NAT KING COLE/BALLADS OF THE DAY T 680 (-56) UK MONO

Sleeve notes are made to sell the records and then often embellished or even slightly untrue, but when this say "romantic voice" it's rather an understatement since the preface could be - the most romantic voice ever - and not many would argue with that. A perfectly composed baryton, warm, sincere and almost tangible if conveyed by appropriate gear. Here with amatory backing by Nelson Riddle and his orchestra and big dreamy background quires. So evenly balanced and beautiful it's hard to pick one track before the others, but the version of "Smile" here can wet your eyes if the mood is right. A record to be embraced by, overflowingly sentimental but also comforting if that's what you need. First issued on Capitol as a ten inch ten track in US and UK early fifties. Here's the UK version of the US twelve track emerging 1956. Not 100% sure about the time line for this copy, but as the UK label design changed to "rainbow rim" 1959, it has to be sometimes 1956-58. It came on heavy vinyl, folded in a thin fully laminated cover with crescent flips and "take good care of your records" inner. (MÖRS*)