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For someone with such an iconic tune in “Unforgettable,” there seems to be a lot of Nat “King” Cole’s discography that gets lost in the shuffle. While he’s known for his work as founder of The Nat “King” Cole Trio, and later a pop crooner with few equals, for Capitol Records starting in 1943 (indeed, the label’s famous Hollywood offices are informally called “the house that Nat built”), he did a great deal of work for other labels – not only with The King Cole Trio, but as a piano man for other jazz luminaries.

These recordings have been released in various configurations over the years largely through Universal Music Group (owners of much of the pre- and non-Capitol material), but there’s never really been an ultra-definitive take on this work altogether – at least, not along the lines of, say, Mosaic’s 18-disc The Complete Capitol Recordings of The Nat King Cole Trio (1991). (Discographical information regarding these years is even harder to find online.)

That is, until now. Hip-o Select, through the burgeoning Verve Select imprint, has announced Riffin’: The Decca, JATP, Keynote and Mercury Recordings, a lavish triple-disc box that covers this early and often overlooked period in Cole’s career. The program includes those early King Cole Trio singles for Decca as well as studio tracks in which Cole backed jazz masters like Lester Young, Willie Smith, Buddy Rich and Dexter Gordon, plus Cole’s live ivory-tickling at the first-ever Jazz at the Philharmonic concert in 1944. The package includes lots of rare photos (including little-seen album and single sleeves) and liner notes by famed music writer David Ritz.

Pre-order it here and hit the jump for the full track list. (Sorry, no in-depth discographical notes herein – there’s too much information and too little of it can be found online.)

Nat King Cole & Friends – Riffin’: The Complete Decca, JATP, Keynote and Mercury Recordings

Disc 1: The King Cole Trio & The Keynoters

1. Sweet Lorraine
2. This Side Up
3. Honeysuckle Rose
4. Gone with the Draft
5. Gone with the Draft (Alternate)
6. Babs
7. Early Morning Blues
8. Scotchin’ with the Soda
9. Slow Down
10. This Will Make You Laugh
11. Hit the Ramp
12. I Like to Riff
13. Stop! The Red Light’s On
14. Call the Police
15. Are You Fer It?
16. That Ain’t Right
17. Hit That Jive, Jack
18. Honey Hush
19. Thunder
20. Stompin’ at the Panama
21. (Bedtime) Sleep, Baby, Sleep
22. Honey Hush (Alternate)
23. The Way You Look Tonight
24. Airiness a la Nat
25. I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love with Me
26. My Old Flame

Disc 2: Jazz at the Philharmonic, 1944

1. Lester Leaps In (Live)
2. Tea for Two (Live)
3. Blues (Live)
4. Body and Soul (Live)
5. Sweet Lorraine (Live)
6. The Man I Love (Live)
7. I’ve Found a New Baby (Live)
8. Rosetta (Live)
9. Bugle Call Rag (Live)
10. One O’ Clock Jump (Live)
11. Oh, Lady, Be Good!

Disc 3: Dexter Gordon, Lester Young & Keynote Alternates

1. I’ve Found a New Baby
2. Sweet Lorraine
3. Rosetta
4. I Blowed and Gone
5. I Cover the Waterfront
6. Somebody Loves Me
7. I’ve Found a New Baby
8. Back to the Land
9. I Want to Be Happy
10. Peg O’ My Heart
11. Mean to Me
12. The Man I Love
13. I Cover the Waterfront (Alternate)
14. The Way You Look Tonight (Alternate)
15. Airiness a la Nat (Alternate)
16. I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love with Me (Alternate)