Wild Is Love – NAT KING COLE****

Introduction/Wild Is Love/Hundreds & Thousands Of Girls/It’s A Beautiful Evening/Tell Her In The Morning/Are You Disenchanted/Pick Up/Beggar For The Blues/World Of No Return/In Love Again/Stay With It/Wouldn’t You Know

Wild Is Love was an unusual concept album from Nat King Cole, featuring all new material about love and relationships. The gamble paid off as it achieved a high US album chart placing, even without the aid of an accompanying single. (US:4)

“This is a concept album on the subject of finding, and holding on to, love from a urban hipster's perspective. Cole is the suave bachelor narrating this journey through Hundreds & Thousands Of Girls that will, ultimately, end with the playboy opting out of the swinging life for 'the one'. Excellent vocals from the master of smooth and you can't go wrong with arrangements by the incomparable Nelson Riddle, whose orchestra ably assists in setting the perfect cosmopolitan backdrop for each song. I recommend this to anyone looking for romantic trip with one of the best tour-guides in the business.”

“Cole's last project with Riddle is an interesting one. It did not yield any hits. This may be because of the unique way this album is presented. It is a theme album, not a collection of standards, but original songs. It has Nat narrating throughout, and the songs relate to each other. It's an enjoyable album, in the fact that Nat was not afraid to experiment with new ideas. Nat fans should give this album a try.”

“Issuing an album of all new music was nearly unheard of at the time and to issue one written as a complete project equally unusual. Capitol had no idea what to expect but the album was a hit and got big radio play. Nelson Riddle's arrangements deserve much credit; he was at his zenith here.”

“This is a wonderful example of how great the 60s music business was, with superb orchestration by the awesome Nelson Riddle. The premise behind the record tells a story of love/heartache/new love and all points in between, told and sung by one of the premier voices of the era.”

“Capitol Records presented Wild Is Love, featuring an original production with music by Ray Rasch and lyrics by Dotty Wayne and the voice of Nat King Cole, with chorus, orchestration and conducted by Nelson Riddle. It is truly a masterpiece.”