Roy gets a steady stream of e-mail, mostly from people asking for help tracking down records. Here's a selection.

Urban Myth

I am troubled by an email message that's being circulated with supposedly true stories of good deeds. One of the stories is that on a stormy night in the 1960s, a white man picks up a black woman stranded on the side of the road and gives her a ride into town. She takes his name and address. He later receives a color TV with a note from this woman. The woman is Mrs. Nat Cole and her note says, the TV is to thank this guy for getting her to her husband's bedside in time for his death. Do you know if this story is true? If it is not true, I would like to be able to inform the person who is continuing to send out the email message.

I've spoken to Maria Cole about this and she confirms that there is no truth in the story. She didn't drive to the hospital, she doesn't drive at night, and she has never broken down and been helped by a man.

New Twofer

Is there any news on a new "twofer" CD collection? What albums might be included and when is the expected release date?

There have been four of Nat's "twofers" issued in the UK to date Under consideration for the next "twofer" are

• Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer
• Nat King Cole Sings the Great Songs
• Thank You Pretty Baby
• This is Nat King Cole

No decision has yet been made but the 1956 previously unreleased LP "Night Lights" with Nelson Riddle is due for release next year

Mr Cole Won't Rock and Roll

I am looking for the recording of "King Cole Won't Rock and Roll". Can you give me the label it was recorded on?

The eight minute version of "Mr Cole won't rock and roll" was recorded by Capitol records on 14th January 1960 at the Sands hotel but it was not put on the LP/CD issued from the performance. It has only been issued once by Capitol - on a four CD set called "Nat King Cole" (Capitol 0777-7-99777-2-7) and issued in 1992.

The Magic of Christmas with Children

I am looking for what appears to be a rather rare Nat King Cole album. It is "Nat King Cole and the Children's Chorus - The Magic of Christmas With Children". It was produced by Capitol Records - Creative Products. The record catalog number is "L6517". It was "Created Exclusively For Safeway". In association with John M. Huntsman Incorporated (Continental Production Company). Collector's Album - Limited Edition.

"The Magic of Christmas with Children" has not been released on CD although all the tracks have been issued on various CDs (except for three tracks by the childrens chorus). The closest CD is "The Nat King Cole Christmas ALbum" (UK MFP 0777 7 80387 2 6) which contains eight of the nine tracks by Nat. The missing track is "Mrs Santa Claus".

The Sand and the Sea

Possibly you can help. I recall hearing a song many years ago titled The Sand and The Sea or with the words 'if I find piece of mind with the sand and the sea', and I believe the artist was Nat King Cole.

Every one I know and ask has never heard it including my dad, 80 years old, who loved that kind of music. A friend of mine has a home at the New Jersey Shore area and fondly calls it the sand and the sea. I would sure like to get my hands on a copy of it or a single for him.

The song is called The Sand and the Sea and was recorded by Nat King Cole on 20th December 1954. It was remade in stereo by Nat in 1961.

The original is on capital CD CDP 7 99776 2 "Balads of the day" and on other LPs and 45. Notably USA 45 Capitol single F 3021 and the USA LP Capitol 7" 680 "Balads of the Day" (UK LP numbers are LC6818 and EMS 1102). The stereo remake is on Capitol double CD 5 79 5129 2.

You are my First Love

I'm desperately trying to fing a copy of a song by Nat called My first and Last Love.

My father in law (Tony) was in Australia in the sixties, and wife and daughter at home in Scotland managed to get a request (anything by Nat King Cole) played for him on Two Way Family Favourites, a program which was on the old BBC Light Programme.

Well, needless to say there were no cassette players in those days, so that's the only time he's ever heard it. My mother in law swears also that that's the correct title... she'd never heard it before, nor since, despite them having hunted for it for years.

The song is called You Are My First Love. It's not yet on CD but was originally released on 7-inch 45 rpm single.

When I grow too old to dream

I am an avid Jazz fan and alway appreciated Nat Cole. A colleague was listening to a TV soundtrack CD the other day (of a show called Northern Exposure of all things) when I heard Nat Cole's When I grow to old to Dream.

I've loved this song ever since I heard it sung by Jimmy Rushing and am dying to by a Nat Cole CD with this song on it.

What might help from the liner notes (very small) on the Soundtrack CD is that the song is by Oscar Hammerstein and Sigmund Romberg and performed by Nat Cole and his Trio with Stuff Smith (violin), Courtesy of Capitol Records inc. by arrangement with CEMA special Markets.

When I grow too old to dream was originally recorded for a capitol CD called After Midnight. It has been released on CD and is called The After Midnight Sessions (Capitol CD 7 48328 2).

Peggy Lee Fan

I operate the only website solely devoted to Peggy Lee. It's main address is: http://www.geocities.com/~peggyfan/

(As you probably know, Peggy appeared as a guest star on The Nat King Cole Show in 1957.).

I have added a link to your Nat Cole site at this address: http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Stage/2481/peers.html

Ask Me

do you know any place where I can get a copy of the song Ask me by Nat King Cole so I can complete my record collection?

Ask Me has never been issued on LP and only issued on one CD - The Nat King Cole Collection Japanese Capitol TOCP 6721/28.