Sings for Two in Love (And More)

AMG Review of Sings for Two in Love (And More)

William Ruhlmann
All Music Guide

Nat King Cole Sings For Two In Love was Nat King Cole's first album to be specifically for the new 12-inch LP format. Like Frank Sinatra, with whom he shared a record company and a conductor, Nat King Cole made a thematic album with Sings for Two in Love, in this case a set of 12 romantic ballads. (The original version, released on a 10" LP in 1953, had only eight songs; four were added for this 1955 12" reissue.) But they aren't actually all for "two in love." There are songs for two who think "This Can't Be Love" or that it's "Almost Like Being In Love" or who tell each other "Let's Fall In Love." And then there are post-love songs -- "Autumn Leaves," "Dinner For One Please, James." If Cole really wants to sing for two in love, he's telling them good news and bad. Of course, his plaintive, undisturbed singing makes the happy and sad sentiments seem equally content, and Nelson Riddle's orchestrations consistently support the singer without challenging him or getting in his way. (The CD reissue contained three bonus tracks culled from the 1959 album To Whom It May Concern.)