Nat King Cole - After Midnight: The Complete Sessions - 2 x 180g Vinyl LPs

2026

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.

Nat King Cole's jazz vocal masterpiece gets a definitive presentation with After Midnight: The Complete Sessions, an expanded 2-LP set comprising the full recordings the legendary singer/pianist made for Capitol in 1956 with his trio and featured soloists Willie Smith, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Stuff Smith, and Juan Tizol. This mono Blue Note Tone Poet Vinyl Series was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe tip-on gatefold jacket including a booklet with archival photos and an essay by Will Friedwald.

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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

Disc 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

 Disc 2 
1 When I Grow Too Old to Dream
2 (Get Your Kicks on) 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.