When Cool Was King

When Cool Was King

A sprawling three-disc celebration of timeless style, When Cool Was King traces the evolution of cool across jazz, swing, soul, pop, and modern reinterpretations. Bringing together legends, innovators, and contemporary voices, this collection captures the enduring appeal of smooth phrasing, effortless swing, and emotional storytelling in popular music.

At its core are defining performances from icons such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, and Aretha Franklin - artists who shaped the language of popular music in the 20th century. Their recordings sit alongside soul classics from figures like Otis Redding, James Brown, and Ray Charles, reflecting the deep roots and crossover of jazz, R&B, and soul.

The collection also features polished modern interpretations from artists such as Michael Bublé, Jamie Cullum, and Amy Winehouse, bridging classic sensibilities with contemporary style. From smoky jazz clubs to orchestral pop stages and modern reinventions, this set spans decades of “cool” in all its forms.

A rich, genre-crossing anthology, this release is both a history lesson and a mood in itself - perfect for listeners drawn to timeless vocal artistry and effortless groove.

Tracklist:

Disc 1

1. Frank Sinatra – I’ve Got You Under My Skin
2. Nina Simone – Feeling Good
3. Robbie Williams – Ain’t That A Kick In The Head
4. Bobby Darin – Mack The Knife
5. Michael Bublé – Me And Mrs. You
6. Shirley Bassey – Big Spender
7. Nat King Cole – Let There Be Love
8. Dinah Washington – Mad About The Boy
9. Etta James – At Last
10. Aretha Franklin – Ain’t No Way
11. Matt Monro – Music To Watch Girls By
12. Dean Martin Feat. Helen O’Connell – How D’ya Like Your Eggs In The Morning?
13. Sarah Vaughan – Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off
14. Bobby Darin – Don’t Rain On My Parade
15. Julie London – Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
16. Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
17. Otis Redding – I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
18. Sophie Milman – My Baby Just Cares For Me
19. Rhydian And The Residuals – A Wink And A Smile
20. Glenn Miller – In The Mood

Disc 2

1. James Brown – It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World
2. Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – Summertime
3. Otis Redding – Try A Little Tenderness
4. Aretha Franklin – Respect
5. Tina Turner – Proud Mary
6. Shirley Bassey – Goldfinger
7. Peggy Lee – Fever
8. Mel Tormé – Comin’ Home Baby
9. Sammy Davis Jr. – Mr. Bojangles
10. Nat King Cole – L-O-V-E
11. Tony Bennett – As Time Goes By
12. Ray Charles – It Had To Be You
13. Steve Tyrell – The Way You Look Tonight
14. Ben E. King – Stand By Me
15. Dionne Warwick – What The World Needs Now Is Love
16. Petula Clark – Downtown
17. Engelbert Humperdinck – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
18. Kenny Ball – Samantha
19. Ron Grainer And His Orchestra – A Man In A Suitcase
20. Edith Piaf – La Foule

Disc 3

1. Bobby Darin – Beyond The Sea
2. Gregory Porter – Puttin’ On The Ritz
3. Dean Martin – That’s Amore
4. Tom Jones – It’s Not Unusual
5. Ray Charles – I’ve Got A Woman
6. Jackie Wilson – Reet Petite
7. Louis Prima, Phil Harris & Bruce Reitherman – I Wanna Be Like You (The Monkey Song)
8. Stevie Wonder – For Once In My Life
9. Jackie Wilson & Count Basie – Uptight (Everything’s Alright)
10. Solomon Burke – Everybody Needs Somebody To Love
11. Michael Bublé – Peroxide Swing
12. Jamie Cullum – Devil May Care
13. Wayne Newton – Danke Schoen
14. Van Morrison – Moondance
15. Jools Holland & Rumer – Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive
16. Amy Winehouse – Back To Black
17. Plan B – She Said
18. L’Orchestra Cinematique – Crazy In Love
19. Lo-Fang – You’re The One That I Want
20. Dtale – Earned It