Nat King Cole - After Midnight - 2 x 180g Vinyl LPs

180g Vinyl
• Pressed at Pallas in Germany
• Limited Edition

Featured as one of the 'Records to Die For' in the February 2011 issue of Stereophile! Pressed at Pallas in Germany!

Nat "King" Cole's music is the perfect combination of romantic charm and musical invention. Cole is renowned for his big production numbers and pop hits such as "Stardust," but he was also an accomplished and unique jazz pianist and excelled in a small-group setting. After Midnight's album cover states that this is a "trio" release. However, Cole is actually paired up with his trio plus five guest soloists (saxophone, trombone, trumpet, percussion and violin). The dubious credits don't matter much though. This is precious music and, without a doubt, one of Cole's best records. Included here are wonderful and intimate renditions of Cole favorites like"Sweet Lorraine," "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" and many others. Trombonist Juan Tizol performs a beautiful version of his Afro-Cuban tune "Caravan," and Cole and violinist Stuff Smith trade some hot licks on the up-tempo "I Know That You Know." For anybody looking to understand the depth and breadth of Cole's jazz roots, this disc is an excellent point of departure.

Mastered by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray.
 

"…The sound, like many Capitols from the era, is sweet and warm. And the 180-gram remastered pressing, from the British company Pure Pleasure Records, is superb. It's mono, but there's no sense of horizontal squeeze; there's plenty of depth, every instrument sounds like itself, you hear all of them plainly. Nat and each of the soloists are in the room." – Fred Kaplan, The Absolute Sound, September 2006

"…Of his jazz recordings, which generally have disappointing sound, this one presents the best marriage of great performance and sonic merit. Cole's singing is just that much better with these great jazz arrangements and this new package by Pure Pleasure spreads the original album's 12 tunes across two 180 gram LPs whilst adding an additional 6 numbers from the 1956 sessions…an unqualified success." Recording = 9/10; Music = 9/10 – Dennis D. Davis, Hi-Fi+, Issue 45

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Musicians:
Nat "King" Cole - vocals, piano
Willie Smith - alto saxophone
Harry "Sweets" Edison, trumpet
Juan Tizol - valve trombone
Stuff Smith - violin
John Collins - guitar
Charlie Harris - bass
Lee Young - drums
Jack Costanzo - congas, bongos

Selections:
LP 1
1. Just You, Just Me
2. Sweet Lorraine
3. Sometimes I'm Happy
4. Caravan
5. It's Only a Paper Moon
6. You're Looking At Me
7. Lonely One
8. Don't Let It Go To Your Head
9. I Know That You Know
10. Blame It On My Youth
LP 2
1. When I Grow Too Old To Dream
2. Route 66
3. I Was a Little Too Lonely (And You Were a Little Too Late)
4. You Can Depend On Me
5. What Is There to Say
6. Two Loves Have I
7. Candy
8. You're Looking At Me

Recorded at Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, California between August 15 & September 24, 1956.