June Marks the 50th Anniversary of Nat King Cole's `Mona Lisa' and the Release of Capitol Records' Thematic `Nat King Cole Songbook Series'.

Entertainment Editors/Music Writers

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 31, 2000

"Songs From the Heart," "Try Not to Cry" and "Rockin' Boppin' & Blues"

in Stores: June 27

It has been fifty years since Nat King Cole's seminal recording, "Mona Lisa," was released. "Mona Lisa," which appears on the recently released "Unforgettable" (Capitol Records 72435-24721-2-3), entered the Billboard Pop Singles chart on June 10, 1950 and went No. 1 on July 8.

Originally recorded for the Alan Ladd movie, "Captain Carey U.S.A.," "Mona Lisa" sold more than 1 million copies before 1951 and won the Academy Award(R) for Best Song.

"Unforgettable" also features two dozen more classics, including his duet with his daughter Natalie Cole on the newly added, Grammy(R) winning track, "Unforgettable," and such early hits as "Straighten Up And Fly Right" and his first solo hit "Nature Boy." Other highlights are enduring standards like "The Very Thought of You," "It's Only A Paper Moon," "Route 66," the solo version of "Unforgettable," "Lush Life," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" and "Our Love Is Here To Stay."

Capitol Records has created the "Nat King Cole Songbook Series" to spotlight Cole's prolific output of recordings from the groundbreaking Trio days through his phenomenally successful solo years. The first three releases in this "thematic" series: "Songs From The Heart," "Try Not To Cry" and "Rockin' Boppin' & Blues" will be in stores June 27, 2000.

Each recording contains 18 digitally re-mastered tracks packaged in a special DigiPak. They feature artwork by Grammy(R) Award-winner Andy Engel and liner notes by recording artist and noted musicologist Billy Vera. The releases come during an especially significant year for appreciation of Nat King Cole's work. In March, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Nat King Cole, naming him one of the major early influences of rock `n' roll.

Among the highlights on "Songs From The Heart" are "Fly Me To The Moon" and "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley," plus the concert favorite, "Let There Be Love." Some of the all-time great composers and lyricists are represented on the collection including Harold Arlen, Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke, Harry Warren, Richard Whiting and Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer.

Among the highlights are "At Last," "The More I See You," "Too Marvelous For Words" and "Sunday, Monday Or Always." Several of the tunes are obscure gems, such as comedian Steve Allen's "Impossible" or bandleader Ray Noble's "The Touch Of Your Lips."

If "Songs From The Heart" showcases the positive side of love, "Try Not To Cry" reveals why Nat King Cole was one of the finest interpreters of wistful, sad ballads. Irving Berlin, Mack Gordon, Hoagy Carmichael, Sammy Cahn, Paul Weston and Matt Dennis are all represented on "Try Not To Cry." It features songs from the Cole canon of lost love including "Angel Eyes," "Say It Isn't So," "The Song Is Ended," "Once In A While" and "There Will Never Be Another You."

Those who only know Nat King Cole as the great singer of gorgeous love ballads awash in lush strings are in for a surprise with "Rockin' Boppin' & Blues." Despite his protestation, "Mr. Cole Won't Rock and Roll," the King Cole Trio's first big crossover pop hit, "Straighten Up and Fly Right" and "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66" are the kind of juke box tunes that inspired Chuck Berry and Ray Charles both of whom credit Cole as a primary influence.

Cole also racked up a smash teen fave for himself in 1957, right in the middle of the rock `n' roll era with "Send For Me," "I'm An Errand Boy For Rhythm" and "Ooh, Kickeroonie" bop like West Coast versions of what Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker were doing in New York.

Cole showed his mastery of the blues when he starred as W.C. Handy in the film of the great songwriter's life. Included on "Rockin' Boppin' & Blues" is Handy's famous "Beale Street Blues" as well as Kansas City shouter Big Joe Turner's "Wee Baby Blues."

Track Listings:

"Songs From The Heart"

1.       Let There Be Love
2.       Love Is The Thing
3.       Too Marvelous For Words
4.       Impossible
5.       Stay As Sweet As You Are
6.       Fly Me To The Moon
7.       Let's Fall In Love
8.       But Beautiful
9.       You Stepped Out Of A Dream
10.      Paradise
11.      The More I See
12.      Sunday, Monday Or Always
13.      There Is No Greater Love
14.      A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
15.      Too Much
16.      The Touch Of Your Lips
17.      For All We Know
18.      At Last

"Try Not To Cry"

1.       When Your Lover Has Gone
2.       The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)
3.       Where Did Everyone Go?
4.       Funny (Not Much)
5.       Say It Isn't So
6.       Angel Eyes
7.       There Goes My Heart
8.       There Will Never Be Another You
9.       No, I Don't Want Her
10.      Once In A While
11.      Stardust
12.      I Keep Goin' Back To Joe's
13.      If Love Ain't There
14.      My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart)
15.      If You Said No
16.      Am I Blue
17.      There's A Lull In My Life
18.      The End Of A Love Affair

"Rockin' Boppin' & Blues"

1.       I'm An Errand Boy For Rhythm
2.       Straighten Up And Fly Right
3.       Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
4.       Easy Listening Blues (instrumental)
5.       (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
6.       Frim Fram Sauce
7.       Baby, Baby All The Time
8.       Chant Of The Blues (Dog Gone Unlucky Blues)
9.       I Think I Get what You Mean
10.      Ooh, Kickeroonie
11.      Blues In My Shower (instrumental)
12.      If I Were You Baby, I'd Love Me
13.      Walkin'
14.      Send For Me
15.      Beale Street Blues
16.      Wee Baby Blues
17.      Joe Turner's Blues (live)
18.      Mr. Cole Won't Rock & Roll (live)

"Songs From The Heart"
Street Date: June 27, 2000             Label: Capitol Records
Genre:  Pop/Vocals                     UPC Code: 72435-25008-2-6
Format:  CD

"Try Not To Cry"
Street Date: June 27, 2000             Label: Capitol Records
Genre:  Pop/Vocals                     UPC Code: 72435-25009-2-5
Format:  CD

"Rockin' Boppin' & Blues"
Street Date: June 27, 2000             Label: Capitol Records
Genre:  Pop/Vocals                     UPC Code: 72435-27316-2-6
Format:  CD

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