Capitol Records, Part III (1953-1957)

Nat Cole (v), The Encores (bkv), Dick Clay, Willie Smith (as), Charles Deremo, Ted Nash (ts), Jack Agee (bar), Tony Facciuto, Conrad Gozzo, Jack Laubach, Robert McKinzie, Andy Peele (t), Karl De Karske, Dick Nash, Robert Reisiger, Si Zentner (tb), Cliff Fishback (p), John Collins (g), Ralph Pena (b), John Markham (d), Jack Costanzo (cga), Billy May (con), Bob Dawes (mgr), Lee Gillette (pro)

The Encores (bkv) on b; Jack Costanzo (cga) on b.

Personnel

Two previously published discographies, found in The Billy May Sessions CD and Michel Ruppli's Capitol Label Discography, include what are likely to be slight errors in the personnel listing. Each of these credits Bob Dawes as baritone sax, with Jack Agee and Ralph Pena splitting the bass chores. This discography mirrors what Billy May discographer Jack Mirtle has published — Jack generously supplied the AFM contract for this session — namely that Dawes was the orchestra manger (i.e. contractor), while Agee played baritone sax not bass. This is supported by the contract itself, which features Dawes' name at the very end of the contract, while Agee is with the other saxophonists. Dawes did indeed play the saxophone and participated on many sessions, but it seems unlikely that he played on this date.

Another difficulty in figuring out the saxophone section has been determining what Clay, Deremo, and Nash played, each of whom often played either alto or tenor. The listing here reflects what is believed to be the instrument most associated with each man at this particular time.

Furthermore, the two previous discographies also report that multiple members of the sax section doubled on clarinet. The original Billy May score of "Angel Eyes" does not reference any doubling by any of the saxophonists, nor does there appear to be any aural evidence for the clarinets. As such, this discography reports a typical 2-2-1 sax lineup.

According to Billy May, as told to his discographer Jack Mirtle, The Encores were present in the studio that evening and, on the spot, suggested their chorus part for "Lover, Come Back to Me", which both Cole and May agreed to. The Encores may have consisted of Alicia Adams, Clark Burroughs, Bob Morse, Jack Elliot, and Randy Van Horne.

Composers

The original 45 and 78 rpm issues of "Can't I?" credit the tune to Leroy Lovett and Ivan Mogull. The 1952 Catalog of Copyright Entries and the original sheet music both credit Lovett only. Mogull, a good friend of Cole's, likely had no hand in penning the song but his Harvard Music did publish the tune.

Nat Cole (v), Harry Klee, Ted Nash, Jim Williamson (ww), John Cave, Vince DeRosa (frh), Milt Bernhart, Paul Tanner (tb), Buddy Cole (p, cel), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein, Anatol Kaminsky, Nat Ross, Mischa Russell, Olcott Vail, Jerry Vinci (vn), Alfred Barr, Stan Harris (vl), James Arkatov, Armand Kaproff (clo), Kathryn Julye (hrp), Nelson Riddle (con), David Klein (mgr), Lee Gillette (pro)

Harry Klee (ww) on a-d; Ted Nash (ww) on a-d; Jim Williamson (ww) on a-d; Buddy Cole (cel) on a-b, e.

Nat Cole (v), Harry Klee, Ted Nash, Jim Williamson (f), John Cave, Vince DeRosa (frh), Milt Bernhart, Jimmy Priddy (tb), Buddy Cole (p, cel), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein, Anatol Kaminsky, Nat Ross, Mischa Russell, Marshall Sosson, Jerry Vinci (vn), Stan Harris, Dave Sterkin (vl), James Arkatov, Cy Bernard (clo), Kathryn Julye (hrp), Nelson Riddle (con), David Klein (mgr), Lee Gillette (pro)

Buddy Cole (cel) on a.

Nat Cole (v), Jack Dumont, Skeets Herfurt (as), Ted Nash, Buck Skalak (ts), Joe Koch (bar), Pete Candoli, Mannie Klein, Shorty Sherock, Zeke Zarchy (t), Milt Bernhart, Ed Kusby, Jimmy Priddy, Si Zentner (tb), Buddy Cole (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Jack Costanzo (bgo), Nelson Riddle (con), David Klein (mgr), Lee Gillette (pro)

Nat Cole (v), unknown (bkv), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), others unknown (acc), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro), Bill Putnam (eng)

unknown (bkv) on c-k.

Location

Ruppli's Capitol Label Discography suggests that this session was held in Los Angeles. Some online discographies suggest that it might have been held in New York. In reality, probably neither is correct. The Los Angeles branch of the AFM has no record or file of any session on that date. Files get lost or stolen, but the absence of any type of record indicates no such session occurred in Los Angeles.

Cole's known itinerary rules out Los Angeles but is inconclusive regarding Chicago or New York. He played Pittsburgh on the 27th and 28th of March and then shows up again in New York on April 5th for a concert at Carnegie Hall — the start of the spring version of The Big Show of 1953 — which Cole would not complete due to a bleeding ulcer that led to his hospitalization and forced him to leave the tour.

Finally, there is some anecdotal evidence placing Nat in Chicago. Dick LaPalm, close friend to Cole who was then doing PR for Nat based out of Chicago, explains that he attended the session in question. Specifically, he remembered Bill Putnam's wife making an edit because Nat flubbed a lyric on "I Am In Love". ('You only can brighten the blaze that BURN in my heart…'). The sound of the session — its echo, namely — also bears the hallmark of Putnam's engineering.

Additionally, Ray Anthony, who was produced by Lee Gillette, was recording in Chicago on April 1, 1953.

So, while none of the evidence is conclusive one way or another, Chicago does seem the most plausible and will be identified as the locale until proven otherwise.

Why Can't We Try Again

1. Composers
"Why Can't We Try Again?" first appeared as a bonus track for the 1992 CD Ballads Of The Day. At that time no composer credit was given, only 'Unknown'. The song was the work of Johnny Crawford and Dorothy Ann Collins, the latter credited here by her more well known stage name, Dolly Collins. The 2015 box set His Musical Autobiography credits her as Dorothy Collins.

2. Takes
The take that was issued on the aforementioned Capitol CD was #8, but this may not have been what was intended to serve as the master by producer Lee Gillette. When His Musical Autobiography was released, it included the entire session of the song, takes 1-9. Take 9, like #8, is complete. The fact that one more take was attempted would not ordinarily be sufficient evidence to assign take 9 as the master take, but a mid-'60s acetate of take 9, running 3:03 and b/w "Felicia", was pressed and is viewable at the Discogs website. These two facts taken together — session reel and acetate — are reason enough to consider take 9, and not the initially issued take 8 as the master selected by Gillette.

3. Duration
The running time of take 8 is taken from the 1992 CD. All other takes (including chatter, slates, etc.) feature running times taken from His Musical Autobiography.

Take Numbers

Ruppli lists take 1 for "I Am In Love".

Nat Cole (v, spk), Luella Howard (f), Julie Kinsler (af), Jim Williamson (bf), Vince DeRosa, John Graas (frh), Joe Howard (tb), George Roberts (btb), Buddy Cole (p, cel), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Victor Bay, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein, Henry Hill, Paul Nero, Mischa Russell, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, Jerry Vinci (vn), Alfred Barr, Dave Sterkin (vl), Cy Bernard (clo, mgr), Armand Kaproff (clo), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

Buddy Cole (cel) on a, c; Nat Cole (spk) on a.

Nat Cole (v), unknown (bkv), Julie Kinsler, Ted Nash, Harry Steinfeld (ww), Vince DeRosa, John Graas (frh), Joe Howard (tb), George Roberts (btb), Buddy Cole (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein, Henry Hill, Paul Nero, Mischa Russell, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin (vn), Lou Kievman, Stan Spiegelman (vl), Cy Bernard (clo, mgr), Armand Kaproff (clo), Ann Mason Stockton (hrp), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

unknown (bkv) on b.

Composers

The 1953 copyright registration of "Little Fingers" lists only McFarland and Bailey. In 1959, Roy Alfred's name was added.

Nat Cole (v), Julie Kinsler, Harry Steinfeld (ww), Ted Nash (ts), Vince DeRosa, John Graas (frh), George Roberts (btb), Buddy Cole (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein, Paul Nero, Mischa Russell, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, Jerry Vinci (vn), Cy Bernard (vl, mgr), Stan Spiegelman, Dave Sterkin (vl), Eleanor Slatkin (clo), Ann Mason Stockton (hrp), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

Julie Kinsler (ww) on a-c; Harry Steinfeld (ww) on a-c; Ted Nash (ts) on a-c; Vince DeRosa (frh) on a-c; John Graas (frh) on a-c; George Roberts (btb) on a-c.

Personnel

The piano solo heard on "The Christmas Song" may be played by Cole himself.

Riddle wrote an alternative arrangement of this song a week prior to this recording session. It incorporates reeds and horns—unlike the well-known score—but there is no indication that this arrangement was ever recorded.

Nat Cole (v), unknown (bkv), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), others unknown (acc), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

Carole Cole, Nat Cole, Natalie Cole (v), Willie Schwartz, Willie Smith (as), Babe Russin (ts), Joe Koch (bar), Pete Candoli, Ray Linn, Mickey Mangano (t), Murray McEachern, Dick Noel, Jimmy Priddy (tb), Bill Miller (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), David Klein (mgr), Lee Gillette (pro)

In September 1954, Cole and Dean Martin, together with Billy May, cut a pair of duets: "Open Up The Doghouse" and "Long, Long Ago". However, this Cole-Martin pairing was originally intended by Capitol to be a meeting with Frank Sinatra. This session, February 3, 1954, is probably when the two men were supposed to record together before the idea fell apart.

In mid-January, Variety ran a blurb about an imminent session featuring Cole & Sinatra, slated for 'next week'. Furthermore, Nelson Riddle's ledger, in which he would document all the arrangements he was paid to write, has four entries dated February 3, 1954: the two titles Cole would record with his daughters, as well as the two songs that Cole would ultimately record with Dean Martin.

Why this session between Cole and Sinatra did not materialize has never been fully, or at least publicly explained. One individual from Cole's camp, though, has claimed that Sinatra associate Hank Sanicola demanded Sinatra get a piece of the publishing, a stipulation that, if true, would have been a non-starter.

Nat Cole (v), Harry Klee, Dominic Mumolo, Jim Williamson (ww), John Cave, Vince DeRosa (frh), Tommy Pederson (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), Geoffrey Clarkson (p, cel), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harry Bluestone, Henry Hill, Erno Neufeld, Nat Ross, Mischa Russell, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson (vn), Michel Perriere, Paul Robyn (vl), James Arkatov, Ed Lustgarten (clo), Ann Mason Stockton (hrp), Nelson Riddle (con), David Klein (mgr), Lee Gillette (pro)

Geoffrey Clarkson (p) on a-b, d, (cel) on b-d.

Nat Cole (v), unknown (bkv), John Hacker, Harry Klee, Dominic Mumolo (ww), Vince DeRosa, William Hinshaw (frh), Joe Howard (tb), George Roberts (btb), Bill Miller (p, cel), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Lou Singer (per), Len Atkins, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein, Nat Ross, Mischa Russell, Eudice Shapiro, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, Jerry Vinci (vn), Stan Harris, Paul Robyn, Barbara Simons, Dave Sterkin (vl), Cy Bernard, Armand Kaproff, Ray Kramer, Eleanor Slatkin (clo), Kathryn Julye (hrp), Nelson Riddle (con), David Klein (mgr), Lee Gillette (pro)

unknown (bkv) on a; Bill Miller (cel) on b; Lou Singer (per) on a.

Nat Cole (v), John Hacker, Dominic Mumolo, Jim Williamson (ww), John Cave, Vince DeRosa (frh), Si Zentner (tb), George Roberts (btb), Paul Smith (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein, Henry Hill, Mischa Russell, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin (vn), Stan Harris, Dave Sterkin (vl), Cy Bernard (clo, mgr), Ed Lustgarten, Eleanor Slatkin (clo), Ann Mason Stockton (hrp), others unknown (acc), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

Songs

The liner notes of the 2015 box Autobiography, which was full of errors and hardly the most reliable source, says this about "United": 'the [issued version] uses the intro of the second take that has Paul Smith's piano a little more definitive than on the original first take'.

Setting aside the jumbled writing, it remains unconfirmed that the piano intro of the master take (or any other part of that performance) uses the intro of the second take. As such, the master take is reported here without any reference to a splice or composite that may have incorporated elements from the second take.

Nat Cole, Dean Martin (v), Skeets Herfurt, Harry Klee (as), Ted Nash (ts), Chuck Gentry (bar), John Best, Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein (t), Ed Kusby, Murray McEachern, Si Zentner (tb), Lew Brown (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Billy May (con), David Klein (mgr), Lee Gillette (pro)

Nat Cole (v), Jules Kinsler (f), Jules Jacob (ob), Art Fleming (bsn), Joe Krechter (cl), Skeets Herfurt, Willie Schwartz (as), Fred Falensby, Ted Nash (ts), Chuck Gentry (bar), John Best, Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein, Uan Rasey (t), Ed Kusby, Murray McEachern, Tommy Pederson, Si Zentner (tb), Bill Miller (p, cel), Al Hendrickson (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Lee Young (d), Steve Dweck, Alvin Stoller, Carlos Vidal (per), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Mischa Russell, Eudice Shapiro, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin (vn), Alvin Dinkin, Stan Harris (vl), Cy Bernard, Eleanor Slatkin (clo), Ann Mason Stockton (hrp), Billy May, Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

Jules Kinsler (f) on a-b; Jules Jacob (ob) on a-b; Art Fleming (bsn) on a-b; Joe Krechter (cl) on a-b; Skeets Herfurt (as) on c-d; Willie Schwartz (as) on c-d; Fred Falensby (ts) on c-d; Ted Nash (ts) on c-d; Chuck Gentry (bar) on c-d; Bill Miller (cel) on a-b; Joe Mondragon (b) on a-b, d; Steve Dweck (per) on c; Alvin Stoller (per) on c; Carlos Vidal (per) on c; Victor Bay (vn) on a-b; Alex Beller (vn) on a-b; Mischa Russell (vn) on a-b; Eudice Shapiro (vn) on a-b; Paul Shure (vn) on a-b; Felix Slatkin (vn) on a-b; Alvin Dinkin (vl) on a-b; Stan Harris (vl) on a-b; Cy Bernard (clo) on a-b; Eleanor Slatkin (clo) on a-b; Ann Mason Stockton (hrp) on a-b; Billy May (con) on c-d; Nelson Riddle (con) on a-b.

Nat Cole, The Four Knights (v), Allan Davies, Marilyn Lewis, Dorothy McCarty, Ginny O'Connor, Charles Schrouder, Clark Yocum, Norma Zimmer (bkv), Harry Klee, Ted Nash, Champ Webb (ww), Harry 'Sweets' Edison (t), Vince DeRosa, Joseph Eger (frh), Joe Howard (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), George Roberts (btb), Don Robertson (p), Ray Turner (p, cel), Al Hendrickson (g), Red Callender (b), Lee Young (d), Israel Baker, Victor Bay, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein, Murray Kellner, Nat Ross, Mischa Russell (vn), Stan Spiegelman, Dave Sterkin (vl), Victor Gottlieb, Ed Lustgarten (clo), Kathryn Julye (hrp), Nelson Riddle (con), David Klein (mgr), Lee Gotch (vcon), Lee Gillette (pro)

The Four Knights (v) on e; Allan Davies (bkv) on a; Marilyn Lewis (bkv) on a; Dorothy McCarty (bkv) on a; Ginny O'Connor (bkv) on a; Charles Schrouder (bkv) on a; Clark Yocum (bkv) on a; Norma Zimmer (bkv) on a; Harry Klee (ww) on a-d; Ted Nash (ww) on a-d; Champ Webb (ww) on a-d; Harry 'Sweets' Edison (t) on a-d; Vince DeRosa (frh) on a-d; Joseph Eger (frh) on a-d; Joe Howard (tb) on a-d; Juan Tizol (vtb) on a-d; George Roberts (btb) on a-d; Don Robertson (p) on e; Ray Turner (p) on a-d, (cel) on a-d; Israel Baker (vn) on a-d; Victor Bay (vn) on a-d; Harry Bluestone (vn) on a-d; Walter Edelstein (vn) on a-d; Murray Kellner (vn) on a-d; Nat Ross (vn) on a-d; Mischa Russell (vn) on a-d; Stan Spiegelman (vl) on a-d; Dave Sterkin (vl) on a-d; Victor Gottlieb (clo) on a-d; Ed Lustgarten (clo) on a-d; Kathryn Julye (hrp) on a-d; Lee Gotch (vcon) on a.

Personnel

The Four Knights consist of Gene Alford and John Wallace (tenors), Clarence Dixon (baritone), and Oscar Broadway (bass).

Nat Cole (v), Skeets Herfurt, Ted Nash, Willie Schwartz, Champ Webb (ww), Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein, Mickey Mangano (t), Joe Howard, Jimmy Priddy (tb), George Roberts (btb), Buddy Cole (p), Barney Kessel (g), Don Simpson (b), Alvin Stoller (d), Mike Pacheco (bgo), Jacques Gasselin, Murray Kellner, Eudice Shapiro, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson (vn), Alvin Dinkin, Dave Sterkin (vl), Kurt Reher (clo), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

This was a split session with The Four Freshmen.

Nat Cole (p), John Collins (eg), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), others unknown (acc), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro), Bill Putnam (eng)

Songs

The Capitol Jazz CD featured an 'alternate' take of "My Heart Stood Still". Despite being roughly 64 seconds longer than the master, it seems that instead of being a distinct take, this is an edit that repeats a chorus of the master take.

Despite the contention of take status, the extended version is reported here because of its inclusion on multiple releases of the CD era.

Nat Cole (v), John Collins (eg), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), others unknown (acc), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro), Bill Putnam (eng)

Nat Cole (v), Lee Knight (f), Frank Brouk (frh), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Fred Spector (vn), others unknown (acc), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro), Bill Putnam (eng)

Nat Cole (v), Lee Knight (f), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Oscar Chausow, Abram Loft, Sam Magad, David Moll, Fred Sorkin, Fred Spector (vn), Irving Ilmer (vl), Karl Fruh, George Sopkin (clo), others unknown (acc), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro), Bill Putnam (eng)

Personnel

The personnel listed for this session—and other Chicago dates from June 1955—are based on photographs that appeared in Playboy magazine, as well as phone interviews with some of the listed participants, many of whom appeared in the photos. It is a best guess to recreate the historical record, but should not be considered authoritative by any stretch.

Songs

The only recording from this session that may survive (although it remains undiscovered in the vault) is "But Not For Me". The four entries for this title are taken from Cole discographer Roy Holmes, whose work includes not only unconventional master numbers (A7-1, D3, etc.) but timings as well. It is highly likely, then, that the late Holmes somehow managed to get his hands on multiple takes of this classic Gershwin composition.

In 1966, Pickwick released a long-playing compilation of Cole performances titled Love Is A Many Splendored Thing. Listed on the front cover of some copies is "But Not For Me", yet it failed to be included on the record itself. Perhaps someday this recording will be discovered in the collection of the late Mr. Holmes.

As mentioned, this session was chronicled in a 1956 Playboy article by Bernard Asbell. The article focuses on the recording of "Wishing Well", identified in the article only as master 13990. The map for this session matches what is mentioned in the article, but all performances (except, perhaps, one song) have been lost and are thought to no longer exist.

Nat Cole (v, p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), others unknown (acc), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro), Bill Putnam (eng)

Nat Cole (v) on a, (p) on b-c.

Nat Cole (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Lee Gillette (pro)

Harry Klee, Willie Schwartz, Champ Webb (f), Willie Smith (as), John Cave (frh), Juan Tizol (vtb), Nat Cole (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Sam Cytron, Dan Lube, Erno Neufeld, Nat Ross, Mischa Russell, Marshall Sosson (vn), Stan Spiegelman, Dave Sterkin (vl), Armand Kaproff, Ed Lustgarten, Eleanor Slatkin (clo), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro), Roy DuNann (eng)

Harry Klee (f) on b; Willie Schwartz (f) on b; Champ Webb (f) on b.

Nat Cole (v, p), Harry Klee, Willie Schwartz (f), Willie Smith (as), Conrad Gozzo (t), Joe Howard, Murray McEachern, Jimmy Priddy (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), George Roberts (btb), Bill Miller (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harold Dicterow, Dan Lube, Erno Neufeld, Nat Ross, Eudice Shapiro, Marshall Sosson (vn), Stan Spiegelman, Dave Sterkin (vl), Victor Gottlieb, Ray Kramer, Eleanor Slatkin (clo), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro), Roy DuNann (eng)

Nat Cole (v) on c-d, (p) on a-b, d; Willie Smith (as) on a-b, d; Bill Miller (p) on c.

Nat Cole (v, p), Harry Klee, Willie Schwartz, Champ Webb (ww), John Cave, Vince DeRosa (frh), Ed Kusby (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), George Roberts (btb), Bill Miller (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Erno Neufeld, Nat Ross, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, Jerry Vinci (vn), Alvin Dinkin, Stan Spiegelman (vl), Victor Gottlieb, Kurt Reher, Joseph Saxon (clo), Kathryn Julye (hrp), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

Nat Cole (p) on a, c; Bill Miller (p) on b, d-e.

Nat Cole (v, p), Willie Schwartz, Willie Smith (as), Ted Nash, Buck Skalak (ts), Chuck Gentry (bar), Frank Beach, Mannie Klein, Ray Linn, Mickey Mangano (t), Murray McEachern, Dick Noel (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), George Roberts (btb), Bill Miller (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

Nat Cole (v) on c-d, (p) on a-b.

Location

As on 23 & 25 August, Studio B was likely used for this session.

Nat Cole (v), unknown (bkv), Ted Nash, Phil Sobel (ww), Babe Russin (ts), Joe Koch (bar), John Best, Mannie Klein, Shorty Sherock (t), Walter Benson, Ed Kusby, Murray McEachern (tb), Barney Kessel (g), Bill Miller (cel), Mike Rubin (b), Alvin Stoller (d), Lou Singer (per), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

Personnel

This was a split session with Helen Forrest, who recorded four titles with Dave Cavanaugh following "Toyland". It's possible the trumpets only appear on the Helen Forrest numbers.

Dates

The Bear Family discography incorrectly places this session on November 17, 1955.

Nat Cole (v), Harry Klee (ww, as), Ted Nash, Jim Williamson (ww, ts), Jim Decker, Vince DeRosa (frh), Ed Kusby (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), George Roberts (btb), Bill Miller (p), Tiny Mitchell (g), Ray Brown (b), Lee Young (d), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harold Dicterow, Kurt Dieterle, Paul Nero, Nat Ross, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin (vn), Stan Harris, Paul Robyn, Dave Sterkin (vl), James Arkatov, Ray Kramer, Ed Lustgarten (clo), unknown (hrp), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

Nat Cole (v), The Four Knights, unknown (bkv), Mahlon Clark, Willie Smith (as), Don Raffell, Buck Skalak (ts), Bob Lawson (bar), Pete Candoli, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Conrad Gozzo, Mickey Mangano, Shorty Sherock (t), Joe Howard, Paul Tanner (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), George Roberts (btb), Bill Miller (p), Tiny Mitchell (g), Joe Comfort (b), Lee Young (d), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

The Four Knights (bkv) on e; unknown (bkv) on a-b, d.

Personnel

The Four Knights consist of Cliff Holland and John Wallace (tenors), Clarence Dixon (baritone), and Oscar Broadway (bass).

Nat Cole (v), The Four Knights (bkv), Mahlon Clark, Willie Smith (as), Don Raffell, Buck Skalak (ts), Bob Lawson (bar), Pete Candoli, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Conrad Gozzo, Mickey Mangano, Shorty Sherock (t), Joe Howard, Paul Tanner (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), George Roberts (btb), Bill Miller (p), Tiny Mitchell (g), Joe Comfort (b), Lee Young (d), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

The Four Knights (bkv) on c.

Personnel

See previous session notes to identify chorus personnel.

Dates

This session is dated December 29, 1955 in the Capitol files, which is technically incorrect. The second of two sessions recorded that evening, this session technically began at midnight on December 30.

Nat Cole (v), unknown (bkv), Emmett Callen, Vic Garber, Justin Gordon (f, sax), Sinclair Lott, Richard Perissi (frh), Paul Tanner (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), George Roberts (btb), Bill Miller (p, cel), Tiny Mitchell (g), Joe Comfort (b), Lee Young (d), Bernie Mattinson (per), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Walter Edelstein, Dave Frisina, Benny Gill, George Kast, Paul Nero, Erno Neufeld (vn), Stan Harris, Michel Perriere, Milton Thomas (vl), Cy Bernard, Armand Kaproff, Eleanor Slatkin (clo), Kathryn Julye (hrp), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

unknown (bkv) on b-c; Emmett Callen (sax) on a; Vic Garber (sax) on a; Justin Gordon (sax) on a; Bill Miller (cel) on a.

Nat Cole (v), Jerome Kasper, Ted Nash, Champ Webb (ww), Vince DeRosa (frh), Tommy Pederson, Paul Tanner (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), George Roberts (btb), Bill Miller (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Paul Nero, Erno Neufeld, Nat Ross, Mischa Russell, Marshall Sosson (vn), Alvin Dinkin, Maxine Johnson, Dave Sterkin (vl), Cy Bernard, Ennio Bolognini, Eleanor Slatkin (clo), Kathryn Julye (hrp), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

Nat Cole (v), unknown (bkv), Jerome Kasper, Ted Nash, Champ Webb (ww), Vince DeRosa (frh), Tommy Pederson, Paul Tanner (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), George Roberts (btb), Bill Miller (p, cel), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Paul Nero, Erno Neufeld, Nat Ross, Mischa Russell, Marshall Sosson (vn), Alvin Dinkin, Maxine Johnson, Dave Sterkin (vl), Cy Bernard, Ennio Bolognini, Eleanor Slatkin (clo), Kathryn Julye (hrp), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

unknown (bkv) on a-c; Bill Miller (p) on a, c-d, (cel) on b-d.

Personnel

The vapor voice on "Once Before" is possibly Louie Jean Norman.

Nat Cole (v, spk), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), others unknown (acc), Brian Farnon (con), Lee Gillette (pro), Bill Putnam (eng)

Nat Cole (v) on b, (spk) on a; John Collins (g) on b; Charlie Harris (b) on b; Lee Young (d) on b; others unknown (acc) on b; Brian Farnon (con) on b.

Personnel

"We Are Americans Too" is the only commercial recording — and hardly one at that — known to have been arranged by Brian Farnon, the lesser-known brother of Robert and Dennis Farnon. At the time of this recording, Brian conducted the house band at the Chez Paree in Chicago, where Cole performed annually until its closing in 1960. In a 2006 interview, Farnon mentioned that Nat asked him sometime in the mid-late 1950s to go on the road with him, but Farnon declined. In August 1964, Cole asked again, and Farnon agreed to become the conductor of Cole's nightclub and theatre act known as Sights & Sounds. However, it was to be a short-lived association as Cole was hospitalized in December and died two months later in February 1965.

The Cole-Farnon story has an odd ending: shortly after Cole's death, Farnon sued the estate for the remaining wages promised to him under his contract with Cole. The California court rejected Farnon's claim, asserting that an act of God, i.e. death, nullified the contractual obligation of Cole and his estate to pay Farnon.

In addition to arranging and conducting for Cole in studio and on stage, Farnon also participated in Cole's August 8, 1957 session, as a member of the sax/reed section.

Songs

"We Are Americans Too", never released commercially until 40 years after Cole's death, was recorded five weeks after he was beaten on stage during a concert in Birmingham, Alabama.

Composers

"We Are Americans Too" was originally credited to Blake, Razaf, and Cooke. Capitol's promotional issue of "We Are Americans Too" dropped Cooke in place of Cole. Both men are included here.

Nat Cole (v, p), Harry 'Sweets' Edison (t), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Lee Gillette (pro), John Kraus (eng)

Take Numbers

The false start of "It's Only A Paper Moon" is identified as the third take on the Analogue Productions issue. However, Gillette calls for take 1 at the outset, but is then heard announcing take 3 for the next attempt following the breakdown. The take 3 identification on the AP release was likely in error, as was Gillette's mis-slating of take 3.

Take 4 of "Candy" is an edited composite of takes 1-4, assembled in the 1950s but never issued.

Nat Cole (v, p), Willie Smith (as), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Lee Gillette (pro), John Kraus (eng)

Nat Cole (v), Willie Schwartz, Willie Smith (as), Babe Russin, Buck Skalak (ts), Joe Koch (bar), Conrad Gozzo, Cappy Lewis, Mickey Mangano, Shorty Sherock (t), Joe Howard, Jimmy Priddy (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), George Roberts (btb), Jimmie Rowles (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

Personnel

Lou Singer (percussion) and Kathryn Julye (harp) are both listed on the AFM contract for this session. There is no aural presence of either on Nat's songs, meaning it is likely they played on Natalie Cole's "Good Will", which she recorded with Billy May immediately following "Ballerina".

Nat Cole (v, p), Juan Tizol (vtb), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Jack Costanzo (bgo, cga), Lee Gillette (pro), John Kraus (eng)

Jack Costanzo (bgo) on a-b, (cga) on a-b.

Nat Cole (v, p), John Collins (g), Alvino Rey (stg), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Stuff Smith (vn), Lee Gillette (pro), John Kraus (eng)

Alvino Rey (stg) on d.

Nat Cole (v), Mahlon Clark, Willie Smith (as), Babe Russin, Buck Skalak (ts), Joe Koch (bar), Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Conrad Gozzo, Clyde Hurley, Mickey Mangano, Shorty Sherock (t), Murray McEachern, Ray Sims (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), George Roberts (btb), Bill Miller (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

Nat Cole (v), unknown (bkv), Ted Nash, Champ Webb, Jim Williamson (ww), Harry 'Sweets' Edison (t), Murray McEachern, Tommy Pederson, Paul Tanner (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), George Roberts (btb), Bill Miller (p), Al Hendrickson (g), Joe Comfort (b), Lee Young (d), Alex Beller, Harry Bluestone, Dan Lube, Ricky Marino, Paul Nero, Erno Neufeld, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, Jerry Vinci (vn), Alvin Dinkin, Dave Sterkin (vl), Cy Bernard, Eleanor Slatkin (clo), Kathryn Julye (hrp), Nelson Riddle (con), Lee Gillette (pro)

unknown (bkv) on a.

Nat Cole (v), Charles LaVere (p), Allan Reuss (g), Jack Ryan (b), Lee Young (d), Israel Baker, Alex Beller, Joachim Chassman, Sam Cytron, Kurt Dieterle, Murray Kellner, Sol Kindler, Joseph Livoti, Dan Lube, Ricky Marino, Erno Neufeld, Joseph Quadri, Mischa Russell, Ralph Schaeffer, Paul Shure, Marshall Sosson (vn), Bill Baffa, Paul Robyn, Dave Sterkin (vl), Armand Kaproff (clo), Kathryn Thompson (hrp), Gordon Jenkins (con), Patricia Neff (mgr), Lee Gillette (pro), John Kraus, Rex Uptegraft (eng)