NAT KING COLE in special Vintage MONO MIXES from Analogue Productions on SACD/CD!

The mono "YOU'LL NEVER KNOW" hasn't existed for 50 years. The three-track surround and two-track stereo versions will be on the SACD and the stereo will be on the 45 RPM LP version as part of the JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS album...

People (Nat Cole experts) have always assumed that the song was inferior or something because it wasn't issued at the time. The notation on the tape box for "YOU'LL NEVER KNOW" has this handwritten note after it:

Possible single?

As we know, that never happened but it certainly means that they did indeed think the song was acceptable. In fact, it's one of the coolest Billy May/Nat Cole songs of all!

 

No. It is fine the first few times but it becomes very distracting very quickly.

Just a few good gems will be included..

 

The version that Nat did live in the studio. The overdubbed version is sonically inferior and of course was only used in part in the finished edited version in a few spots.

 

Live in the studio?!?!? So that's got to be the first complete "run though" of the song with all the musicians playing, right?

Wow! That's pretty amazing! It's amazing that it's been found at all!!!

Ummmm, can you guys release it by July 15, 2009? Otherwise I'll be chomping at the bit.....

That is just so cool...

 

Gary,

Nat recorded the stereo version of UNFORGETTABLE in 1961 in three-track. He recorded it with the orchestra like always. The last take was approved as "master" and marked. Later (same day, next day?) it was determined that he didn't hold the end of some of his phrases long enough (to match the 1951 version) so they went back and had him sing it over using the backing track of the other take. He probably used headphones. He held his phrases longer but IMO his performance is more mechanical and less spontaneous and heartfelt. The stereo version used on THE NAT "KING" COLE STORY LP used a combination of both of the versions with about 10 edits in the song, slathered in reverb to mask the sonic differences in the performances. The edits all came after the instrumental break. They saved both versions on the master reel, one after the other.

On the DCC Gold CD I chose the live performance. (So did Natalie Cole when she did the duet). Same will hold for the new version on Analogue Productions that Kevin and I are working on.

 

Not even if it's double the licensing and mechanical cost? That's a lot of kale.

 

I know, but sometimes the cost of doing something totally right just is too much. I'll settle for what I can get as long as it is presented correctly.

 

I would assume so, yes.

 

Chris and Jordan,

Some good news. The unissued mono "close mic'd" YOU'LL NEVER KNOW (Tk 1-14 with 14 marked "Master Hold" from 1957) has been uncovered. Just in time, yes. Guess what this session was filed under...

That's right, under BILLY MAY. Sigh. Kudos to my contact at EMI for cracking this. Above and beyond the call of duty..

 

Dale,

Yeah, stuff like this is neat. The magic word "HOLD" written on a tape box is what has saved some neat outtakes from Nat Cole's era through the Beatles and beyond from the trashcan. Why? Because usually what is being held is secondary to what ELSE is on the 1/2 hour reel. Usually wonderful stuff (as in the case of the Beatles) and always a window in to another time..

"All Praise HOLD!"

 

This hold reel should be a nice window into the history of "JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS". We forget how much effort it takes to achieve perfection like this album. They make it sound so easy and effortless.

There are also 14 takes of "The Song Is Ended" and 11 takes of "Just For The Fun Of It" on the reel. I bet take 15 and take 12 were used on the album. Right?

 

I'm learning.