust |
| 9. The Way You Look Tonight |
| 10. When I Fall in Love |
| 11. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down & Write Myself a Letter |
| 12. Mona Lisa |
| 13. Too Young |
| 14. Where or When |
| 15. Dear Lonely Hearts |
| 16. I Love A Piano |
| 17. Ramblin' Rose |
