#34 'Nature Boy' by The Nat King Cole Trio (1948)

SONG

"I like the melody of this one, and I have decided that I very much like Nat's voice. This one is definitely worth a listen. Nice piano too :)" - LC

Written by: Eden Ahbez.

Producer: Uncredited (arranged by Frank DeVol).

Label: Capitol.

FACTS

• The back story of this song goes that a few days after composer Eden Ahbez presented Nat King Cole's manager with Nature Boy in 1947, Cole performed it live at a nightclub in Los Angeles. Before Cole even reached his dressing room, after finishing his set, Irving Berlin offered to buy it.
• Cole had had a series of hits in 1940s that appealed to a white audience. This was quite a feat as music at the time was still very much divided by race, and crossing over from black jazz to white pop acceptability was rare. Cole did it with style when this song became number 1 in the U.S.
• The original version of this song recorded by Cole in August 1947 was transformed by Frankie DeVol of Capitol Records, whose use of strings and flute to create an enchanting backdrop for Cole's vocals made the song a massive hit.
• Cole only does the vocals on this track and the piano solo is taken by someone else.

Recommended songs by this artist...

#28 (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 (1946)
#88 When I Fall In Love (1957)