Documentary/Music (2004) 72 minutes ~ Color

Before achieving international pop stardom in the 50s, Nat King Cole enjoyed considerable success fronting his own trio in Hollywood. This video is a fascinating collection of early film shorts produced for theaters and television. Backed by such sidemen as Oscar Moore and Irving Ashby, bassists Johnny Miller and Joe Comfort or Latin percussionist Jack "Mr. Bongo" Costanzo, Cole was in peak artistic form in these true musical gems from his early West Coast period. Recommended to old-time fans and jazz enthusiasts alike, the music in this anthology sounds as enjoyable as ever. Songs include: "Route 66", "Sweet Lorraine", "Little Girl", "Home", "The Trouble With Me Is You", "Calypso Blues", "For Sentimental Reasons", "That's My Girl", "Mona Lisa", "Because of Rain", "Too Young", "This is My Night to Dream", "Nature Boy", "You Call It Madness", "Got a Penny, Benny?", "Come to Baby Do", "Errand Boy for Rhythm", "Is You or Is You Ain't My Baby", "I'm a Shy Guy", "Who's Been Eating My Porridge", "Frim Fram Sauce", "Oh, Kickerony", "Now He Tells Me", "Breezy and the Bass", "Solid Potato Salad", "Always You!" and "It's Better to Be By Yourself".

Stars: Nat "King" Cole