Nat King Cole – Just One Of Those Things (1957) [APO Remaster 2011] SACD ISO

Just One of Those Things is a theme album comparable to one of Frank Sinatra’s uptempo swing albums of the same period (Come Fly With Me, etc.), and employs the same arranger/conductor, Billy May. Nat King Cole is a bit less effective than Sinatra at uptempo material; he tends to undersing these sprightly standards, and May saves his dramatic horn charts and percussion shots for moments when Cole is away from the microphone. Even so, by the fifth track, “These Foolish Things Remind Me of You,” May has retreated to ballad time, and though his embellishments threaten to break out behind the singer, Cole gives an assured, unhurried performance. And that’s the point: that Cole has tamed the rambunctious May does not mean he doesn’t give wonderful interpretations to some wonderful songs: “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “Just One of Those Things,” “The Song Is Ended (But the Melody Lingers On).” And the light-handed swing supports those efforts well.

Tracklist:
01. When Your Lover Has Gone
02. A Cottage For Sale
03. Who’s Sorry Now?
04. Once In A While
05. These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You
06. Just For The Fun Of It
07. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
08. I Understand
09. Just One Of Those Things
10. The Song Is Ended
11. I Should Care
12. The Party’s Over
13. You’ll Never Know (Bonus Track)
14. When Your Lover Has Gone (Mono Mix)
15. A Cottage For Sale (Mono Mix)
16. Who’s Sorry Now? (Mono Mix)
17. Once In A While (Mono Mix)
18. These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You (Mono Mix)
19. Just For The Fun Of It (Mono Mix)
20. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (Mono Mix)
21. I Understand (Mono Mix)
22. Just One Of Those Thing (Mono Mix)
23. The Song Is Ended (Mono Mix)
24. I Should Care (Mono Mix)
25. The Party’s Over (Mono Mix)
26. You’ll Never Know (Bonus Track Mono Mix)
27. Just For The Fun Of It (Bonus Track Mono Mix)