Record #0153: Ramblin’ Rose / The Good Times – NAT KING COLE

Capitol 4804 (original) USA, Jul. 1962
Words & Music by:  Side A – Joe Sherman, Noel Sherman; Side B – Ron Miller, Lee Porter
Musicians:  Nat King Cole (vocals), René Hall (guitar), Alton Hendrickson (guitar), Billy Strange (guitar), James “Jimmy” Bond (bass), Earl Palmer (drums), Milton Raskin (piano), Frank Carlson (percussion) and strings & chorus conducted by Belford Hendricks
Recording sessions:  Produced by Lee Gillette at Capitol Recording Studio, Hollywood, CA, Jun. 19, 1962
Highest chart positions: US #2, US R&B #7, US Adult Contemporary #1, UK #5

Whew, what a bunch of musicians Cole got to play in this one!  Earl Palmer, too! :)

 
There’s just one thing that bugs me here and it’s the chorus on side A  … oh why, oh why? That’s one huge minus for Lee Gillette. Nevertheless, Cole had a huge international hit with this one.

Side B intro sounds like someone was trying to replicate the feel of a certain Ben E. King song. ;)

I have a hunch that I also have the picture sleeve for this somewhere. I never keep the old records inside the picture sleeves because it increases the wear of the sleeve.

List price:  Very Good + is $6, Near Mint $12