Are you like I am? I’ve NEVER heard of this guy Bobby Cole before, so I had to look him up after getting knocked out by this album of his, a reissue (and then some) of essentially his only album, from 1966.
Long story short-Cole (1932-96) had a small jazz combo before becoming musical director for Judy Garland, going out on his own a bit and then becoming a Vegas fixture. What’s the big deal? This album!
Cole sings and plays piano with Ralf Rost/b and Arnold Wise/dr with some guest vocals accompanied by Kathy Kelly. Coles tunes are a mix of wildly swinging and hectic pieces like the driving “Status Quo” and intense “Heat” swaggering “No Difference At All” or heart on sleeve melancholic ballads like the somber “I’m Growing Old” and “Lover Boy”. He’s hip as all get out on the bossa’d “A Changeof Scene” with a wide vibrato on the romantic bel canto “But IT’s Spring”. There are a ton of bonus tracks like the boogalooing “Checkerboard Life” and his David Clayton-Thomas toned voice is a breath of fresh air in this day of wimpy wanna-bes. Do yourself a favor and check this guy out-thank me later!