Nat King Cole - Just One Of Those Things (1957/2004)

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.

by William Ruhlmann

Tracklist:

A1 When Your Lover Has Gone
A2 A Cottage For Sale
A3 Who's Sorry Now?
A4 Once In A While
A5 These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You
A6 Just For The Fun Of It
A7 Don't Get Around Much Anymore
B1 I Understand
B2 Just One Of Those Things
B3 The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)
B4 I Should Care
B5 The Party's Over
B6 Day In - Day Out
B7 I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter)
B8 Something Makes Me Want To Dance With You