Hittin’ The Ramp: The Early Years (1936–1943)

~ Release by Nat King Cole (see all versions of this release, 2 available)

Annotation

The digital version consists of 150 tracks. Both CD and LP box sets contain 183 tracks.

Recordings from 1936-1943. "Most tracks are receiving their first official release in this restored set of original live-to-disk recordings."

"14-page insert with rare photographs; essays by author Will Friedwald and guitarist Nick Rossi (with a special focus on Oscar Moore); plus interviews and testimonials from Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, John Pizzarelli, Freddy Cole, Michael Feinstein and many others."

"New remastering from original source disks transferred for this set from a number of personal collections and from the archives at University of California - Santa Barbara, The Institute for Jazz Studies at Rutgers University, the CU Boulder American Music Research Center, and the Library of Congress."

Tracklist

1Digital Media
#TitleLength

This medium has too many tracks to load at once, so it’s been paginated.

1Mutiny in the Nursery (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-10)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-10)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-10)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-10)
recording of:
Mutiny in the Nursery (in 1938-10)
lyricist:
Johnny Mercer
composer:
Harry Warren
2:53
2F.D.R. Jones (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-10)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-10)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-10)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-10)
recording of:
F.D.R. Jones (in 1938-10)
lyricist and composer:
Harold Rome
3:11
3The Sheik of Araby (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-10)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-10)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-10)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-10)
recording of:
The Sheik of Araby (in 1938-10)
lyricist:
Harry B. Smith (in 1921) and Francis Wheeler (in 1921)
composer:
Ted Snyder (in 1921)
publisher:
Jerry Vogel Music, Mills Music, Inc., Redwood Music and Salabert
2:18
4The Blue Danube (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-10)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-10)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-10)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-10)
recording of:
The Blue Danube (Spike Jones version) (in 1938-10)
lyricist:
Sol Meyer
composer:
Johann Strauss
arranger:
Spike Jones and Del Porter
is based on:
An der schönen blauen Donau, op. 314 (On the Beautiful Blue Danube, op. 314)
2:51
5Button, Button (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-10)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-10)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-10)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-10)
2:53
6Jingle Bells (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-10)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-10)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-10)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-10)
vocals:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-10)
recording of:
Jingle Bells (in 1938-10)
lyricist and composer:
James Lord Pierpont (in 1850)
publisher:
Warner Chappell Music Ltd.
composed at and lyrics written at:
Simpson Tavern in Medford, Massachusetts, United States (in 1850)
2:35
7Swannee River (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-10)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-10)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-10)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-10)
recording of:
Swanee River Boogie (in 1938-10)
composer:
Stephen Foster
is based on:
Old Folks at Home (Swanee River)
2:28
8With Plenty of Money and You (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-10)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-10)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-10)
instrumental recording of:
With Plenty of Money and You (in 1938-10)
lyricist:
Al Dubin
composer:
Harry Warren
part of:
42nd Street (full musical)
2:16
9Don’t Blame Me (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-10)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-10)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-10)
instrumental recording of:
Don’t Blame Me (in 1938-10)
lyricist:
Dorothy Fields
composer:
Jimmy McHugh
publisher:
EMI Robbins Catalog Inc. and Ireneadele Publishing
recording of:
Don’t Blame Me
lyricist:
Dorothy Fields
composer:
Jimmy McHugh
publisher:
EMI Robbins Catalog Inc. and Ireneadele Publishing
2:26
10Lullaby in Rhythm (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-10)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-10)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-10)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-10)
recording of:
Lullaby in Rhythm (in 1938-10)
lyricist:
Walter Hirsch (in 1938)
composer:
Benny Goodman (in 1938), Clarence Profit (in 1938) and Edgar Sampson (in 1938)
2:48
11Dark Rapture (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-10)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-10)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-10)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-10)
vocals:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-10)
recording of:
Dark Rapture (in 1938-10)
writer:
Benny Goodman, Manny Kurtz and Edgar Sampson
3:13
12The Wiggly Walk (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-11)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-11)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-11)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-11)
vocals:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-11)
2:54
13Flea Hop (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-11)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-11)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-11)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-11)
2:44
14Chopsticks (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-11)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-11)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-11)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-11)
2:45
15Patty Cake, Patty Cake (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-11)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-11)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-11)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-11)
recording of:
Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-Cake, Baker’s Man (in 1938-11)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional]
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 6486)
2:44
16Blue Skies (1938, standard transcription)2:10
17Liza (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-11)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-11)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-11)
instrumental recording of:
Liza (All the Clouds’ll Roll Away) (in 1938-11)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and Gus Khan
composer:
George Gershwin
publisher:
New World Music Corp. (in 1929)
part of:
An American in Paris (2015 Broadway musical)
2:59
18Three Blind Mice (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-11)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-11)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-11)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1938-11)
recording of:
Three Blind Mice (in 1938-11)
writer:
[traditional] and Thomas Ravenscroft (in 1609)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 3753)
2:09
19Caravan (1938, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1938-11)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1938-11)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1938-11)
instrumental recording of:
Caravan (in 1938-11)
lyricist:
Irving Mills (in 1937)
composer:
Duke Ellington (in 1936) and Juan Tizol (in 1936)
publisher:
American Academy of Music, Inc., Duke Ellington Music, EMI Mills Music Inc., Famous Music Corporation, Mills Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Harmony and Lafleur Music Ltd. (from 1995-12-12 to present)
2:17
20There’s no Anesthetic for Love (1939, Davis & Schwegler transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (on 1939-01-14)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (on 1939-01-14)
piano:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (on 1939-01-14)
3:13
21Dixie Jamboree (1939, Davis & Schwegler transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (on 1939-01-14)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (on 1939-01-14)
piano:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (on 1939-01-14)
3:05
22Ta-De-Ah (1939, Davis & Schwegler transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (on 1939-01-14)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (on 1939-01-14)
piano:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (on 1939-01-14)
2:40
23Riffin’ at the Bar-B-Q (1939, Davis & Schwegler transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (on 1939-01-14)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (on 1939-01-14)
piano:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (on 1939-01-14)
2:05
24Harlem Swing (1939, Davis & Schwegler transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (on 1939-01-14)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (on 1939-01-14)
piano:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (on 1939-01-14)
vocals:
Bonnie Lake (on 1939-01-14)
2:31
25I Lost Control of Myself (1939, Davis & Schwegler transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (on 1939-01-14)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (on 1939-01-14)
piano:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (on 1939-01-14)
vocals:
Bonnie Lake (on 1939-01-14)
3:16
26The Land of Make Believe (1939, Davis & Schwegler transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (on 1939-01-14)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (on 1939-01-14)
piano:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
vocals:
Bonnie Lake (on 1939-01-14)
2:53
27That Please-be-Mine-able Feeling (1939, Davis & Schwegler transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (on 1939-01-14)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (on 1939-01-14)
piano:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
vocals:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
2:16
28Dancing in the Street (1939, Davis & Schwegler transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (on 1939-01-14)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (on 1939-01-14)
piano:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
vocals:
Juanelda Carter (on 1939-01-14) and Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
3:10
29You’re So Different (1939, Davis & Schwegler transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (on 1939-01-14)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (on 1939-01-14)
piano:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
vocals:
Juanelda Carter (on 1939-01-14)
recording of:
You’re So Different (on 1939-01-14)
lyricist:
Mitchell Parish
composer:
Sammy Fain
3:03
30I Wouldn’t Have Known It (1939, Davis & Schwegler transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (on 1939-01-14)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (on 1939-01-14)
piano:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
vocals:
Juanelda Carter (on 1939-01-14)
2:34
31Let’s Get Happy (1939, Davis & Schwegler transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (on 1939-01-14)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (on 1939-01-14)
piano:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (on 1939-01-14)
vocals:
Nat King Cole (on 1939-01-14)
2:19
32Undecided (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-02)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-02)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-02)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1939-02)
recording of:
Undecided (in 1939-02)
lyricist:
Sid Robin (in 1938)
composer:
Charlie Shavers (in 1938)
2:26
33‘Taint What You Do (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-02)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-02)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-02)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1939-02)
recording of:
It Ain’t What You Do (It’s the Way That You Do It) (in 1939-02)
writer:
Sy Oliver and Trummy Young
2:54
34Do You Wanna Jump, Children? (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-02)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-02)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-02)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1939-02)
recording of:
Do You Wanna Jump, Children? (in 1939-02)
writer:
Willie Bryant, Victor Selsman and Jimmy Van Heusen
2:47
35Riffin’ in F Minor (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-02)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-02)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-02)
2:07
36Ol’ Man Mose Ain’t Dead (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-02)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-02)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-02)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1939-02)
vocals:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-02)
3:30
37Blue Lou (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-02)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-02)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-02)
recording of:
Blue Lou (in 1939-02)
composer:
Irving Mills and Edgar Sampson
3:01
38Honey (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-02)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-02)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-02)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1939-02)
vocals:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-02)
recording of:
Honey (in 1939-02)
lyricist:
Haven Gillespie and Seymour Simons
composer:
Richard A. Whiting
2:11
39Russian Lullaby (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-02)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-02)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-02)
instrumental recording of:
Russian Lullaby (in 1939-02)
lyricist and composer:
Irving Berlin
2:08
40Georgie Porgie (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1939-04)
recording of:
Georgie Porgie (nursery rhyme) (in 1939-04)
additional lyricist and additional composer:
Tony Atkins, Mark Bradley, Bill Nabb and Terry Wilson
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 19532)
2:24
41The Limp (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
2:53
42Snug as a Bug in a Rug (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1939-04)
2:35
43Liebestraum (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
3:23
44Fidgety Joe (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1939-04)
vocals:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
2:57
45Two Against One (1939, standard transcription)
celesta:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
3:00
46Some Like it Hot (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
choir vocals:
The Nat King Cole Trio (in 1939-04)
3:10
47Crazy Rhythm (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
recording of:
Crazy Rhythm (in 1939-04)
lyricist:
Irving Caesar
composer:
Roger Wolfe Kahn and Joseph Meyer
2:01
48Moonglow (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
recording of:
Moonglow (in 1939-04)
lyricist:
Eddie DeLange
composer:
Will Hudson and Irving Mills
2:57
49Don’t Let That Moon Get Away (1939, standard transcription)
celesta:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
vocals:
Pauline Byrns (in 1939-04)
recording of:
Don't Let That Moon Get Away (in 1939-04)
lyricist:
Johnny Burke
composer:
Jimmy Monaco
publisher:
Famous Music Corp.
2:46
50My Blue Heaven (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
vocals:
Pauline Byrns (in 1939-04)
recording of:
My Blue Heaven (in 1939-04)
lyricist:
George A. Whiting (in 1924)
composer:
Walter Donaldson (in 1924)
publisher:
Leo Feist, Inc.
composed at:
New York Friars Club in New York, New York, United States (in 1924)
1:36
51I Was Doing All Right (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
recording of:
I Was Doing All Right (in 1939-04)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin (in 1937)
composer:
George Gershwin (in 1937)
publisher:
Gershwin Publishing Corp (in 1938)
part of:
The Goldwyn Follies
2:17
52I Can’t Get Started (1939, standard transcription)2:42
53Old Man Moon (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
vocals:
Pauline Byrns (in 1939-04)
recording of:
Old Man Moon (in 1939-04)
writer:
Hoagy Carmichael
2:16
54Carry Me Back to Old Virginny (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-04)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-04)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-04)
recording of:
Carry Me Back to Old Virginny (in 1939-04)
composer:
James A. Bland
2:14
55Moon Song (1939, standard transcription)
double bass:
Wesley Prince (in 1939-05)
guitar:
Oscar Moore (in 1939-05)
piano:
Nat King Cole (in 1939-05)
3:10
56Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home (1939, standard transcription)2:20
57Rosetta (1939, standard transcription)
2:11
58Trompin’ (1939, standard transcription)
2:46
59You’re My Life (1939, standard transcription)
2:55
60Hoy Soy (1939, standard transcription)
2:34
61Take ‘Em (1939, standard transcription)
2:25
62Scategoria (1939, standard transcription)
2:32
63Rhythm Serenade (1939, standard transcription)
2:36
64Rib Town Shuffle (1939, standard transcription)
2:46
65Music’ll Chase Your Blues Away (1939, standard transcription)
2:02
66I’ll Gather Up My Memories (1939, standard transcription)
3:34
67A Fool’s Affair (1939, standard transcription)
3:35
68Jump, Jack, Jump (1939, standard transcription)
2:47
69I Knew a Time (1939, standard transcription)
3:06
70Mine You’ll Always Be (1939, standard transcription)
3:18
71Doin’ the Bow Wow (1939, standard transcription)
2:44
72Lilla Mae (1939, standard transcription)
2:19
73I Like to Riff (1940, Ammo, master take)
2:50
74On the Sunny Side of the Street (1940, Ammo, master take)
2:56
75Black Spider Stomp (1940, Ammo, master take)
2:40
76By the River St. Marie (1940, Ammo, master take)
2:26
77Slew Foot Joe (1940, standard transcription)
2:15
781-2-3-4 (1940, standard transcription)
2:09
79Crazy ‘Bout Rhythm (1940, standard transcription)
2:05
80Off the Beam (1940, standard transcription)
2:18
81King Cole Blues (1940, standard transcription)
2:07
82Jivin’ With the Notes (1940, standard transcription)
2:02
83Never Mind, Baby (1940, Keystone transcription)
1:46
84I’m a Perfect Fool Over You (1940, Keystone transcription)
2:38
85Lovely Little Person (1940, Keystone transcription)
2:24
86Love Me Sooner (1940, Keystone transcription)
2:32
87Sentimental Blue (1940, Keystone transcription)
2:47
88Goin’ to Town with Honey (1940, Keystone transcription)
2:24
89Syncopated Lullaby (1940, Keystone transcription)
1:52
90Falling in and Out of Love (1940, Keystone transcription)
1:51
91Let’s Do Things (1940, Keystone transcription)
2:04
92Jumpy Jitters (1940, Keystone transcription)
1:51
93Nothing Ever Happens (1940, Keystone transcription)
2:39
94What’cha Doin’ to My Heart (1940, Keystone transcription)
1:36
95Bedtime (1940, standard transcription)
2:44
96Honey Hush (1940, standard transcription)
recording of:
Honey Hush ("Now talkin' 'bout that Sadie Green...")
lyricist and composer:
Nat King Cole
2:19
97French Toast (1940, standard transcription)
2:17
98Vine Street Jump (1940, standard transcription)
2:43
99B Flat (1940, standard transcription)
2:32
100You Send Me (1940, standard transcription)
2:11
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