Nat King Cole - Hittin' The Ramp: The Early Years (1936-1943)

Includes nearly 200 pre-Capitol Records tracks by Nat King Cole! Celebrating his centennial year!

Deluxe 10LP package is first collection produced in partnership with Cole estate

Pressed at RTI, inner gatefold sleeves

Includes booklet with interviews, notes by Johnny Mathis, Quincy Jones, Tony Bennett and others!

A rare comprehensive collection of Nat King Cole‘s pre-Capitol Records recordings released officially in partnership with the Cole estate. Hittin' the Ramp: The Early Years (1936-1943) celebrates the centennial of the birth of the world-renowned jazz pianist and singer with this rare collection of every recording Cole did before signing with Capitol Records in 1943.

The deluxe 10LP boxed set that includes an assortment of never-before-issued tracks, recordings seeing their first commercial releases, and miscellaneous rarities culled from a variety of sources including transcription discs and various private collector copies. Most of the collection tracks stem from 16-inch transcription discs; the producers also had access to a numer of original 1940s Armed Forces discs from World War II, plus Cinematone 12-inch Penny Phono jukebox discs.

Hittin' the Ramp boasts meticulous sound restoration throughout and includes a extensive booklet that includes rare photos, essays by acclaimed author Will Friedwald and guitarist Nick Rossi (on Oscar Moore), plus interviews and statements by icons Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Harry Belafonte, Quincy Jones, John Pizzarelli and many others.

Tracklisting 

Side 1A (A)

1. Honey Hush
2. Stompin’ at the Panama (Skoller’s Shuffle)
3. Bedtime (Sleepy Moan)
4. Thunder
5. Mutiny in the Nursery
6. F.D.R Jones
7. The Sheik of Araby
8. The Blue Danube
9. Button, Button

Side 1B (B)

1. Jingle Bells
2. Swannee River
3. With Plenty of Money and You
4. Don’t Blame Me
5. Lullaby in Rhythm
6. Dark Rapture
7. The Wiggly Walk
8. Flea Hop
9. Chopsticks
10. Patty Cake, Patty Cake

Side 2A (C)

1. Blue Skies
2. Liza
3. Three Blind Mice
4. Caravan
5. There’s no Anesthetic for Love
6. Dixie Jamboree
7. Ta-De-Ah
8. Riffin’ at the Bar-B-Q
9. Harlem Swing
10. I Lost Control of Myself

Side 2B (D)

1. The Land of Make Believe
2. That Please-be-Mine-able Feeling
3. Dancing in the Street
4. You’re So Different
5. I Wouldn’t Have Known It
6. Let’s Get Happy
7. Undecided
8. ‘Taint What You Do
9. Do You Wanna Jump, Children?
10. Riffin’ in F Minor

Side 3A (E)

1. Ol’ Man Mose Ain’t Dead
2. Blue Lou
3. Honey
4. Russian Lullaby
5. Georgie Porgie
6. The Limp
7. Snug as a Bug in a Rug
8. Liebestraum
9. Fidgety Joe

Side 3B (F)

1. Two Against One
2. Some Like it Hot
3. Crazy Rhythm
4. Moonglow
5. Don’t Let That Moon Get Away
6. My Blue Heaven
7. I Was Doing Alright
8. I Can’t Get Started
9. Old Man Moon
10. Carry Me Back to Old Virginny

Side 4A (G)

1. Moon Song
2. Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home
3. Rosetta
4. Trompin’
5. You’re My Life
6. Hoy Soy
7. Take ‘Em
8. Scategoria
9. Rhythm Serenade
10. Rib Town Shuffle

Side 4B (H)

1. Music’ll Chase Your Blues Away
2. I’ll Gather Up My Memories
3. A Fool’s Affair
4. Jump, Jack, Jump
5. I Knew a Time
6. Mine You’ll Always Be
7. Doin’ the Bow Wow
8. Lilla Mae

Side 5A (I)

1. I Like to Riff
2. On the Sunny Side of the Street
3. Black Spider Stomp
4. By the River St. Marie
5. Slew Foot Joe
6. 1-2-3-4
7. Crazy ‘Bout Rhythm
8. Off the Beam 
9. King Cole Blues
10. Jivin’ With the Notes 
11. Never Mind, Baby

Side 5B (J)

1. I’m a Perfect Fool Over You
2. Lovely Little Person
3. Love Me Sooner
4. Sentimental Blue
5. Goin’ to Town with Honey
6. Syncopated Lullaby
7. Falling in and Out of Love
8. Let’s Do Things
9. Jumpy Jitters
10. Nothing Ever Happens
11. What’cha Doin’ to My Heart

Side 6A (K)

1. Bedtime
2. Honey Hush
3. French Toast
4. Vine Street Jump
5. B Flat
6. You Send Me
7. Love is My Alibi
8. Pogo Stick Bounce
9. Whatcha’ Know, Joe?
10. Sweet Lorraine

Side 6B (L)

1. Honeysuckle Rose
2. Gone with the Draft
3. This Side Up
4. Jumpin’ with the Mop
5. Jam Man
6. Let’s Try Again
7. Fudge Wudge
8. Smokey Joe
9. Windy City Boogie Woogie
10. Ode to a Wild Clam

Side 7A (M)

1. Let’s Try Again
2. Whatcha’ Know, Joe?
3. Lazy River
4. Georgia on My Mind
5. Rockin Chair
6. A Little Jive is Good for You
7. You’ve Changed

Side 7B (N)

1. Babs
2. Scotchin’ with the Soda
3. Slow Down
4. Early Morning Blues
5. The Romany Room is Jumpin’
6. This Will Make You Laugh
7. Stop! The Red Light’s On
8. Hit the Ramp
9. I Like to Riff

Side 8A (O)

1. Call the Police
2. Are You Fer It?
3. That Ain’t Right
4. Hit That Jive, Jack
5. Indiana
6. I Can’t Get Started

Side 8B (P)

1. Tea for Two
2. Body and Soul
3. Vom, Vim, Veedle
4. All for You
5. Hip, Hip, Hooray
6. I Know That You Know
7. I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town

Side 9A (Q)

1. Pitchin’ Up a Boogie
2. I’m Lost
3. Beautiful Moons Ago
4. Let’s Spring One
5. Slender, Tender, and Tall
6. I’ve Found a New Baby
7. Rosetta

Side 9B (R)

1. Sweet Lorraine
2. I Blowed and Gone
3. Solid Potato Salad
4. F.S.T. (Fine, Sweet & Tasty)
5. Got a Penny
6. Let’s Pretend
7. My Lips Remember Your Kisses
8. I’m an Errand Boy for Rhythm
9. Straighten up and Fly Right

Side 10A (S)

1. Honey Hush
2. By the River St. Marie
3. I Like to Riff
4. Black Spider Stomp
5. Sweet Lorraine
6. Early Morning Blues
7. Gone with the Draft
8. Trompin’
9. Sweet Lorraine
10. Gone with the Draft

Side 10B (T)

1. Scotchin’ with the Soda
2. Gone with the Draft
3. The Romany Room is Jumpin’
4. Hit That Jive, Jack
5. Beautiful Moons Ago
6. Honeysuckle Rose
7. I Know That You Know
8. Solid Potato Salad
9. My Lips Remember Your Kisses
10. Straighten up and Fly Right