“Cole’s devotion, perhaps most memorably and mellifluously expressed in ‘Mona Lisa’, was to the enigma of beauty, that transcendent thing that we cannot adequately define but which we recognise as soon as confronted by it. Try ‘Blame It on My Youth’ here. Is it jazz? Probably. Is it beautiful? Certainly. Does it survive the ages? It has so far.”

PENGUIN GUIDE TO JAZZ


“Welcome to a world where everything seems light, graceful and airy –bright, cheerful and romantic –swinging, dancing and stunning. You are lucky, this world is that of Nat “King” Cole, who in those beautiful days of August and September 1956, at Los Angeles’ Capitol Studios, rediscovered the contagious happiness of singing while accompanying himself on the piano.”

JAZZ MAGAZINE

Side A: 1. JUST YOU, JUST ME 3:02
2. SWEET LORRAINE 4:36
3. SOMETIMES I’M HAPPY 4:10
4. CARAVAN 2:45
5. IT’S ONLY A PAPER MOON 3:07
6. YOU’RE LOOKING AT ME 4:14
7. DON’T BLAME ME 3:03*
8. LITTLE GIRL 1:51*
Side B:
1. THE LONELY ONE 3:49
2. DON’T LET IT GO TO YOUR HEAD 3:12
3. I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW 2:30
4. BLAME IT ON MY YOUTH 4:12
5. WHEN I GROW TOO OLD TO DREAM 3:34
6. (GET YOUR KICKS ON) ROUTE 66 3:43
7. IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU 2:46*
8. I SURRENDER DEAR 3:00*

NAT KING COLE, piano & vocals
HARRY “SWEETS” EDISON, trumpet on A2, A5 & B6
WILLIE SMITH, alto sax on A1, A6 & B2
JUAN TIZOL, valve trombone on A4, B1 & B4
STUFF SMITH, violin on A3, B3 & B5
JOHN COLLINS, guitar
CHARLIE HARRIS, bass
LEE YOUNG, drums

Los Angeles, August 15 (A2, A5 & B6), September 14 (A1, A6 & B2), September 21 (A4, B1 & B4) & September 24 (A3, B3 & B5), 1956

*BONUS TRACKS:
Nat King Cole (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d).
Los Angeles, July 14, 1955.