SH Spotlight Nat King Cole-Billy May: JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS AP 45 RPM VINYL still in stock at AS for 60 bucks

Another Nat King Cole album that might be overlooked is the classic big band album JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS with Billy May conducting his own arrangements.

This is a beautiful album, recorded in mono and a separate "stereophonic" feed with a different microphone setup. True to this great series, the SACD/CD gives you THREE MIXES, the multi-channel mixes, the stereo mixes and the original "hit" mono mixes all on the same disk, plus two bonus tracks, one of them never heard before.

Don't overlook this gem. The trouble alone we went through to keep Nat's cigarette in his hand on the album cover art could fill three chapters in a book.

You'll really dig this album, it's not frantic at all, rather a nicely paced collection of standards that Nat gives his all to. A tremendous hit in 1957, we have lovingly recompiled it in correct LP order with great thought to vocal to orchestra mix balance. As with many early Capitol three-track recordings, some of the instruments are slightly out of phase. If we flip phase on the music tracks, OTHER instruments go a bit out. Such is life. Nothing we can do about it though so don't bother to ask. The 45 RPM version contains a slightly different mix of the album tracks plus the song left off the album, "You'll Never Know", all mixed live to lacquer from three-track tape. First (and probably last) time that will ever be done.

Take a look at the musicians in the band (below). A who's who of the swing era, isn't it? Dig the tuba, dig the crystal clean sound with just the right amount of "chamber" but most of all, dig Nat King Cole at his absolute prime.


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1957 Capitol LP JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS Three-channel mix, stereo mix and original mono mix for Analogue Productions mastered by Gray/Hoffman:

There is a three channel SACD section with all songs below except the alternate take of JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT which has no three channel tape. There is a two channel SACD section with all songs in stereo except for alternate take of JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT. There is a mono SACD section with all songs below on it. There is a CD stereo section with same content as SACD stereo section. The CD mono section has all songs below on it.


Original 12 song LP:

When Your Lover Has Gone
A Cottage For Sale
Who’s Sorry Now?
Once In A While
These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You
Just For The Fun Of It
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
I Understand
Just One Of Those Things
The Song Is Ended
I Should Care
The Party’s Over

Bonus Tracks:
You’ll Never Know (recorded for but left off the album, tape box marked "SINGLE?")
Just For The Fun Of It (prev. unissued take one) MONO ONLY (no three-track exists. This is on DSD, CD layer only, not 45 RPM vinyl)
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Below info courtest of J. Taylor and Apileocole:

LP-Just One Of Those Things:

July 10, 1957

(Session #6133; 13:00-17:00) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California
Nat Cole (vocal) Billy May (arranger/conductor) John Collins (guitar) Charles P. Harris (bass) Lee Young (drums) Louis 'Lou' Singer (percussion) James G. 'Jimmy' Rowles (piano) Fred Falensby (baritone saxophone) Jules Jacob (tenor saxophone) Theodore M. 'Ted' Nash (tenor saxophone) Wilbur Schwartz (alto saxophone) William McLeish 'Willie' Smith (alto saxophone) Edward Kuczborski 'Ed' Kusby (trombone) Murray McEachern (trombone) George Mortimore Roberts (bass trombone) Simon H. 'Si' Zentner (trombone) Harry Edward 'Sweets' Edison (trumpet) Conrad Gozzo (trumpet) Mannie Klein (trumpet) Uan Rasey (trumpet) Red Callender (tuba) Helen B. Hutchinson (harp)
• (17285-11) Don't Get Around Much Anymore
• (17286-15) The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)
• (17287-14) You'll Never Know
• (17288-3) Just For The Fun Of It (alt.)
Note: 17288 was remade at session 6175.

July 19, 1957

(Session #6147; 13:00-16:30) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California
Nat Cole (vocal) Billy May (arranger/conductor) John Collins (guitar) Charles P. Harris (bass) Lee Young (drums) Louis 'Lou' Singer (percussion) Bill Miller (piano) William M. 'Buddy' Collette (tenor saxophone) Fred Falensby (baritone saxophone) Jules Jacob (tenor saxophone) Wilbur Schwartz (alto saxophone) William McLeish 'Willie' Smith (alto saxophone) Edward Kuczborski 'Ed' Kusby (trombone) Murray McEachern (trombone) George Mortimore Roberts (bass trombone) Simon H. 'Si' Zentner (trombone) Harry Edward 'Sweets' Edison (trumpet) Conrad Gozzo (trumpet) Mannie Klein (trumpet) Uan Rasey (trumpet) Red Callender (tuba) Helen B. Hutchinson (harp)

• (17345-21) Who's Sorry Now?
• (17346-9) These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)
• (17347-8) Once In A While

July 31, 1957

(Session #6175; 13:25-17:12) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California
Nat Cole (vocal) Billy May (arranger/conductor) John Collins (guitar) Charles P. Harris (bass) Lee Young (drums) Frank Joseph Flynn (percussion) James G. 'Jimmy' Rowles (piano) William M. 'Buddy' Collette (tenor saxophone) Fred Falensby (baritone saxophone) Jules Jacob (tenor saxophone) Wilbur Schwartz (alto saxophone) William McLeish 'Willie' Smith (alto saxophone) Murray McEachern (trombone) George Mortimore Roberts (bass trombone) William 'Bill' Schaeffer (trombone) Lloyd Ulyate (trombone) Walter P. 'Pete' Candoli (trumpet) Harry Edward 'Sweets' Edison (trumpet) Lennie Mach (trumpet) Vito Mangano (trumpet) Red Callender (tuba) Helen B. Hutchinson (harp)
• (17288-12) Just For The Fun Of It (remake)
• (17391-9) Just One Of Those Things
• (17392-9) I Should Care
• (17393-14) The Party's Over

August 7, 1957

(Session #6180; 13:00-16:15) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California
Nat Cole (vocal) Billy May (arranger/conductor) John Collins (guitar) Charles P. Harris (bass) Lee Young (drums) Frank Joseph Flynn (percussion) James G. 'Jimmy' Rowles (piano) William M. 'Buddy' Collette (tenor saxophone) Fred Falensby (baritone saxophone) Jules Jacob (tenor saxophone) Harry G. Klee (alto saxophone) William McLeish 'Willie' Smith (alto saxophone) Francis L. 'Joe' Howard (bass trombone) Edward Kuczborski 'Ed' Kusby (trombone) Murray McEachern (trombone) William 'Bill' Schaefer (trombone) Walter P. 'Pete' Candoli (trumpet) Harry Edward 'Sweets' Edison (trumpet) Conrad Gozzo (trumpet) Mannie Klein (trumpet) Red Callender (tuba) Helen B. Hutchinson (harp)
• (17394-9) A Cottage For Sale
• (17395-3) I Understand
• (17396-14) When Your Lover Has Gone

 

You kiddin'?

 

And a big Altec coaxial monitor!

Seriously, this album is one of my absolute favorites by ANY artist. The songs are all "downers" in terms of lyrical content, but the arrangements are ebullient and joyful -- and it ALL clicks! I *NEVER* get tired of this album. Any breakup song that includes a tuba can't be all bad.

Matt

 

Not just the estate, other powers as well got into the act. Sigh.

Also, removing the "and more" from the title (see photo of old CD in earlier post) was a major hassle (again!)

 

That's for sure, though at the time (1980's) they thought they were helping the album by adding those extra songs. Don't know why the revised title passed into "fact" though...

 

I think the entire politically correct thing has gone a bit too far, yes. But, on the other hand, smoking can kill you so I'm not going to lose any sleep over them trying to wipe out any photographs of it for mass media purposes, as long as they don't mess with the originals. (But don't touch my projects!)

 

Good to hear.