NAT "KING" COLE - Year by Year - Part 3

I just realized I have Nat Meets June on at least four different CDs. Do you know what the differences are I should be listening for?

 

I am waiting on the delivery of some recordings before I would say for sure which version is which. Some speculation on the differences according to one 'discography':

Initially to tell them apart, the V-Disc version and perhaps the first Columbia release has Nat singing at about 1:20 :
'you could find somebody else'

Another version has Nat singing:
'Cos if you try hard enough'
unknown timing

And another has Nat singing:
'I'm sure you'll somebody else'
unknown timing


I haven't heard the variations yet.

 

I already knew there were different takes from some vinyl records, and it has been documented in a King Cole discography.

Thanks for the pointer.

Sometimes from a compilation, you just want to know which version has been used. My quick method is to listen to about the third line when Frank sings about the choo-choo toy.

He sings "I'm as happy as a baby boy
When he's playing with a choo-choo toy" in take 1, I believe. In the second take he sings "I'm as happy as a baby boy
When he's playing with his choo-choo toy".

 

At 0:21...
Take 1: playing with A choo-choo
Take 2: playing with HIS choo-choo

At 0:45...
Take 1: why I love MY SWEET Lorraine
Take 2: why I love Lorraine

At 2:24...
Take 1: raining I NEVER miss
Take 2: raining I DON'T miss

Also: The V-Disc version (Take 1) has a 25-second intro by George Simon.

BTW, the sound quality of the Legacy remaster of Take 2 I mentioned above (Portrait of Sinatra 2-CD) is much improved over anything which preceded it.

 

Al Jarvis left KFWB in March 1946. My impression from Sinatra's appearance is that the photo is much earlier than 1947.

 

Both V-Disc sides (including the George Simon intro) may be heard on YouTube:

V-Disc 754 Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Buddy Rich

​

 

"Sweet Lorraine" and the Metronome All-Stars

JazzWax blog article, by Marc Myers (April 3, 2009):

Harry Meets Frank: Sweet Lorraine​

(Nat Cole, Buddy Rich and Harry Carney)​

Besides the session description and great photos, there's some interesting background in this piece about Frank Sinatra in the 1940's.

[NOTE: Correct date for this session is Dec. 17, 1946, as stated in the article (not Dec. 15, as shown above in the [post=6180133]V-Disc Discography for Nat King Cole[/post]).]

 

Sorry, please ignore my self-confusion! December 15th (a Sunday afternoon, from 4:15 to 6:55 P.M.) WAS the correct session date. The December 17th date reported in the blog article has mistakenly appeared in many discographies. Sinatra also recorded two more sessions later that same evening.

 

Speaking of discographies, I just noticed this photo of Sinatra and Cole at the "Sweet Lorraine" session:

​

[Source: Sinatra: The Man and His Music, The Recording Artistry of Francis Albert Sinatra—1939–1992, by Ed O'Brien and Scott P. Sayers, Jr., p. 34]

 

Here is another YouTube clip which presents one of those rare (Japanese) 78 RPM alt. takes of "Sweet Lorraine," complete with photos synced to the music (and lots of surface noise):

1946 The Metronome All Star Band - Sweet Lorraine

​

There is also a clip of the flip side from the same source, but I couldn't tell you which take this is:

1946 The Metronome All Star Band - Nat Meets June

​

 

The real explanation probably is that the book did not have a photo of the Metronome session.

I am willing to bet that is not the hand of Eddie Safranski on the bass behind Nat. Safranski is the Metronome bassist. More likely that is Johnny Miller on the bass with Oscar's guitar next to Sinatra. ...the King Cole Trio

And just guessing but the photo could be from one of the radio shows.

 

You're probably correct, although the book caption reads: SINATRA AND NAT KING COLE AT THE "SWEET LORRAINE" SESSION. The photo credit is to the Ric Ross Collection.

(Definitely not Safranski's hand. )

 

I don't think the clue is needed, Matt. (See pic I added above.)

 

I think Dale was trying to tell us something with, "I am willing to bet..."

 

Sure thing.

Darn, I was hoping one of you guys would take me up on the bet.

 

Here's an amusing photo of Nat and Edward G. Robinson (complete with fedora and cigar) at a charity baseball game. I'm assuming Robinson didn't take the field and play second base with that cigar in his mouth, but you never know...

 

Also the incongruity of Edward G. Robinson on a baseball team is amusing.

 

Clark, I have added in 15 new dates and many songs to your list of Nat King Cole material originally performed or recorded for a particular radio broadcast. The ADDED entries each have a check-mark at the top of the entry.

I decided to adapt Teubig's format (Teubig's Trio discography), after experimenting with other arrangements. Each entry is arranged by date, the original venue or show, the names of the songs, timing, a reissued recording, then whether it is a LP or CD. The entries are for the Trio unless otherwise specified .

I have only listed reissues that I have been able to add in the last few years, new and used. Thus this list does not assume to be complete! But it is a start on what is available. I have continued adding AFRS radio tracks since this list seemed to me to be the best fit. I am waiting on one LP shipment that might add a couple more items, I hope. When it arrives I will update by posting.

Let me check the format etc before I post the revised list.

 

If you have any other radio reissues on CD or LP in your collection, please post them on the forum. As I said I have one more possible recording on the way. And just now I remembered to enter at the last minute the two obvious reissues: the broadcasts from the Circle Room, and the WNEW 1962 broadcast.

It is a good thing this is on the forum and can be revised easily.

 

Performances from Radio – on CD or LP

NAT KING COLE

Performances from Radio – on CD or LP


Dec. 1942
AFRS Jubilee #5
Hip Hip Hooray
2:25
I Know That You Know
2:19
>>>>Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio. Straighten Up and Fly Right! Live Radio Rarities 1942-1948. Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1044, 1993. CD



circa 1942-1943
Live at the 331 Club (Mutual Network)
I’m Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town
3:41
>>>>Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio. Straighten Up and Fly Right! Live Radio Rarities 1942-1948. Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1044, 1993. CD



√
June 14, 1943
AFRS Jubilee # 29 (& reissued also as #45)
NBC Studios, Hollywood
Slender, Tender and Tall
2:08
>>>>The Best of AFRS Jubilee: Volume 6; No. 45 & 151. RST Records (Vienna, Austria) JUBCD 1006 2, 1995. CD



June 14, 1944
AFRS Mail Call #96
Straighten Up And Fly Right
2:29
The Man On The Little White Keys
3:05
>>>>Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio. Straighten Up and Fly Right! Live Radio Rarities 1942-1948. Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1044, 1993. CD



√
Feb. 1, 1945
AFRS Mail Call #132, (?)Los Angeles [based on internal radio chatter - online version]
The Man On The Little White Keys
2:57
>>>>Nat King Cole. The Forgotten Years. Giants of Jazz, GOJ-1013, 1979, LP.
>>>>Also on The Forgotten Years Revisited. Mr. Music MMCD-7017, 2009, CD.
Playback speed may be too fast on this transfer.



√
March 26, 1945
AFRS Jubilee #207
It’s Only A Paper Moon [trio]
3:27
Sweet Lorraine [trio]
3:29
Back Bay Boogie – Benny Carter big band & the King Cole Trio combined.
4:28
>>>>The Jubilee Shows No. 207 &214. Jubilee 501 0003, 2003, CD.
(The original show for 207 was on show # 126, and yes, Jubilee radio did a reissue here.)
Paper Moon and Sweet Lorraine are also on The Forgotten Years Revisited CD.



April 5, 1945
Kraft Music Hall
Paper Moon
3:18
>>>>Nat King Cole. The Forgotten Years. Giants of Jazz, GOJ-1013, 1979, LP.



√
April 16, 1945
AFRS Jubilee #129
NBC Studios, Hollywood
Miss Thing
2:05
On The Sunny Side Of The Street
2:47
>>>>Nat King Cole. The Forgotten Years. Giants of Jazz, GOJ-1013, 1979, LP.
>>>>Nat King Cole. The Forgotten Years Revisited. Mr. Music MMCD-7017, 2009, CD.



April 26, 1945
Live at The Trocadero :
If You Can’t Smile And Say Yes
2:45
The Trouble With Me Is You
4:15
Sweet Georgia Brown
2:32
Satchel Mouth Baby
3:27
>>>>Nat King Cole. The Forgotten Years. Giants of Jazz, GOJ-1013, 1979, LP.



May 3, 1945
Kraft Music Hall
If You Can’t Smile And Say Yes
2:21
Sweet Georgia Brown
2:15
>>>>Nat King Cole. The Forgotten Years. Giants of Jazz, GOJ-1013, 1979, LP.



June 21, 1945
Kraft Music Hall rehearsal
Satchel Mouth Baby
2:42
Solid Potato Salad
2:04
>>>>Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio. Straighten Up and Fly Right! Live Radio Rarities 1942-1948. Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1044, 1993. CD



July-August 1945
Live at Casa Manana (AFRS Magic Carpet #37)
Hit That Jive, Jack
:41
I’ve Found A New Baby
2:40
I Thought You Ought To Know
2:53
T’aint Me
3:28
After You’ve Gone
2:55
Perdido
2:16
Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio. Straighten Up and Fly Right! Live Radio Rarities 1942-1948. Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1044, 1993. CD



√
August 3, 1945
AFRS Jubilee #144
NBC Studios, Hollywood
Sweet Lorraine - duo: Cole-p, Miller-b.
2:58
>>>>Nat King Cole. The Forgotten Years. Giants of Jazz, GOJ-1013, 1979, LP.
>>>>Nat King Cole. The Forgotten Years Revisited. Mr. Music MMCD-7017, 2009, CD.



√
Sept. 20, 1945
AFRS Kraft Music Hall #146
I’m Just A Shy Guy
3:00
I’m An Errand Boy for Rhythm
1:45
>>>>Nat King Cole. The Forgotten Years Revisited. Mr. Music MMCD-7017, 2009, CD.



Oct. 9, 1945
Chesterfield Supper Club, New York
It’s Only A Paper Moon
2:45
I’ve Found A New Baby
2:11
>>>>Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio. Straighten Up and Fly Right! Live Radio Rarities 1942-1948. Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1044, 1993. CD



Nov. 28, 1945
Old Gold Presents Songs By Sinatra, New York
The Frim Fram Sauce
3:47
I’ve Found A New Baby (with Frank Sinatra)
2:34
>>>>Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio. Straighten Up and Fly Right! Live Radio Rarities 1942-1948. Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1044, 1993. CD



√
[1945] date uncertain
Mutual Radio broadcast
Trocadero night club, Hollywood
I’m Through With Love
3:00
>>>>Nat King Cole. Pieces of Cole. Swing House SWH-12, 1979, LP.



[maybe 1945] date uncertain
Unknown location
Nice Work If You Can Get It
2:58
>>>>Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio. Straighten Up and Fly Right! Live Radio Rarities 1942-1948. Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1044, 1993. CD



√
Feb. 1946
AFRS Jubilee #171
Come To Baby, Do.
3:20
>>>>The Jubilee Shows No. 96 & 171. Jubilee 501 0001, 2001, CD.



√
Feb. 1946
AFRS Jubilee #172
NBC Studios, Hollywood
The Frim Fram Sauce
2:18
>>>>Nat King Cole. The Forgotten Years. Giants of Jazz, GOJ-1013, 1979, LP.



March 13, 1946
Old Gold Presents Songs By Sinatra, Los Angeles
Route 66
3:41
Exactly Like You (with Frank Sinatra)
1:56
>>>>Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio. Straighten Up and Fly Right! Live Radio Rarities 1942-1948. Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1044, 1993. CD



√
March 20, 1946
AFRS Jubilee #184
NBC Studios, Hollywood
Lester Young, tenor sax, King Cole Trio, Buddy Rich, drums.
These Foolish Things
4:33
Lester Leaps In
3:55
>>>>Lester Young. Prez Conferences. Jass J-CD-18, 1989, CD.
>>>>Lester Young/Nat King Cole Complete Recordings. Definitive DRCD11141, 1999, CD.



√
April 1946
AFRS Jubilee #186
Tea For Two - Willie Smith with King Cole Trio, Buddy Rich + intro
4:08
Body and Soul - Benny Carter with King Cole Trio, Buddy Rich
2:35
Cherokee - Charlie Parker with King Cole Trio, Buddy Rich
3:06
>>>>Charlie Parker. Bird’s Eyes, Vol. 18. Philology W848.2, [1994], CD.



May 5, 1946
Live at The Trocadero
F.S.T. (opening theme)
Could-’Ja?
2:29
This Way Out
3:26
How Deep Is The Ocean?
3:05
How High The Moon?
3:03
F.S.T. (closing theme)
1:01
>>>>Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio. Straighten Up and Fly Right! Live Radio Rarities 1942-1948. Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1044, 1993. CD



√
September 1946
Live at the Circle Room, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, WEMP Radio
01 - (0:42) Opening Theme
02 - (2:54) Oh, But I Do
03 - (3:08) I'm Thru With Love
04 - (3:46) C Jam Blues
05 - (3:10) My Sugar is So Refined
06 - (4:08) I'm in the Mood for Love
07 - (2:33) I Found a New Baby
08 - (3:09) I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)
09 - (2:28) If You Can't Smile And Say Yes (Please Don't Cry And Say No)
10 - (2:33) Sweet Georgia Brown
11 - (3:24) Sweet Lorraine
12 - (3:18) It's Only a Paper Moon
13 - (3:53) One O'clock Jump
14 - (2:21) Everyone is Saying Hello Again
15 - (2:42) Oh, But I Do (2)
16 - (3:17) My Sugar is So Refined (2)
17 - (1:42) Closing Theme
>>>>Nat King Cole Trio. Live at the Circle Room. Capitol Jazz 7243 5 21859 2 4, 1999. CD
also on a Spanish Definitive Records dupe that same year. DRCD11162, 1999. CD [I prefer the Capitol CD transfer]



March 1, 1947
King Cole Trio Time
Give Me Twenty Nickels
2:50
For Sentimental Reasons
2:07
Tired (with Pearl Bailey)
3:29
Crazy Rhythm
1:54
>>>>Nat King Cole/King Cole Trios Live: Live 1947-1948, Crazy Rhythm! Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1011-2, 1991. CD



√
May 28, 1947
Dinah Shore Show (CBS)
Hollywood
You Don’t Learn That In School
1:46
You’re The Cream In My Coffee
1:55
I Ain’t Mad At You (Peggy Lee, Dinah Shore, Nat King Cole, & Peter Lind Hayes & The King Cole Trio)
3:00
>>>>The Dinah Shore-Bing Crosby Shows. Sunbeam HB-309, 1975, LP.



July 5, 1947
King Cole Trio Time
Naughty Angeline
2:28
Ask Anyone Who Knows
2:25
Bloop Bleep (with Woody Herman)
3:17
Aunt Hetty (with Woody Herman)
2:42
>>>>Nat King Cole/King Cole Trios Live: Live 1947-1948, Crazy Rhythm! Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1011-2, 1991. CD



Dec. 6, 1947
King Cole Trio Time
Straighten Up And Fly Right
:55
When I Take My Sugar To Tea
1:35
Let’s Be Sweethearts Again
2:11
Those Things Money Can’t Buy
3:09
For Once In Your Life
2:11
You’re The Cream In My Coffee
2:19
I Know That You Know
1:13
>>>>Nat King Cole/King Cole Trios Live: Live 1947-1948, Crazy Rhythm! Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1011-2, 1991. CD



Jan. 28, 1948
Treasury Department Guest Star #52
Almost Like Being In Love
2:19
Those Things Money Can’t Buy
2:42
>>>>Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio. Straighten Up and Fly Right! Live Radio Rarities 1942-1948. Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1044, 1993. CD



March 6,1948
King Cole Trio Time
Straighten Up And Fly Right
1:11
Sunday
1:34
Wildroot Cream Oil spot
:53
What’ll I Do?
2:19
I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling
1:31
Wildroot Charlie (brief link)
:29
Peg O’ My Heart: Clark Dennis w/King Cole Trio
1:55
You’re The Cream In My Coffee
1:40
Straighten Up And Fly Right
1:04
>>>>Nat King Cole/King Cole Trios Live: Live 1947-1948, Crazy Rhythm! Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1011-2, 1991. CD




March 13, 1948
King Cole Trio Time
Your Red Wagon
2:07
I’ve Only Myself To Blame
1:19
The Dickey Bird Song
2:15
Beg Your Pardon (with The Dinning Sisters)
2:22
The Geek
2:10
Straighten Up And Fly Right
:48
>>>>Nat King Cole/King Cole Trios Live: Live 1947-1948, Crazy Rhythm! Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1011-2, 1991. CD




√
July 23, 1949
Mutual Radio broadcast
Yes Sir, That’s My Baby - Cole, unidentified bass, Terry Gibbs, vibes.
2:59
I’ve Got News For You - Nat & Woody sing
4:06
How High the Moon - Cole’s piano with the Woody Herman band.
4:35
>>>>Woody Herman. Heard With Friends. Jazz Band EBCD 2134-2, 1998, CD. From Flyright Productions.





√
June 25, 1950
Guest Star Treasury Department
Hollywood
Nat King Cole and His Trio
Almost Like Being In Love
2:10
It’s Only A Paper Moon
1:10
>>>>Nat King Cole. Pieces of Cole. Swing House SWH-12, 1979, LP.




√
Feb. 28, 1951
Bing Crosby radio show broadcast- Chesterfield Show
Hollywood
Sam’s Song - Bing & Nat
2:50
May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You - Bing, Nat, & The Andrews Sisters.
3:04
>>>>Bing Crosby. Swingin’ With Bing. Shout Factory DK 31507, 2004, 3CDs.



√
1962
WNEW radio with William B. Williams, New York

12 - (1:10) Program Opening
13 - (2:16) I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself a Letter
14 - (0:56) A Visit From Nat
15 - (3:43) Nobody's Heart
16 - (3:06) The Way You Look Tonight
17 - (3:40) Fly Me to the Moon
18 - (2:31) WNEW Radio Musical Themes
19 - (3:42) Where or When
20 - (2:18) Funny!
21 - (2:32) The Surrey With the Fringe on Top
22 - (1:26) Program Closing
>>>>Nat King Cole. “Coast to Coast - Live”. Ovation 3204, 2000. CD

 

This particular episode has just been uploaded to YouTube. I've heard it before, and I'm still annoyed by the same thing: there is some problem with the speed (??) at which this was taped or broadcast. Nat sounds fine but Peggy's voice comes off much too girlish (not helium-Minnie-Mouse-like, but, still, far off the huskier sound that she sported elsewhere, at this point in time).

Anyway, here is the link; Nat is introduced around 4:25 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCANr7gedVs