King Cole Comments No 24Loved In Return - USA VideoIssued in America by A and E Home Video in their biography series is a video telling Nat King Cole's life story titled Loved In Return. Similar in style to the UK BBC Arena Programme it obviously has more or less the same story to tell - Nat's marriages to Nadine and Maria, The Alabama Attack, The Tax Problems, The Hancock Park House problems etc, but there are many anecdotes and interviews by Natalie Cole, Maria Cole, John Collins, Lee Young, Jack Costanzo, Les Paul. Freddy Cole, Alan Livingston (ex President of Capitol records) and his brother Jay Livingston (the writer of Mona Lisa), Eartha Kitt, Pete Rugolo, Billy May and others. Other interesting points are film of Nat on-stage with Eden Albez, a 1937 poster of Nat in Shuffle Along, a copy of the programme of Nat's battle of the bands with Earl Mines at the Savoy ballroom on 8th September 1937 (Nat won - he was 16!) and a photo of Nat holding the turkey he won for playing Yes We have No Bananas at the age of 20. Unfortunately for us in the UK the video is on the USA NTSC pal system and therefore won't play on UK video recorders. I have a few items on USA videos including some TV shows which haven't been shown here and I bought a USA video player in the hope of being able to transfer them to UK videos. Unfortunately, although the USA video player plays the US videos OK it won't transfer them to UK videos. So if anyone's interested in seeing these videos and you happen to be in, or coming to the Morden area give me a phone Carl and we'll try to arrange a visit to see them. Where Did Everyone Go / Looking BackNat King Cole's fourth "Twofer" is now on the UK market (Capitol 7243 4 98885 2 4.) It comprises the 1963 album Where Did Everyone Go and the 1965 album Looking Back. Where Did Everyone Go was Nat's fourth and last album with Gordon Jenkins and consists of 12 poignant love lost type songs ranging from standards like The End Of A Love Affair, Ain't I Blue, Irving Berlin's Say It Isn't So, Johnny Mercer's When The World Was Young, and Rodgers and Hart's Spring Is Here, to lesser known songs such as I Keep Going Back To Joe's, Jimmy Van Heusen's Where Did Everyone Go, Someone To Tell It To, and Gordon Jenkins That All There Is which appropriately ended the album (but not the CD). Many collectors consider this LP to be Nat and Gordon's finest hour. Certainly it was to he the last ballad album Nat recorded, with only Dear Lonely Hearts, Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer, My Fair Lady, I Don't Want To Be Hurt Anymore and Love to come before his untimely death in 1965. It's surprising to find that after over ten years of compact discs that this is a first time CD release for 4 of these tracks, which are among the most beautiful recordings made by Nat. They are Where Did Everyone Go, I Keep Going Back To Joe's, No I Don't Want Her and Laughing on the Outside. Looking Back, the second album on this Twofer is a collection of 20 singles and 1 EP track from the late 1950s and was issued as an album the Christmas following Nat's death in 1965. Although the original single recordings were recorded in mono, when they were put on the album they had a stereo rhythm added by Dave Cavanaugh and this has been retained on this CD issue. Dave Cavanaugh is the orchestra on 9 of these tracks, the exceptions being Ralph Carmichael (not Billy May as stated on the sleeve) on If I May (an edited version from the 1961 stereo recording for The Nat King Cole Story) and Billy May on Send For Me. When listening to these more commercial recordings by Nat it's even more surprising to note that not only have three of these songs never been issued on CD before (The World in My Arms, Is It Better To Have Loved And Lost and Just As Much As Ever) but a further six have only been issued on CD in Japan. Perhaps I should emigrate to Japan to hear this music! Some of these tracks such as Midnight Flyer, Send For Me and If I May were Nat's attempts to adapt rock and roll and most of these singles were in or around the pop charts when originally issued. Many collectors will now be able to add some of their favourite Nat Cole tracks to their CD collection, standout tracks, being Time And The River, The World In My Arms, Again, and The Sweet Bird Of Youth. Four of the tracks on this album reached the UK singles chart. They are Midnight Flyer, Just As Much As Ever, The World In My Arms and Time And The River. What's next in Nat's "Twofer" direction? There's only 2 original concept albums yet to appear on CD - Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer and Night Lights. Night Lights with 20 tracks, although ideal for a CD in its own right is too long for a Twofer, so an album to link up with Lazy Hazy needs to be selected. This Is Nat King Cole, The Unreleased Nat King Cole, Thank You Pretty Baby or Nat King Cole Sings The Great Songs, Thank You Pretty Baby and Nat king Cole Sings The Great Songs being the last two of the posthumous albums would appear to he made for each other. If you have a view on what should be Nat's next or future release then write or phone the project co-ordinators of this great series and tell then what you'd like to see issued. They are Jo Brooks and Mike McNally Their address is EMI House, Phone: 020-7605-5000, 43 Brook Green London W6 7FF. They Welcome your suggestions and mention this on their latest CD issue. The Best or The King Cole TrioNew 3 CD set issued here on Capitol (7243 497480 26) The Best Of The King Cole Trio contains their previously issued CDs - Instrumental Classics Of The King Cole Trio, Vocal Classics Of The King Cole Trio 1942 - 1946 and Vocal Classics Of the King Cole Trio 1947 - 1950. The only difference between this set and the three original issues is that they are now housed in a picture box Price is around £20. Good value if you didn't buy any of the CDs first time round. Nat King Cole's Film, Video And Show PollPerhaps the release of Nat King Cole's new video will encourage you to vote (if you haven't already done so) for your 3 favourite films featuring Nat King Cole. Your 3 favourite Nat King Cole TV shows and your 3 favourite videos by Nat King Cole. Less than one third of the readers of KCC have voted, so now is the chance. Send in your selections with your next envelope. Cocktail CombosA new 3 CD set issued by USA Capitol titled Cocktail Combos features 1 CD by The King Cole Trio. The 25 tracks by Nat include I Miss You So, Bring Another Drink, What'll I Do and I'm A Shy Guy. The other two CDs feature Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, Charles Brown, and Floyd Dixon. Neat sleeve drawing of the Trio. Catalogue No is Capitol CDP 7243 85204227. Sweet JazzNew various artists CD includes Nat's Stardust. With Respect to NatOscar Peterson's vocal tribute to Nat King Cole now released on CD. Swingin' At CapitolNew various artist CD on the Capitol label features Where Were You by Nat and Pete Rugolo. Submarine RecordsSubmarine Records first 1999 newsletter is now available (Volume 9 No 1) For a copy send an SAE to:
The newsletter contains hundreds of CDs for sale of our kind of music, plus track details. Please mention KCC. Jump 'N' JiveNew various artists CD includes Nat's Walkin' and For You My Love with Nellie Lutcher. Pen PalsSteve Morgan would be pleased to hear from any other admirers of Nat King Cole. Steve's address is:- 41 Maesbenin, Dark Lane, Rhayader, Powys, L06 5EP Tu Mi Delirio" Now On CDIssued in Spain is a CD single on Capitol (PE 98086) comprising two tracks Ansiedad and Tu Mi Delirio. Tu Mi Delirio is the piano solo track by Nat King Cole on his First Spanish album Cole Espanole and is one of the three tracks hat we have been waiting to be issued on CD from the three Spanish albums. Other Spanish tracks not on the album but still awaited on CD are of course Amor (L-O-V-E) and Tu Urs En Amiable (You Are So Amiable). This single cones in a cardboard picture sleeve and is issued to promote a double Spanish CD entitled Inolvidable which according to the notes on the CD has a total of 4O tracks. There were 35 tracks on Nat's 3 Spanish LPs (34 vocals plus 1 non vocal) which with Amore and Tu Urs En Amiable makes a total of 37 tracks. It will be interesting to see which 3 extra tracks have been added. Incidentally the two remaining tracks so Far are missing a CD issue from the three original Spanish LP's are A Media Luz from More Cole Espanole and Coboclo Do Rio from A Mis Amigos. Nat King Cole Records For SaleI have prepared a list of 45s and a list of CDs for sale all by Nat King Cole. All are individually priced and graded. If you want a copy of either, or both, lists. let me know when you send in for the next "Comments" and I'll send back with same. The records are from friends who want to see KCC keep going plus my duplicates. Money from these sales will go towards that. Thanks to evcryone who have given records, CDs videos etc. Lester Young - Exercise In SwingThis budget priced Italian CD on the Giants Of Jazz, label (no 53319) contains 6 of the 8 tracks originally issued on The Lester Young Trio LP featuring Nat King Cole on piano and Buddy Rich on drums. The two missing tracks are Somebody Loves Me and I Want To Be Happy the alternate take of I Cover The waterfront is also not included, but the 5 minute version of Body And Soul by Nat, Lester and Red Callender on bass recorded in 1942 is included. This has been on CD before but only in Denmark. Videos For Sale
The above are £12 each plus postage. Nat Cole's Kings No 9 Gordon JenkinsGordon Jenkins started his career playing ukelele in a St Louis speakeasy during the 1920's and progressed to being one of the greatest conductor, composer and arrangers in the field of popular music. He was born in Webster Groves, Missouri, USA on 12th May 1910 and in addition to the ukelele he was also proficient on piano, vibraphone, organ, banjo and accordion. Before starting on his own he worked as an arranger for many of America's top bands, including Benny Goodman, Paul Whiteman and Isham Jones. From the dance bands Gordon progressed onto Broadway and then on to Paramount Pictures before joining Capitol records briefly in the early 1940's and then moving onto Decca Records where he started to make his name by bringing his own special arranging and conducting skills to every singer contracted to the label. These stars included Dick Haymes, Billie Holiday, The Andrew Sisters, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland, Peggy Lee & Jerri Southern and The Weavers. In addition to these recordings Gordon became the first of the late 40's orchestras to produce a record featuring a solo vocal singer but under the orchestra leader's name as it had been in the 1930s and early 1940s. With his signature one-fingered piano melody, a blanket of strings and a solo singer he produced many hits including Bewitched (vocal Lou Williams), Don't Cry Joe (Betty Brewer), Again (Joe Graydon), and My Foolish Heart (Sandy Evans). His most acclaimed work of this period was a complete album giving the story and music of Manhattan Tower. The record sold over 500,000 copies and in 1956 was performed on TV featuring Phil Harris, Helen O'Connell, Ethel Waters and Ceaser Romero. Beverly Mahr, a singer on the original recording became Mrs Gordon Jenkins. Apart from his recording skills Gordon Jenkins was also a noted composer writing I thought About Marie, This Is All I Ask, Goodbye and That's All There Is (from Where Did Everyone Go) and many others. Another noted milestone in Gordon's career was his recording of an album with Louis Armstrong entitled Satchmo In Style for which he recorded the jazz trumpeter/vocalist, with a string backdrop, a concept that was well ahead of its time. From this album came Blueberry Hill and the evergreen It's All In The Game. This song was written by Chester Dawes who was Vice President of the USA, and Gordon would eventually record it again with Nat King Cole. Gordon had a successful radio series with Dick Haymes and when Nat King Cole became the first black man to have his own TV show in 1956 it was Gordon he chose as his backing orchestra. Also in 1956 Gordon Jenkins returned to Capitol Records where he recorded with most of Capitol Records major artists including Peggy Lee (once more) and Frank Sinatra. With Nat King Cole he recorded four albums Love Is The Thing (1956) Everything I Feel the Sprit (1958) The Very Thought Of You (1958) and Where Did Everyone Go (1962). A total of 54 studio recordings of which, with the release on CD of Where Did Everyone Go, means that only one of Nat and Gordon's collaborations has yet to be issued on CD - the track recorded for, but left off their last LP - Farewell To Arms one of the best recordings they made. Gordon Jenkins died in 1984 age 74. Perhaps the biggest tribute to Gordon from King Cole Comments is the fact that of the 2000 recordings made by Nat King Cole, "KCC" readers voted Nat and Gordon's recordings into 3 of the first 4 places of their favourite recordings. Stardust at No I, When I Fall In Love at No 2 and When The World Was Young (from Where Did Everyone Go) at No 4. King Cole SnippetsRobert Kennedy was a pallbearer at Nat's funeral Nat's recording of Pretend is played during the film Private Parts - the story of Howard Stern. Still no sign of the Nat and Nelson 5 CD set! While in hospital in 1965 Nat received more mail than anyone else in America Don't Let Your Eyes Go Shopping For Your Heart is played during the film The Wedding Nat's recording of Almost Like Being In Love is played on the soundtrack of Grumpier Old Men starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ann-Margaret and Sophia Loren Two of Nat's recordings - Candy and The Very Thought Of You played on the soundtrack of the film Home For The Holidays starring Holly Hunter, Anne Bancrofi and Robert Downey Jnr In their advance publicity Vocalion have advised that a CD by Nat King Cole will be issued this year in their Classic USA Series. An Evening With Nat King Cole - The VideoThe amount of letters and phone calls I have received regarding Nat's new video has only been comparable to the interest shown in the Night Lights LP and The Mosaic Set, and all the comments were complimentary plus the question Why has It Taken 35 Years To Be Issued?" Apparently it's been very difficult to find this video, particularly outside London and I feel that an opportunity was missed by the big companies to cash in on sales for the video, especially with it being available just before Christmas when, with a little TV or in-store publicity, it could have been a big Christmas seller. Nat is admired by millions and with many people not knowing what to buy for their relations at Christmas, I think that with a little publicity the video could have been a big seller. Even in London it was difficult to obtain the video without prior ordering. I sent copies all over the country and all over the world, including Belgium, France, Germany and even America (where they have a different video system). If anyone wants a copy of this video send £11.99 plus the appropriate postage. OBITUARIES:THE TIMES SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 1998JIMMY HENNEYJimmy Henney. music industry executive, died on September 25 aged 76. He was born on July 13, 1922. In the days when Denmark Street, London's equivalent of New York's Tin ran Alley. still dominated the music husiness, and the publishers of sheet music, rather than big record companies. promoted the works brought to them by songwriters. Jimmy Henney was celebrated as the doyen of song pluggers. It was his job to persuade well-known singers. band leaders. radio disc jockeys and record companies to play the music of his company, Chappells, at a time when songs could be bartered by their composers for drinks or a few pounds. and reputations made overnight. Later. Henney became something of a performer himself. as a regular on such TV programmes as Oh Boy, Juke Box Jury and New Faces. Henney's stock-in-trade was his great personal charm. reinforced by film-star good looks and a knack for making close friendships throughout the music business. He counted many of the greats among his friends, his passion for golf endearing him to the likes of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, and establishing lifelong friendships with Vera Lynn, Nat King Cole, Lionel Bart, Shirley Bassey. Perry Como, Barbra Streisand, Sammy Cahn, Lena Horne, Frank Loesser, Jule Styne, Julio Iglesias, Cliff Richard and many others. In his younger days. despite being confined to a wheelchair for some time in his youth, the result of a cerebral haemorrage, he was an enthusiastic footballer and in the 1960s he organised the Showbiz Eleven, a celebrity team which raised large sums for charity. David Frost played in goal, and the line-up might often include Sean Connery. Ronnie Carroll Tommv Steele, Dave King Jimmy Tarbuck and Des O'Connor buttressed on occasion by professionals of the calibre of Billy Wright, Wally Barnes and Danny Blanchflower. On one occasion however when most of the stars had other commitments and were unable to show up for a Sunday morning match at Sheffield Wednesday's ground. Henney was horrified In find that 35,000 fans had turned out to see the celebrities. Forced to press the coach driver into service, along with one or two star struck friends who had come along for the ride. Recent CDs By Nat King Cole
The Jazz SingersUSA Sony have issued a 5 CD set called "The Jazz Singers" (Sony Ic) 113) it contains one track by Nat - the vocal version of"Just You Just Me." Maria Cole - A Girl They Call MariaWhen I met Maria Cole in 1989 at the London press reception for the BBC Arena programme on Nat King Cole, she told me of an 8 song - 10" album she recorded in 1954 for Kapp Records. The album is called A Girl They Call Maria and the important aspect of this album is that Nat played piano behind Maria on all tracks with a King Cole Trio probably consisting of John Collins guitar) and Charlie Harris. (bass) The songs Maria sings are:-
DonationsAs usual many of you have been extremely generous with your gifts and donations, money, stamps, cheques and items to sell such as LP's, CD, videos etc. I prefer not to charge a subscription for KCC and these gifts keep it going. Since the last list, donations have been received from Howard Lucroft, Chris Thatcher, Bob Burgess Smith, Ray Remus, Grahame Hardy, Andy Mallett, Steve Crawford, Gary Talbot, Dennis McQueen, John Mackie, John Nevin, Ralph Ehrenpreis, Norman Skolnick, Bernard Williams, James Reid, Brian Payton, Steve Morgan, Ben Butterfield, Ron Young, Doug Cruickshank, James Scott and Barbara and Gordon Fowler. I hope I haven't missed anyone out. Many thanks to all the above. You're the people that keep "KCC" on the road. ChristmasMany thanks for all the good wishes and phone calls and cards received at Christmas. It is nice to know that KCC is appreciated. Quiz No 14What do the following recordings by Nat King Cole have in common?
Answer To Quiz No 13 - All songs written by Jimmy McHugh Next King Cole CommentsTo receive the next King Cole Comments, contact me with your mailing address. Go to the King Cole Comments Home Page ©Copyright Highstreets Web Services 2004
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