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Sessions of 1961

1961

March 22, 1961

(Session #8290) Capitol Recording Studios, 151 W. 46th Street, New York City

Nat Cole (vocal / piano / arranger), John Collins (guitar), Charles P Harris (bass)

Note: first session of The Nat King Cole Story project.

March 23, 1961

(Session #8291) Capitol Recording Studios, 151 W. 46th Street, New York City

Nat Cole (vocal / piano / arranger), John Collins (guitar), Charles P. Harris (bass)

March 24, 1961

(Session #8293) Capitol Recording Studios, 151 W. 46th Street, New York City

Nat Cole (vocal), Ralph Carmichael (conductor) with Orchestra & chorus possibly including John Collins (guitar), Charles Harris (bass), Lee Young (drums)

Note: an alternate take of 23572 Smile was issued erroniously on the Capitol CD, At The Movies.

March 27, 1961

(Session #8295) Capitol Recording Studios, 151 W. 46th Street, New York City

Nat Cole (vocal), Ralph Carmichael (conductor) with Orchestra possibly including John Collins (guitar), Charles Harris (bass), Lee Young (drums), Hank Jones (piano), Unidentified (vocal chorus*)

March 29, 1961

(Session #8296) Capitol Recording Studios, 151 W. 46th Street, New York City

Nat Cole (vocal), Ralph Carmichael (conductor) with Orchestra & chorus possibly including John Collins (guitar), Charles Harris (bass), Lee Young (drums)

March 30, 1961

(Session #8298) Capitol Recording Studios, 151 W. 46th Street, New York City

Nat Cole (vocal), Ralph Carmichael (conductor) with Orchestra possibly including John Collins (guitar), Charles Harris (bass), Lee Young (drums), Hank Jones (piano)

A version of 23582-16, Unforgettable, with a vocal overdub was created by bouncing the music tracks of 23582-16 to a second recorder with Nat singing a vocal overdub live to the new tape, identified only as "take 2". This alternative version was ultimately not issued at the time but was erroniously issued on the Capitol CD release of The Nat King Cole Story.

April 3, 1961

(Session #8302) Capitol Recording Studios, 151 W. 46th Street, New York City

Nat Cole (vocal), Ralph Carmichael (conductor), Everett Barksdale (electric guitar), Kenny Burrell (electric guitar), John Collins (electric guitar), possibly Lee Young (drums), Ernie Hayes (piano), Curtis Ousley (tenor saxophone), Unidentified (vocal quartet*), Unidentified (vocal chorus**)

April 4, 1961

(Session #8301) Capitol Recording Studios, 151 W. 46th Street, New York City

Nat Cole (vocal), Ralph Carmichael (conductor) with Orchestra, possibly including John Collins (guitar), Charles Harris (bass), Lee Young (drums), Unidentified (vocal chorus*)

April 7, 1961

(Session #8314) Capitol Recording Studios. 151 W. 46th Street. New York City

Nat Cole (vocal), Richard Wess Orchestra possibly including John Collins (guitar), Charles Harris (bass), Lee Young (drums), Unidentified (vocal chorus*)

July 6, 1961

(Session #10174; 14:00-17:00) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood California

Nat Cole (vocal), Stan Kenton (conductor), Alton R. 'AI' Hendrickson (guitar), Joseph G. 'Joe' Comfort (bass), Keith 'Red' Mitchell (bass), Jerry McKenzie (drums), George Acevedo (percussion), Lawrence B. 'Larry' Bunker (percussion), Paul T. Smith (piano), Gabe Baltazar (saxophone), Sam Donahue (saxophone), Wayne Dunstan (saxophone), Marvin Holladay (saxophone), Paul Renzi (saxophone), Jim Amlotte (trombone), Francis 'Bob' Fitzpatrick (trombone), Bud Parker (trombone), Jack Spurlock (trombone), Bob Behrendt (trumpet), Bud Brisbois (trumpet), Bob Rolfe (trumpet), Dalton Smith (trumpet), Marvin Stamm (trumpet) Dave Wheeler (tuba)

Note: The band was first recorded playing the music track and then performing the band vocals, which was overdubbed onto the previously recorded music tracks. Recorded at 30ips for this reason. Take 10 is the music track underdub and take 14 is the band vocal underdub.
Note: Stan Kenton Orchestra member Keith La Motte claims that the mellophonium players, namely Dwight Carver, Keith La Motte, Gene Roland, Carl Sounders and himself, although all present in the studio, did not play.

July 19, 1961

(Session #10199; 14:00-17:00) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood California

Nat Cole (vocal / piano), Ralph Carmichael (conductor), Alton R. 'Al' Hendrickson (guitar), Alvino Rey (guitar), Joseph G. 'Joe' Comfort (bass), Lee Young (drums), Dale L. Anderson (percussion), Mike Pacheco (percussion), Milton W. Raskin (piano), James A. 'Jim' Decker (French horn), Vincent DeRosa (French horn), Richard E. 'Dick' Perissi (French horn), Jerome A. 'Jerry' Kasper (reeds), Harry G. Klee (reeds), Edward 'Ed' Rosa (reeds), Kent Larson (trombone), George Mortimore Roberts (bass trombone), Lloyd Ulyate (trombone), Edgar 'Ed' Lustgarten (cello), Kurt Reher (cello), Eleanor Aller Slatkin (cello), Kathryn M. Thompson (harp), Allan Harshman (viola), Virginia Majewski (viola), Alexander Neiman (viola), Gareth D. 'Gary' Nuttycombe (viola), Victor Arno (violin), Emil F. Briano (violin), Harold Dicterow (violin), David 'Dave' Frisina (violin), James Getzoff (violin), Anatol Kaminsky (violin), Joseph 'Joe' Livoti (violin), Daniel 'Dan' Lube (violin), Rickey Marino (violin), Bill Miller (violin), Alexander 'Alex' Murray (violin), Louis 'Lou' Raderman (violin), Joseph Stepansky (violin), Gerald 'Jerry' Vinci (violin), Unidentified (vocal chorus*)

Note: 36204 Calypso Blues is performed solely by Nat Cole and Mike Pacheco.

July 20, 1961

(Session #10200; 14:00-17:30) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood California

Nat Cole (vocal), Ralph Carmichael (leader - see notes), Alvino Rey (guitar), Joseph G. 'Joe' Comfort (bass), Lee Young (drums), Dale L. Anderson (percussion), Milton W Raskin (piano), Jack Cave (French horn), Vincent DeRosa (French horn), William Alfred 'Bill' Hinshaw (French horn), Richard E. 'Dick' Perissi (French horn), Gene Cipriano (reeds), Fred Falensby (reeds), Charles T. 'Chuck' Gentry (reeds), Arthur R. 'Skeets' Herfurt (reeds), Wilbur Schwartz (reeds), Kent Larson (trombone), George Mortimore Roberts (bass trombone), Thomas M. Shepard (trombone), Lloyd Ulyate (trombone), Bud Brisbois (trumpet), Donald A Fagerquist (trumpet), Cappy Lewis (trumpet), Clarence F. 'Shorty' Sherock (trumpet), Armand Kaproff (cello), Edgar 'Ed' Lustgarten (cello), Kurt Reher cello), Eleanor Aller Slatkin. cello), Kathryn M. Thompson (harp), Alvin Dinkin (viola), Allan Harshman (viola), Virginia Majewski (viola), Gareth D. 'Gary' Nuttycombe (viola), Victor Amo (violin), Emil F. Briano (violin), Harold Dicterow (violin), David 'Dave' Frisina (violin), Anatol Kaminsky (violin), Joseph 'Joe' Livoti (violin), Daniel 'Dan' Lube (violin), Rickey Marino (violin), William Miller (violin), Alexander 'Alex' Murray (violin), Louis 'Lou' Raderman (violin), Marshall Sosson (violin), Joseph Stepansky (violin), Gerald 'Jerry' Vinci (violin)

Note: Billy May, not Mr. Carmichael, conducted this re-recording of Walkin' My Baby Back Home, which uses his own original arrangement. Likewise Pete Rugolo may have conducted his arrangement of Lush Life.

November 20, 1961

(Session #10360; 13:00-17:30) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood California

Nat Cole (vocal / organ), Billy May (arranger / conductor), John Collins (guitar) Charles P. Harris (bass), Lee Young (drums), Emil Richards (percussion), James G 'Jimmy' Rowles (piano), Gene Cipriano (alto saxophone), Charles T. 'Chuck' Gentry (baritone saxophone), John 'Plas' Johnson, Jr. (tenor saxophone), Theodore M. 'Ted' Nash (tenor saxophone), Wilbur Schwartz (alto saxophone), Murray McEachern (trombone), William 'Bill' Schaefer (trombone), Thomas M. Shepard (trombone), Lloyd Ulyate (trombone), Frank F. Beach (trumpet), John M. Best (trumpet), Conrad Gozzo (trumpet), Reunald Jones (trumpet), George Sylvester 'Red' Callender (tuba), Verlye Mills (harp)

November 21, 1961

(Session #10362; 13:00-17:30) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood California

Nat Cole (vocal / organ), Billy May (arranger / conductor), John Collins (guitar), Charles P. Harris (bass), Lee Young (drums), Emil Richards (percussion), James G. 'Jimmy' Rowles (piano), William M 'Buddy' Collette (tenor saxophone), Charles T. 'Chuck' Gentry (baritone saxophone), Harry G. Klee (alto saxophone), John 'Plas' Johnson, Jr. (tenor saxophone), Wilbur Schwartz (alto saxophone), Milton G. Bernhart (trombone), Edward Kuczborski 'Ed' Kusby (trombone), William 'Bill' Schaefer (trombone), Lloyd Ulyate (trombone), John M. Best (trumpet), Conrad Gozzo (trumpet), Reunald Jones (trumpet), Uan Rasey (trumpet), George Sylvester 'Red' Callender (tuba), Verlye Mills (harp), Israel Baker (violin), Emil F, Briano (violin), Irv Klase (violin), Rickey Marino (violin), Emanuel Moss (violin), Isadore Roman (violin), Ambrose Russo (violin), Harry Zagon (violin)

November 22, 1961

(Session #10365; 13:30-16:30) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood California

Nat Cole (vocal / organ), Billy May (arranger / conductor), John Collins (guitar), Charles P. Harris (bass), Lee Young (drums), Emil Richards (percussion), James G. 'Jimmy' Rowles (piano), William M. 'Buddy' Collette (tenor saxophone), Charles T. 'Chuck' Gentry (baritone saxophone), John 'Plas' Johnson, Jr (tenor saxophone), Harry G Klee (alto saxophone), Theodore M. 'Ted' Nash (tenor saxophone), Edward Kuczborski 'Ed' Kusby (trombone), Pullmann Thomas 'Tommy' Pederson (trombone), William 'Bill' Schaefer (trombone), Thomas M. Shepard (trombone), John M. Best (trumpet), Conrad Gozzo (trumpet), Reunald Jones (trumpet), Vito Mangano (trumpet), Joe DiTullio (cello), Hyman Gold (cello), David L Pratt (cello), William Vandenburg (cello), Kathryn Julye (harp), Alvin Dinkin (viola), Allan Harshman (viola), Virginia Majewski (viola), Gareth D. 'Gary' Nuttycombe (viola), Victor Arno (violin), David 'Dave' Frisina (violin), Jacques 'Jack' Gasselin (violin), Joseph 'Joe' Livoti (violin), Rickey Marino (violin), Emanuel Moss (violin), Isadore Roman (violin), Marshall Sosson (violin), Gerald 'Jerry' Vinci (violin)

November 27, 1961

(Session #10369; 13:00-17:00) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street Hollywood California

Nat Cole (vocal), Ralph Carmichael (arranger / conductor) John Collins (guitar), Allan J. Reuss (guitar), Joseph G. 'Joe' Comfort (bass), Lee Young (drums), Julius Wechter (percussion), James G, 'Jimmy' Rowles (piano), Kent Larson (trombone), Dick Leith (trombone), Pullmann Thomas 'Tommy' Pederson (trombone), Thomas M. Shepard (trombone), Bud Brisbois (trumpet), Reunald Jones (trumpet), Cappy Lewis (trumpet), Justin DiTullio (cello), David L. Pratt (cello), Ann Mason Stockton (harp), Gareth D. 'Gary' Nuttycombe (viola), Paul Robyn (viola), Victor Arno (violin), Emil F. Briano (violin), David 'Dave' Frisina (violin), James Gelzoff (violin), Joseph 'Joe' Livoti (violin), Daniel 'Dan' Lube (violin), Rickey Marino (violin), Isadore Roman (violin), Paul C. Shure (violin), Gerald 'Jerry' Vinci (violin), Unidentified (vocal chorus)

December 19, 1961

(Session #10418; 13:00-17:00) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood California

Nat Cole (vocal), Ralph Carmichael (arranger / conductor), Alton 'AI' Hendrickson (guitar), Alfred McKibbon (bass), Meyer 'Mike' Rubin (arco bass), Shelly Manne (drums), Emil Richards (vibes), George Shearing (piano), Jesse Ehrlich (cello), Hyman Gold (cello), David L. Pratt (cello), William Vandenburg (cello), Cecil Figelski (viola), Allan Harshman (viola), Sven Reher (viola), Paul Robyn (viola), Victor Arno (violin), Israel Baker (violin), Emil F. Briano (violin), Jacques 'Jack' Gasselin (violin), James Gelzoff (violin), Daniel 'Dan' Lube (violin), Erno Neufeld (violin), Isadore Roman (violin), Paul C Shure (violin), Felix Slatkin (violin), Joseph Stepansky (violin), Gerald 'Jerry' Vinci (violin)

December 20, 1961

(Session #10426; 13:00-17:00) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood California

Nat Cole (vocal), Ralph Carmichael (arranger / conductor), Alton 'AI' Hendrickson (guitar), Alfred 'AI' McKibbon (bass), Shelly Manne (drums), Emil Richards (vibes), George Shearing (piano), Meyer 'Mike' Rubin (arco bass), Hyman Gold (cello), Armand Kaproff (cello), Eleanor Aller Slatkin (cello), William Vandenburg (cello), Joseph 'Joe' DiFiore (viola), Alvin Dinkin (viola), Allan Harshman (viola), Paul Robyn (viola), Victor Arno (violin), Emil F. Briano (violin), Jacques 'Jack' Gasselin (violin), James Getzoff (violin), Joseph 'Joe' Livoti (violin), Daniel 'Dan' Lube (violin), Erno Neufeld (violin), Isadore Roman (violin), Mischa Russell (violin), Felix Slatkin (violin), Joseph Stepansky (violin), Gerald 'Jerry' Vinci (violin)

December 21, 1961

(Session #10440; 13:00-17:30) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood California

Nat Cole (vocal), Ralph Carmichael (arranger / conductor), Alton 'AI' Hendrickson (guitar), Alfred McKibbon (bass), Shelly Manne (drums), Carlos Vidal (conga*), Nick Martines (percussion*), Louis R. Miranda (latin percussion*), Emil Richards (vibes), George Shearing (piano), Justin Gordon (reeds*), Paul Joseph Horn (reeds*), Wilbur Schwartz (reeds*), Lioyd Ulyate (trombone*), Meyer 'Mike' Rubin (arco bass), Hyman Gold (cello), Kurt Reher (cello), Eleanor Aller Slatkin (cello), William Vandenburg (cello), Joseph 'Joe' DiFiore (viola), Alvin Dinkin (viola), Allan Harshman (viola), Paul Robyn (viola), Victor Arno (violin), Israel Baker (violin), Emil F. Briano (violin), Harold Dicterow (violin), David 'Dave' Frisina (violin), Jacques 'Jack' Gasselin (violin), Emanuel Moss (violin), Erno Neufeld (violin), Isadore Roman (violin), Felix Slatkin (violin), Albert Steinberg (violin), Gerald 'Jerry' Vinci (violin)

December 22, 1961

(Session #10441 ; 13:00-16:30) Capitol Recording Studio, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood California

Nat Cole (vocal), Ralph Carmichael (arranger / conductor), Alton 'AI' Hendrickson (guitar), Alfred McKibbon (bass), Shelly Manne (drums), Emil Richards (vibes), George Shearing (piano), Meyer 'Mike' Rubin (arco bass), Hyman Gold (cello), Armand Kaproff (cello), Kurt Reher (cello), Eleanar Aller Slatkin (cello), Alvin Dinkin (viola), Allan Harshman (viola), Virginia Majewski (viola), Paul Rabyn (viola), Victor Arna (violin), Israel Baker (violin), Harold Dicterow (violin), David 'Dave' Frisino (violin), Jacques 'Jack' Gasselin (violin), James Getzoff (violin), Erno Neufeld (violin), Isadore Roman (violin), Felix Slatkin (violin), Albert Steinberg (violin), Gerald 'Jerry' Vinci (violin)