This packed reissue brings together a pair of Cole albums originally issued on LP back in 1955 and 1956. (The first of them even came out first on a ten-inch LP but then had four new tracks added for a 12-inch version.) Penthouse Serenade was made shortly after Cole had announced he had broken up his Trio and would be appearing as a solo act henceforth. He made an effort to sound more mainstream and less quirky on this album than the Trio had sounded – with less stride-influenced left hand work. It’s a collection of a dozen somewhat moody standards with only two at all uptempo. Still, it’s a good deal better than your average cocktail piano album. Even if Nat had never sung a note, he would be regarded today as one of the greatest jazz pianists ever.
The later, second album boasts 16 tracks, half of which bring in the fine arrangements of Nelson Riddle, mostly using the string section. But on I Get a Kick Out of You, the brasses and rhythm section join in with the strings and the whole thing sounds like one of Riddle’s famous arrangements with Frank Sinatra. Sonics are very good, though sometimes at the end of a track the rather crude studio artificial reverb is heard. The tunes are some of the best; those of us who lean towards the instrumental Cole rather than the vocal Cole will dig this Cole cornucopia the most!
TrackList:
1. Penthouse Serenade (When We’re Alone)
2. Somebody Loves Me
3. Laura
4. Once In a Blue Moon
5. Don’t Blame Me
6. Little Girl
7. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
8. Down By the Old Mill Stream
9. If I Should Lose You
10. Rose Room
11. I Surrender, Dear
12. It Could Happen To You
13. Love Walked In
14. My Heart Stood Still
15. Imagination
16. I Never Knew
17. Stella By Starlight
18. What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry?
19. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was
20. Takin’ a Chance On Love
21. April In Paris
22. I Want To Be Happy
23. I See Your Face Before Me
24. Just One Of Those Things
25. I Get a Kick Out Of You
26. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)
27. I Hear Music
28. Tea For Two
– John Henry
