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
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1. Blue Skies 2:09, 1938, Standard Transcription
2. Liza 2:58, 1938, Standard Transcription
3. Three Blind Mice 2:08, 1938, Standard Transcription
4. Caravan 2:17, 1938, Standard Transcription
5. There's No Anesthetic For Love 3:15, 1939, Davis & Schwegler
6. Dixie Jamboree 3:04, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcription
7. Ta-De-Ah 2:39, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcription
8. Riffin' At the Bar-B-Q 2:05, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcr
9. Harlem Swing 2:30, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcription
10. I Lost Control of Myself 3:16, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Trans
11. The Land of Make Believe 2:52, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Trans
12. That Please-Be-Mine-Able Feeling 2:15, 1939, Davis & Schwegl
13. Dancing In the Street 3:09, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcri
14. You're So Different 3:02, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcript
15. I Wouldn't Have Known It 2:33, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Trans
16. Let's Get Happy 2:18, 1939, Davis & Schwegler Transcription
17. Undecided 2:26, 1939, Standard Transcription
18. 'Taint What You Do 2:53, 1939, Standard Transcription
19. Do You Wanna Jump, Children? 2:46, 1939, Standard Transcript
20. Riffin' In F Minor 2:06, 1939, Standard Transcription
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1. Ol' Man Mose Ain't Dead 3:30, 1939, Standard Transcription
2. Blue Lou 3:01, 1939, Standard Transcription
3. Honey 2:11, 1939, Standard Transcription
4. Russian Lullaby 2:07, 1939, Standard Transcription
5. Georgie Porgie 2:23, 1939, Standard Transcription
6. The Limp 2:52, 1939, Standard Transcription
7. Snug As a Bug In a Rug 2:35, 1939, Standard Transcription
8. Liebestraum 3:23, 1939, Standard Transcription
9. Fidgety Joe 2:57, 1939, Standard Transcription
10. Two Against One 3:00, 1939, Standard Transcription
11. Some Like It Hot 3:09, 1939, Standard Transcription
12. Crazy Rhythm 2:00, 1939, Standard Transcription
13. Moonglow 2:57, 1939, Standard Transcription
14. Don't Let That Moon Get Away 2:45, 1939, Standard Transcript
15. My Blue Heaven 1:36, 1939, Standard Transcription
16. I Was Doing Alright 2:17, 1939, Standard Transcription
17. I Can't Get Started 2:41, 1939, Standard Transcription
18. Old Man Moon 2:16, 1939, Standard Transcription
19. 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
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1. I Like To Riff 2:49, 1940, Ammo, Master Take
2. On the Sunny Side of the Street 2:55, 1940, Ammor Master Tak
3. Black Spider Stomp 2:40, 1940, Ammor Master Take
4. By the River St. Marie 2:25, 1940, Ammor Master Take
5. Slew Foot Joe 2:14, 1940, Standard Transcription
6. 1-2-3-4 2:09, 1940, Standard Transcription
7. Crazy 'Bout Rhythm 2:04, 1940, Standard Transcription
8. Off the Beam 2:18, 1940, Standard Transcription
9. King Cole Blues 2:07, 1940, Standard Transcription
10. Jivin' With the Notes 2:01, 1940, Standard Transcription
11. Never Mind, Baby 1:45, 1940, Keystone Transcription
12. I'm a Perfect Fool Over You 2:38, 1940, Keystone Transcripti
13. Lovely Little Person 2:23, 1940, Keystone Transcription
14. Love Me Sooner 2:32, 1940, Keystone Transcription
15. Sentimental Blue 2:44, 1940, Keystone Transcription
16. Goin' To Town With Honey 2:21, 1940, Keystone Transcription