Included with this deluxe reissue is a striking six-panel booklet complete with rare photos, a 4,600-word essay by Chris Hall on the album and a 1,200-word essay by Michael Fremer about the remastering process. This truly is a no-expenses-spared project, resulting in the ultimate version of this title.
"...in terms of sound, the originals are a distant second to these 45rpm LPs. Cole's voice is up front, and the accompaniment, especially the massed strings, has a colorful vividness. After Midnight was recorded in mono, and it is among the very best 1.0-channel reissues. Played with a mono cartridge, it displays intimacy and tonal purity that must be heard to be believed." - Marc Mickelson, The Audio Beat, September 2010
Analogue Productions' Blue Note and Nat "King" Cole Reissues WIN A Positive Feedback 2010 Brutus Award! "...if you haven't picked up every one of the Blue Note and Nat King Cole reissues from Chad Kassem and company at Acoustic Sounds, you're really missing out!" - David W. Robinson, Positive Feedback, Issue 52
"...this is one of my favorite record purchases in a long time. Close to perfection in many areas, I consider it one of the MOST TRANSPARENT AND DYNAMIC TAPE TO VINYL TRANSFERS I'VE EVER HEARD. TOP 5 ALL TIME JAZZ/CROONER RECORDING FOR MUSIC AND SOUND." - soundevaluations, October 2010
"...the originals are a distant second to these 45rpm LPs. Cole's voice is up front, and the accompaniment, especially the massed strings, has a colorful vividness. After Midnight was recorded in mono, and it is among the very best 1.0-channel reissues. Played with a mono cartridge, it displays intimacy and tonal purity that must be heard to be believed. Recordings this revealing offer new ways of evaluating everything about the recording sessions, and both sets hold up under the scrutiny...All of Analogue Productions' Nat 'King' Cole releases go the extra mile. They come with well-done booklets that discuss in detail each album's history and the remastering wizardry responsible for their sonics." - Marc Mickelson, The Audio Beat, September 5, 2010
"...the Nat King Cole LPs are astonishingly beautiful, particularly played through my new Wilson Maxx3's. They make me cry." - Max Paley, Acoustic Sounds customer
In this felicitous blending of Nat "King" Cole's supreme talents as jazz pianist and vocalist with small combos featuring fellow jazz alumni, classic pop and jazz met in a wildly successful brew. A combination of new and familiar songs are featured, including fresh recordings of classic hits like "Route 66." Musicians include Harry "Sweets" Edison, Juan Tizol, Lee Young, Stuff Smith and Willie Smith augmenting his famous Trio. In addition to the full original album, five additional tracks and one alternate take from the original sessions are included in this release. Mellow, classy, focused and vibrant, After Midnight was a hit and an instant classic upon its release in 1956 and remains a gem to treasure today.
Mastered fully analogue from the original first-generation full-track monaural session tapes by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray to 45-RPM 180-gram vinyl, the exemplary recording is presented in appropriately exquisite sound quality.
Recorded in 1956.
*葛萊美終身成就獎肯定的美國傳奇金嗓巨星
Nat King Cole有著獨特的魅力,其歌聲在演繹歌曲意境與情境之時也創造了令人神魂顛倒的聽覺感受,Nat King Cole是第一位登上美國告示牌雜誌的流行專輯榜的藝人,他的歌唱生涯灌錄過33張專輯,將近700首歌曲,其中有150多首歌曲打進流行榜或節奏藍調榜,鄉村榜的歌曲,他在1965年2月15日辭世,葛萊美在1990年追贈終身成就獎,辭世後,他的專輯仍保持每一年銷售達百萬張的紀錄。他的女兒Natalie Cole在1991年發行經由錄音科技與父親進行跨時空對唱的單曲"Unforgettable"與重新灌唱父親招牌作的專輯「Unforgettable… With Love」大受歡迎,專輯勇奪排行榜冠軍,隨後在1992年葛萊美獎拿下年度唱片,年度專輯大獎。
堪稱廿世紀最具代表性和辨識度的嗓音、被冠以「柔情歌王」封號的傳奇歌手納京高,以其低沈饒富磁性的優雅聲線、如同天鵝絨般溫潤柔滑的完美音感及投注於歌曲中豐沛無比的真摯情感,自三0年代為樂團擔任鋼琴伴奏偶爾兼職演唱出道,迅即征服全球廣大樂迷,在歷時三十年的璀璨演藝生涯裡,持續地締造傲人的排行榜佳績。
此外納京高也是美國電視史上頭一位擁有個人專屬節目的黑人歌手,此舉不僅對消弭當時涇渭分明的種族與文化衝突貢獻良多,對於奠定日後爵士樂及流行音樂男聲歌唱風格的影響力同樣無遠弗屆,即令是到了距離其與世長辭超過五十年的今日,普羅大眾仍然不時在婚宴、廣播、節慶等各式各樣不同的場合,以及王家衛、阿莫多瓦等諸多國際名導的電影中,聽見其從容優雅的動人聲嗓,深切感受當中蘊含的人性溫暖以及燦爛光輝。
曲目
1.Overture, complete restored (introducing “Love Theme” and “Hesitation Blues”)
2.Harlem Blues
3.Chantez Les Bas
4.Friendless Blues
5.Stay
6.Joe Turner’s Blues
7.Beale Street Blues
8.Careless Love
9.Morning Star
10.Memphis Blues
11.Yellow Dog Blues
12.St. Louis Blues