Nat "King" Cole

Nat King Cole

Early recordings on shellac discs document the beginnings of Nat King Cole as a solo artist and as the bandleader of the famous trio. Rare 78 rpm editions from the 1940s and 1950s are of particular interest to collectors of historical jazz and pop recordings. These tracks were often released in parallel in different language versions or with alternative B-sides.

Nat King Cole collector’s items & pressings

Shellac records by Nat King Cole from the post-war period often appear as 10-inch 78 rpm editions with distinctive labels from American and European licensees. In addition to English-language tracks, there are also French and Spanish versions, specifically produced for the international market. The surviving copies often show different matrix numbers and label designs, which is what makes these pressings appealing to collectors.

Nat King Cole rarities – what collectors should know

With When I fall in love/ Calpyso blues (Schellack), Stardust/ Love letters (Schellack) and Darling je vous aime beaucoup/ The sand and sea Schellack 78 rpm (Schellack), several rare shellac rarities are currently available that are relevant for documenting Cole’s repertoire on historical sound carriers.

For collectors, these early shellac editions offer an authentic insight into the diversity of releases and label history of Nat King Cole.

• Genre: Jazz, Pop
• Origin: USA
• Active: 1940s to 1960s
• Notable: Releases also in several language versions