Released in partnership with the Nat King Cole estate, Resonance Records’ "Hittin’ The Ramp: The Early Years (1936-1943)" is the first large-scale collectionof the pivotal early recordings of Nat’s 29-year recording career. Most tracks are receiving their first official release in this meticulously restored set of original live-to-disk recordings. This definitive 7CD and limited-edition 10LP collection draws upon a wide range of sources, including many newly-discovered tracks unearthed for thefirst time from archives located all over the world, such as “Trompin” (jukeboxonly release for Cinematone, 1939), “What’cha Know Joe” (undocumentedradio performance, 1940 - now the earliest known recording of Nat “on the air”), “The Romany Room is Jumpin’” (private recording, 1941) and “Beautiful Moons Ago” (longer alternate take, 1943). Also boasting an extensive 60+ page booklet with rare photographs; essays by acclaimed 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.
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1. Honey Hush 2:52, 1936, Decca Master Take
2. Stompin' At the Panama (Skoller's Shuffle) 2:59, 1936, Decca
3. Bedtime (Sleepy Moan) 2:54, 1936, Decca Master Take
4. Thunder 1936, Decca Master Take
5. Mutiny In the Nursery 2:52, 1938, Standard Transcription
6. F.D.R. Jones 3:10, 1938, Standard Transcription
7. The Sheik of Araby 2:17, 1938, Standard Transcription
8. The Blue Danube 2:50, 1938, Standard Transcription
9. Button, Button 2:52, 1938, Standard Transcription
10. Jingle Bells 1938, Standard Transcription
11. Swanee River 1938, Standard Transcription
12. With Plenty of Money and You 2:15, 1938, Standard Transcript
13. Don't Blame Me 2:26, 1938, Standard Transcription
14. Lullaby In Rhythm 2:48, 1938, Standard Transcription
15. Dark Rapture 3:13, 1938, Standard Transcription
16. The Wiggly Walk 2:52, 1938, Standard Transcription
17. Flea Hop 2:43, 1938, Standard Transcription
18. Chopsticks 2:44, 1938, Standard Transcription
19. Patty Cake, Patty Cake 2:43, 1938, Standard Transcription
20. Blue Skies 2:09, 1938, Standard Transcription
21. Liza 2:58, 1938, Standard Transcription
22. Three Blind Mice 2:08, 1938, Standard Transcription
23. Caravan 2:17, 1938, Standard Transcription
24. There's No Anesthetic For Love 3:15, 1939, Davis & Schwegler
25. Dixie Jamboree 3:04, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcription
26. Ta-De-Ah 2:39, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcription
27. Riffin' At the Bar-B-Q 2:05, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcr
28. Harlem Swing 2:30, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcription
29. I Lost Control of Myself 3:16, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Trans
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1. The Land of Make Believe 2:52, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Trans
2. That Please-Be-Mine-Able Feeling 2:15, 1939, Davis & Schwegl
3. Dancing In the Street 3:09, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcri
4. You're So Different 3:02, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcript
5. I Wouldn't Have Known It 2:33, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Trans
6. Let's Get Happy 2:18, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcription
7. Undecided 2:26, 1939, Standard Transcription
8. 'Taint What You Do 2:53, 1939, Standard Transcription
9. Do You Wanna Jump, Children? 2:46, 1939, Standard Transcript
10. Riffin' In F Minor 2:06, 1939, Standard Transcription
11. Ol' Man Mose Ain't Dead 3:30, 1939, Standard Transcription
12. Blue Lou 3:01, 1939, Standard Transcription
13. Honey 2:11, 1939, Standard Transcription
14. Russian Lullaby 2:07, 1939, Standard Transcription
15. Georgie Porgie 2:23, 1939, Standard Transcription
16. The Limp 2:52, 1939, Standard Transcription
17. Snug As a Bug In a Rug 2:35, 1939, Standard Transcription
18. Liebestraum 3:23, 1939, Standard Transcription
19. Fidgety Joe 2:57, 1939, Standard Transcription
20. Two Against One 3:00, 1939, Standard Transcription
21. Some Like It Hot 3:09, 1939, Standard Transcription
22. Crazy Rhythm 2:00, 1939, Standard Transcription
23. Moonglow 2:57, 1939, Standard Transcription
24. Don't Let That Moon Get Away 2:45, 1939, Standard Transcript
25. My Blue Heaven 1:36, 1939, Standard Transcription
26. I Was Doing Alright 2:17, 1939, Standard Transcription
27. I Can't Get Started 2:41, 1939, Standard Transcription
28. Old Man Moon 2:16, 1939, Standard Transcription
29. Carry Me Back To Old Virginny 2:14, 1939, Standard Transcrip
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1. Moon Song 3:09; 1939, Standard Transcription
2. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home 2:20, 1939, Standard Transc
3. Rosetta 2:11; 1939, Standard Transcription
4. Trompin' 2:46, 1939, Standard Transcription
5. You're My Life 2:54, 1939, Standard Transcription
6. Hoy Soy 2:33, 1939, Standard Transcription
7. Take 'Em 2:24, 1939, Standard Transcription
8. Scategoria 2:32, 1939, Standard Transcription
9. Rhythm Serenade 2:35, 1939, Standard Transcription
10. Rib Town Shuffle 2:46, 1939, Standard Transcription
11. Music'll Chase Your Blues Away 2:01, 1939, Standard Transcri
12. I'll Gather Up My Memories 3:34, 1939, Standard Transcriptio
13. A Fool's Affair 3:34, 1939, Standard Transcription
14. Jump, Jack, Jump 2:47, 1939, Standard Transcription
15. I Knew a Time 3:05, 1939, Standard Transcription
16. Mine You'll Always Be 3:19, 1939, Standard Transcription
17. Doin' the Bow Wow 2:44, 1939, Standard Transcription
18. Lilla Mae 2:18, 1939, Standard Transcription
19. I Like To Riff 2:49, 1940, Ammo, Master Take
20. On the Sunny Side of the Street 2:55, 1940, Ammor Master Tak
21. Black Spider Stomp 2:40, 1940, Ammor Master Take
22. By the River St. Marie 2:25, 1940, Ammor Master Take
23. Slew Foot Joe 2:14, 1940, Standard Transcription
24. 1-2-3-4 2:09, 1940, Standard Transcription
25. Crazy 'Bout Rhythm 2:04, 1940, Standard Transcription
26. Off the Beam 2:18, 1940, Standard Transcription
27. King Cole Blues 2:07, 1940, Standard Transcription
28. Jivin' With the Notes 2:01, 1940, Standard Transcription
29. Never Mind, Baby 1:45, 1940, Keystone Transcription
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1. I'm a Perfect Fool Over You 2:38, 1940, Keystone Transcripti
2. Lovely Little Person 2:23, 1940, Keystone Transcription
3. Love Me Sooner 2:32, 1940, Keystone Transcription
4. Sentimental Blue 2:44, 1940, Keystone Transcription
5. Goin' To Town With Honey 2:21, 1940, Keystone Transcription