Sound Quality: 95% Ken Kessler Hifi News

As this series of Nat ‘King’ Cole LPs, pressed on two 45rpm discs, concentrates on his golden era, you know what to expect: perfect sound quality, breathtaking arrangements, tasteful material and that voice. Aaah! That voice! It delivered so much, and was so inimitable that Cole could use it to make any song his own. This release from 1963, the last of a trio of LPs arranged and conducted by Gordon Jenkins, was themed with the subtitle ‘Songs of Love And Loneliness’. Cole creates the necessary mood with such completeness that you feel an ache in nearly every note. ‘Am I Blue?’, ‘Say It Isn’t So?’… a perfect counter to the more optimistic Love Is The Thing. 

In what some consider his last great album prior to his tragic passing, Nat King Cole approached the dramatic dark side of love in the spirit of Frank Sinatra's saloon songs to timeless, haunting effect on the 1963 release Where Did Everyone Go?The third and final album that paired him with arranger Gordon Jenkins finds Cole playing the role of song interpreter to supreme effect, laying down his gorgeous baritone on a poignant, melodic collection that remains a pop classic with a touch of the blues. Never before has this record sounded so rich, with every detail and nuance restored in a manner that places you in the recording studio with Cole. 

Mastered by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray from the original three-track analog tapes at Acoustech, complete with an all-analog system comprised of custom headstacks, 3-track preview heads, and a specially installed console and monitoring chain, this 2LP set is stunningly gorgeous-sounding as well as looking!

That's not all. Two bonus tracks recorded for the album, "A Farewell to Arms" and "Happy New Year," are also included here for the first time. Rounding out the package is a striking six-panel booklet complete with rare photos, a 3,200-word essay by Chris Hall about the album, and a 1,200-word reflection by Michael Fremer about the remastering process. Audiophile delights and vocal albums don't come more definitive than this! Truly no expense was spared in the production or mastering efforts here!.

Using the original first generation 3-track session tapes from Capitol's vaults and all-analogue systems including custom headstacks, 3-track preview heads, console and monitoring chain installed at AcousTech specially for these releases, mastering engineers Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman realize the stunning beauty of these recordings. Two bonus tracks recorded for the album, "A Farewell to Arms" and "Happy New Year," are included in this double 45-RPM 180-gram album set for their first release in original production quality. Included with this deluxe reissue is a striking six-panel booklet complete with rare photos, a 3,200-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 and a historic reissue.

Arranged By, Conductor – Gordon Jenkins
Orchestra – Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra
Producer – Lee Gillette

Nat King Cole Where Did Everyone Go?

1.  Where Did Everyone Go?
2.  Say It Isn't So
3.  If Love Ain't There
4.  (Ah, the Apple Trees) When the World Was Young
5.  Am I Blue
6.  Someone To Tell It To
7.  The End of a Love Affair
8.  I Keep Going Back to Joe's
9.  Laughing On the Outside (Crying On The Inside)
10. No, I Don't Want Her
11. Spring Is Here
12. That's All There Is
13. A Farewell To Arms (bonus track)
14. Happy New Year (bonus track)