Anyone have the DCC Nat King Cole Hits CD

I'm thinking about looking for one of these, but would be interested in knowing what anyone who owns it has to say about how it sounds (compared to, say, the Elvis Hits or Dylan 61 CD).

Thanks

 

Keep in mind in most cases it uses the 50s stereo re-recordings, not the mono originals...

 

Still, it's quite good. Sounds like ole Nat has come to your living room to sing for you.
Now if I could only get my hands on a copy of "The very thought of you"...

 

Like with most complilations, sound quality will not be as consistent as when you are buying an album (like The Very Thought of You or Love Is The Thing on DCC - those two are amazing), but if you want a compilation, this is the one to get.

 

GRAB IT!!

 

Have The Greatest Hits CD and The Very Thought Of You on vinyl,they are both great.You will not be disappointed.

 

BUY IT NOW!!

I own all of the DCC Nat King Cole's "The Very Thought of You", "Love Is The Thing" and "Greatest Hits" on DCC Gold CD & LP! Highly recommend any and all.

They are better than you can imagine... Nat is right there in your listening room singing just for you. Totally amazing!

I'll say it again, BUY!! ... Get them all if you can lay your hands on them.

 

I have all the 3 Nat King Cole DCC Gold Cds.

If you want listen to someone singing "live" in front of you, these are the Cds for you.


Another great Cds of having "live" effect are both Elvis DCC Gold Cds. (24 Karat Gold and Elvis is back)

 

I have the Elvis CD and the "Love is the Thing" Vinyl from Steve, and love them both.

Thanks for the info.

Oh, and by the way, I have the Capitol version of the Cole Greatest Hits CD, and it's not that bad... So, I'll be looking for one of these.

 

I'll add to the chorus, "buy it". I got this a few months ago on CD and have been listening to it a lot (I love Mr. Cole's music). It took me a few listens to get used to the dryer presentation (I was used to the old heavy reverb stereo versions) but it is as smooth as silk. Nat's vocal timbre is true and honest on this CD (and the other DCC albums). He is in the room with you (thankfully not naked). You can also hear very cleary how his voice changed over the years on the re-recording tracks because of all the smoking he did (he never dug his own voice and smoked several packs for years to "color" it, long, sad story). The only song I feel is out of place on this collection (which I believe was Capital's call) is the duet of "Unforgettable". To me, it just doesn't sit very well with the classics (it's nice but a novelty). It also has all that reverb on Nat's voice (very obvious after the beautiful dryer previous tracks). I wish Steve could have re-mixed that one (just to tone down the processing). Anyway, keep searching because it's worth it...

Todd

 

Thanks all... another question:

What about the Cole XRCD? Is it as good?

 

DCC NKC Greatest Hits

Todd,

Good observations regarding Nat. The DCC simply replicated the Capitol release, track for track. I would have liked to have seen more titles on the CD mastered by SH. That was my only disappointment in the DCC release. I assume, because of licensing issues or legal issues, this was not, at the time, possible. I listen to it often and use tracks from it for my compliations....one of my favorite DCC Gold releases on a cost per track basis.

Bob

 

Nat King Cole's Greatest Hits on DCC

Hi,

this CD is something like a dream come true: It is way better than the original LPs. Even the 1946 track which Steve remastered from a metal master has nothing of the telephony qualities often associated with pre-1950s recordings. I love it - it's more than on par with the Ray Charles or Beach Boys CDs.

Arne

 

Arne W

That is obviously a DCC Endless Summer cover you have as an avatar, yes?

 

Originally posted by SGB

The XRCD pales in comparison to the DCC version. The XRCD sounds too airy (open) and the vocals aren't as smooth and defined. This is one of Steve's best along with Elvis and The Beach Boys.

 

Originally posted by sgb:
What about the Cole XRCD? Is it as good?

I have the XRCD2. I don't have any other NKCole to compare it to. I like the XRCD2, amazing bass, good sound stage, great on his voice. Maybe a little bright on the strings.

I've been trying to score a DCC Cole for a while now.

 

DanG,

I guarantee that when you get Steve's version that XRCD will be in your for sale pile quicker than my wife can say no. You will be blown away at how real Nat's voice sounds in comparison to the XRCD.

 

I think it's the single best DCC CD ever made, how's that! I've played it more times that I can remember, hundreds easily, and I never tire of it to this day. Much better than any single studio album.
TP

 

Tom,

(Where is that icon with the bottom half of the jaw hitting the gound)?

Well Tom I figured you did have something that you really liked the best. I'm just kind of surprised to see it in black and white, as well as it being one of my fav, DCC's.

 

Love IS the thing......

There is some kind of stress on his voice on the DCC Cd that is NOT on the Lp,more the volume you give, more this un-musical quality appear....
The Lp is far better.

 

Dave,

If you had a catalog of mine you'd know I say things like that in black and white all the time. Hyperbole and overstatement are not strangers to my writing style!

In this particular case you add the music to the sound and you have a combination that can't be beat!

TP

 

CD stress?

Much of that "stressed" quality is just bad electricity and CD vibration, which will go away if you spend the money to make it go away. But not all of it. Records, it should go without saying, tend to be much more "stress free"; that's why I proselytize on their behalf. (Also it puts money in my pocket)

TP

 

It should go without saying....

 

Re: DCC NKC Greatest Hits

The big difference between the two is that the "standard" Capitol version, Greatest Hits CD used the mono originals, while The DCC used the post '58 stereo re-recordings where applicable.

I actually saw a so-called audiophile website, a few years back, where the reviewer was making sonic comparisons between the two discs...not even realizing they were completely different recordings in most cases...lol!

I always assumed the reason that Steve used the remakes is that, sonically, the beautiful Capitol 3-track stereo recordings are total breath of lifesville compared to the mono lacquer and full-track tape originals.

Musically, I've always really dug the remakes too (especially "Mona Lisa" and "A Blossom Fell"). Though, performance-wise, nothing can top the original mono "Nature Boy" for sheer haunting beauty, IMO.