After the phonetically overdubbed approach to Nat King Cole"s first Spanish-language album, 1958"s Cole Español, this follow-up took a more authentic tack. In the middle of a South American tour the next year, Cole recorded A Mis Amigos (To My Friends) in Rio de Janeiro, backed by a band of Brazilians. Although Cole"s heavy gringo accent pervades--gratingly so on the "Fantastico" [sic]--this record far outshines its predecessor, with the lion"s share of the credit due to the native musicians and Cole"s proximity to them in the studio. "Nadie Me Ama" ("Nobody Loves Me") benefits from bright horns--which adorn a number of these songs--and lovely backing vocals. (This re-issue also includes "Ninguem Ma Ama," the Portuguese version.) Among other songs seeing CD release for the first time here, "Tu Eres Tan Amable" ("You Are So Kind") rides the swells and pizzicatos of a spirited string ensemble, "Amor" translates Cole"s famous "L-O-V-E," and three songs--"Come Closer to Me," "Lisbon Antigua," and "Come to the Mardi Gras"--constitute the album"s only English offerings. All told, A Mis Amigos comes across as sufficiently ragged, eclectic, and sincere that one can almost believe it was truly recorded with the enjoyment of friends as its top priority. --Jason Kirk