British EMI's reissue of Nat Cole Sings the Great Songs and Thank You, Pretty Baby, two posthumous albums, was a wise decision from the label. Excepting only Nat King Cole fanatics, neither of these albums are necessary on their own; both were ... Full Descriptionassembled from stray session material, with the added indignity -- to arranger Nelson Riddle as much as Cole himself -- of a clumsily attached rhythm to nearly every song. Still, there is something good to be said for both of them. As stunning a jazz vocalist as he was, Cole was equally comfortable luxuriating in the gauziest of string arrangements, and he treats each of these love songs -- "I Had the Craziest Dream," "An Affair to Remember," "You Made Me Love You" -- with the proper amount of respect necessary. Purists will likely be unable to remain in the room while this one's on the hi-fi, but anyone with a healthy curiosity for pure vocal bliss and slightly dated crossover pop (think Vic Damone, not Mel Tormй) will find a few songs worthy of their time. ~ John Bush