Nat King Cole – Love Is The Thing (1957/2010) [AcousticSounds DSF DSD64/2.82MHz]

Nat King Cole – Love Is The Thing (1957/2010)
DSD64 (.dsf) 1 bit/2,82 MHz | Time – 01:12:45 minutes | 2,87 GB | Genre: Jazz
Official Digital Download – Source: AcousticSounds | Booklet, Front Cover | © Capitol Records/Analogue Productions XAPP824D64
Recorded: December 19, 28, 1956 at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California

This has been a totally no-expenses-spared project. Using the original 3-track work tapes from Capitol’s vaults, mastering engineers Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman along with DSD specialist Gus Skinas bring you an entirely incomparable experience. In addition to the stereo mixes, this DSD includes a 3-track transfer for multichannel playback and the original mono mix taken from separate microphone feeds, mixing consoles and tape machines at the original sessions. In order to master from the 3-track masters, AcousTech had to be outfitted for 3-channel playback. That meant Kevin Gray had to find a third identical monitoring channel chain (including mixing board, amplifier and speaker) as well as a 3-track playback headstack and also a 3-track preview head for the vinyl cutting system. It was a massive assignment. We’ve spent a fortune to include these extra bells and whistles and to make this a truly historic reissue.

Love is the theme for 12 ballads of heavenly strings orchestrated by the distinctive Gordon Jenkins, sympathetically backing the intimately expressive and supremely musical voice of the incomparable Nat “King” Cole. Featuring such legendary classics as “Stardust” and “When I Fall In Love,” this album topped the charts upon its release, is among its era’s finest, most stylistically defining recordings of popular music and continues to enchant listeners to this day.

Love Is The Thing was recorded in finely polished monaural and more minimalistic 3-channel stereophonic versions, each with dedicated microphones, console, mix and recorders. Each offers a different sonic perspective. The monaural recording was heard on the original hit records while the stereophonic recording offers the potential for a stunning wide-range realism. Using the original first generation full-track mono and 3-track session tapes from Capitol’s vaults and custom headstacks, console and monitoring chain installed at AcousTech specially for these releases, mastering engineers Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman along with DSD specialist Gus Skinas bring you an entirely incomparable experience.

Nat King Cole’s collaborations with Gordon Jenkins rank among the finest from either artist or arranger. Cole’s first stereophonic long player, 1957’s Love Is the Thing remains the epitome of the pair’s undeniable compatibility, and it topped the album charts for eight weeks. The opener “When I Fall in Love” is considered by many to be nothing short of definitive; the restrained orchestration perfectly adapts to the singer’s verdant vocals. Similarly, “Stardust” sparkles as a flawless musical alliance is formed with Cole’s warm and inviting narrative weaving over Jenkins’ intimate score. Simply stated, both songs are unmitigated masterworks — and we’re only two cuts into the dozen-song LP. Another key to the project’s success is Jenkins ability to reign in just enough instrumentation to support Cole’s uniformly restrained leads. Examples abound throughout, with “Stay as Sweet as You Are,” “At Last,” and the rural sophistication of “When Sunny Gets Blue.” The heartfelt “Love Letters” and even the comparatively light “Ain’t Misbehavin’” incorporate a sonic synergy as the airy string section glides between Cole’s line by line phrasing. Also worth mentioning is the Jenkins original “I Thought About Marie,” as it sits comfortably beside some of the most time-honored tunes in 20th century popular music. -AllMusic Review by Lindsay Planer

Tracklist:

Stereo
1 When I Fall In Love 3:11
2 Stardust 3:17
3 Stay As Sweet As You Are 3:00
4 Where Can I Go Without You? 2:56
5 Maybe It’s Because I Love You Too Much (Mono) 2:53
6 Love Letters(Mono) 2:47
7 Ain’t Misbehavin’ 3:19
8 I Thought About Marie 3:07
9 At Last 3:01
10 It’s All In The Game 3:09
11 When Sunny Gets Blue 2:48
12 Love Is The Thing 3:09

Mono
1 When I Fall In Love 3:11
2 Stardust 3:17
3 Stay As Sweet As You Are 3:00
4 Where Can I Go Without You? 2:56
5 Maybe It’s Because I Love You Too Much 2:53
6 Love Letters 2:47
7 Ain’t Misbehavin’ 3:19
8 I Thought About Marie 3:07
9 At Last 3:01
10 It’s All In The Game 3:09
11 When Sunny Gets Blue 2:48
12 Love Is The Thing 3:09

Personnel:
Nat King Cole, vocals
Gordon Jenkins, arranger, conductor

Download:

mqs.link_NatKingCleLveIsTheThing19572010AcusticSundsDSD64.part1.rar
mqs.link_NatKingCleLveIsTheThing19572010AcusticSundsDSD64.part2.rar
mqs.link_NatKingCleLveIsTheThing19572010AcusticSundsDSD64.part3.rar
mqs.link_NatKingCleLveIsTheThing19572010AcusticSundsDSD64.part4.rar