Search - Nat King Cole :: Songs From Stage & Screen (Dig)

A FINE COLLECTION

Giovanni M. | Chicago, IL | 01/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The latest in a series of Nat King Cole "theme albums", this time selections from Nat's Broadway and Hollywood repertoire. Going through the track listing, I was very glad to see his reading of "I'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HER FACE" on this disc, as it is a personal favorite of mine by ANYONE who sings it. Nat's treatment comes from a long out of print album he did of the songs from My Fair Lady, shortly before his death. A great orchestration and a sensitive reading by Nat really makes this release whole. But there's other gems to be found here as well. An obscure item to find on the market these days is any CD that has Nat's beautiful rendition of "I REMEMBER YOU" on it, that wonderful standard by Johnny Mercer. From the opening strains to the last chorus (Nat really soars over the line "And the angels ask me to recall, the thrill of them all!) I've yet to hear a better reading than Mr. Cole's. And for those of you who prefer something a little more uptempo, there are selections from the many sessions Nat and arranger extraordinaire Billy May had over the years at Capitol. "THE PARTY'S OVER" gives us a little more than the "alka seltzer and ice bag" treatment we're so used to hearing whenever this song is sung. The swagger's here, complete with May's lazy saxophones and big brass, but without the hangover! And just wait till you hear what they did to Dick Haymes' "YOU'LL NEVER KNOW"! Also can't wait to hear the hauntingly lovely "AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER" in CD quality sound after all these years as well. A great collection of familar songs from the good people at Capitol."

"final & the Best of the Songbook Series ~ Nat King Cole"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 01/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Capitol Records continues the Nat King Cole "Thematic Songbook Series" with another volume "Songs from Stage & Screen", this the fourth and final release to spotlight the tremendous output of recordings leading up to his successful solo years with Les Baxter, Billy May, Nelson Riddle, Gordon Jenkins, Dave Cavanaugh, Ralph Carmichael...there's even a couple with George Shearing, whose contribution with Nat was like ham and eggs, a perfect match..



Among the highlights "ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE", from "Brigadoon" starring Gene Kelly, Van Johnson and Cyd Charisse, "I'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HER FACE", from "My Fair Lady" starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn, "LOVE LETTERS", lush and beautiful arrangement from Gordon Jenkins that instantly became a classic, "AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'", from "Hot Chocolates of 1929" the Fats Waller musical revue, "JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS", from "Jubilee" a Cole Porter hit stage show and became an American standard, "YOU'LL NEVER KNOW", from the 1943 film "Hello Frisco Hello" as this song won the Oscar for Harry Warren and Mack Gordon as Best Song of that year, "AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER", from the film of the same name, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr whose love story was as heart warming then and still is today...all recordings are 18 digitally re-mastered tracks with wonderful liner notes and graphics...this release is in appreciation for Nat Cole's groundbreaking career and the interest of the fans today who can't get enough of his recordings.



Hats off to Carole Cole and Paul Atkinson for this one of a kind compilation of the past recordings that will keep you completely satisfied...Nat 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 timeless songs and remain classics, while others are songs that have never seen the light of day...the sound quality of this album is 24-Bit Digitally Remastered...this release is a dream come true...more selections from the greatest entertainer of our time!



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 and Carole Cole for this release of Nat "King" Cole during his stage and screen years, the decades of music that followed...but as the last song of this album states "THE PARTY'S OVER", from "The Bells Are Ringing" starring Judy Holiday and Dean Martin, but folks the party isn't over, it's only beginning and his songs will remain with us forever.



Total Time: 48:02 on 18 Tracks ~ Capitol Records 530303 ~ (1/23/2001)"