Blue Note will release After Midnight: The Complete Sessions in its Tone Poet vinyl series on November 13. Announced September 18, the expanded two-LP edition gathers Nat King Cole’s recordings from four Capitol Studios sessions in August and September 1956.
Cole is joined by guitarist John Collins, bassist Charlie Harris and drummer Lee Young. Featured musicians include Willie Smith, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Stuff Smith, Juan Tizol and percussionist Jack Costanza. Those changing guests are part of the session structure, rather than a single fixed lineup playing every selection.
Joe Harley produced the reissue, with Kevin Gray mastering directly from the original analog phono reels. The 180-gram records are pressed at RTI and packaged with a gatefold jacket and a booklet containing an essay by Will Friedwald and archival photographs.
Why the session detail matters
This is a route into Cole’s work as both pianist and singer. Following the instrumental credits can help a listener hear how a guest’s arrival changes the ensemble around the voice, instead of treating the release only as a collection of vocal standards.
The phrase “complete sessions” describes the expanded recording program; Tone Poet identifies the reissue series and production approach. Those are separate pieces of information. Readers comparing editions can check track coverage first, then decide how the physical presentation and analog mastering fit the way they listen.
Source: Official release announcement.
