Studio Album · No. 8
The Very Thought of You Songwriting Credits by Nat King Cole
Produced by Lee Gillette
Holds writing credit on 0 of 14 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 0 / 14 documented
Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether Nat King Cole carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 14 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
This is an interpreter's album, not a songwriter's. Nat King Cole wrote none of the material; every track is a standard drawn from established writers, and Cole's role is to sing them in his baritone over Gordon Jenkins's string arrangements. The title track 'The Very Thought of You' is by Ray Noble, and the rest of the record pulls from writers such as Harry Warren, Mack Gordon, Jimmy Van Heusen, and Johnny Burke. The one credit that touches the production team itself is 'This Is All I Ask,' written by arranger-conductor Gordon Jenkins. Producer Lee Gillette oversees the sessions, so the credit story is a pure vocalist-plus-orchestra collaboration rather than any authorship by Cole.
The Very Thought of You is a 1958 studio album by Nat King Cole, released on Capitol Records in November 1958 and recorded across three May 1958 sessions at Capitol's New York studios. It is a collection of pop standards and ballads, with Cole singing every track in front of lush string arrangements written and conducted by Gordon Jenkins. Cole is the interpreter here rather than the writer: the songs come from established songwriters, and the title track 'The Very Thought of You' was written by Ray Noble. The album was produced by Lee Gillette, a frequent Cole collaborator at Capitol, and pairs Cole's warm baritone with Jenkins's orchestral settings on material like 'But Beautiful,' 'For All We Know,' and 'The More I See You.' It reached number 17 on the Billboard Top LP chart and is one of the signature entries in the Cole-and-strings era of his catalog.
Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Very Thought of You
|
Ray Noble | Ray Noble | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 2 |
But Beautiful
|
Johnny Burke | Jimmy Van Heusen | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 3 |
Impossible
|
Steve Allen | Steve Allen | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 4 |
I Wish I Knew (Notorious)
|
C.A. RossiAl Stillman | C.A. RossiAl Stillman | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 5 |
I Found a Million Dollar Baby (in a Five and Ten Cent Store)
|
Mort DixonBilly Rose | Harry Warren | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 6 |
Magnificent Obsession
|
Frankie Laine | Fred Karger | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 7 |
My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?)
|
Mack Gordon | Harry Warren | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 8 |
Paradise
|
Gordon Clifford | Nacio Herb Brown | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 9 |
This Is All I Ask
|
Gordon Jenkins | Gordon Jenkins | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 10 |
Cherie, I Love You
|
Lillian Rosedale Goodman | Lillian Rosedale Goodman | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 11 |
Making Believe You're Here
|
Sammy Cahn | Jimmy Van Heusen | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 12 |
Cherchez La Femme
|
Bob MarcusLorenzo Pack | Bob MarcusLorenzo Pack | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 13 |
For All We Know
|
Sam M. Lewis | J. Fred Coots | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 14 |
The More I See You
|
Mack Gordon | Harry Warren | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Gordon Jenkins (Arranger, Conductor) |