When the Nat “King” Cole Trio stepped into the newly formed Capitol Records Studios in Los Angeles, CA in 1943, they were the first artists signed for a label founded by composer/lyricist Johnny Mercer. The song on that November 30, 1943 session was composed by a young man named Bobby Troup who like Nat was a pianist/singer/composer. “Route 66" became a monster hit that year in spite of the ASCAP recording ban (only vocals were considered sufficient recording projects, hence this recording). This recording shows off the close knit group Nat had at that time and also serves as an example of just how much a great pianist he was at this time in his career: a fraction slower and more subdued and intellectual than Art Tatum but still full of enough refreshing ideas to make a world’s difference.
Posted on 04/10/2008
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My Trusted MOGs
Well, there is only ONE Art Tatum, but I certainly wouldn't hold that against Nat King Cole. He sounds wonderful. Thanks.
My Trusted MOGs
Am I understanding you correctly to say that, during this time, the heart of the big-band era, only recordings with vocals were being allowed by ASCAP? To be sure, the Millers, etc., of the world often featured vocalists, but were there not many purely-instrumental recordings during this ttime?
I forget whether or not I have ever heard Mr. Cole sing this rather-famous song, but he would seem quite right for it.
J. V.
My Trusted MOGs
JVaughan, The head of the musicians union at that time, James Caesaer Petrillo, had called for a ban on all recording of musicians until things were settled in the matter of royalties. After August 1942 until November 1944, the ban was in effect for all recording labels except those which had come to an agreement, Hence the Capitol label was the first to do and produced a few recordings shortly before the end of the ban. Unfortunately, this also was during World War 2 when the availability of shellac for making records was halted or to a certain degree halted. This was when Columbia Records came up with introducing a paper base in the recordings which resulted in mighty noisy discs. The way around recording was that vocalists like Frank Sinatra could record but only with a chorus baheind him, no instrumentalists. Thus Alec Wilder came up with some highly inventive scores. Hope this answers everyone! Yours, musikfriend