Nat King Cole’s 1956 album After Midnight will receive an expanded 70th anniversary vinyl reissue on November 13 through Blue Note’s Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Series. Titled After Midnight: The Complete Sessions, the two-LP set compiles recordings from four session dates at Capitol Studios held in August and September of 1956.
The album features Cole on vocals and piano alongside his trio consisting of guitarist John Collins, bassist Charlie Harris, and drummer Lee Young. The sessions also feature guest soloists Willie Smith on alto saxophone, Harry “Sweets” Edison on trumpet, Stuff Smith on violin, Juan Tizol on valve trombone, and Jack Costanza on percussion.
Produced for release by Joe Harley, the new edition was mastered by Kevin Gray directly from the original analog phono reels. The set is pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. and comes in a gatefold tip-on jacket.
The physical packaging includes a booklet with archival photos and an essay by writer Will Friedwald, author of the biography Straighten Up And Fly Right. The album tracklist spans four sides and includes songs such as “Sweet Lorraine,” “Caravan,” “It’s Only A Paper Moon,” and “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66,” along with an alternate take of “You’re Looking At Me.”
Cole recorded nearly 40 albums and more than 150 chart singles throughout his career, selling over 50 million copies. He was also the first Black man to host a national television program, The Nat King Cole Show, and appeared in films including St. Louis Blues and Cat Ballou.
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