King of The Sands

Recorded in the wee small hours in January 1960 in front of a select crowd of casino guests and other Las Vegas entertainers, this album was billed at the time as Nat King Cole's only live recording. Accompanied by a big band arranged by Dave Cavanaugh, Cole plays piano and sings standards and old favourites including "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top" and "Miss Otis Regrets".

Passing through India en route to Azad, King Sharaman and his son, the Prince of Persia, defeat the powerful Maharajah of India with the promise of honor and glory. After looting the city and capturing a giant hourglass full of sand, a mysterious dagger, and the Maharajah's daughter, they continue to Azad. A dying Vizier, who had betrayed the Maharajah and aided King Sharaman in return for a share of the spoils, demands to have the dagger, as he was promised his choice of the Maharajah's treasures. But Sharaman refuses to take the dagger from his son, who captured it first. So the Vizier, who wishes to harness the power of the sands in the hourglass for himself, making him an immortal god and giving him control over time itself, tricks the Prince into opening the hourglass. When the Prince uses the dagger to unleash the Sands of Time from the hourglass, it destroys the kingdom and turns its populace into savage demons. Only the Prince, the Vizier, and Princess Farah, the kidnapped daughter of the Maharajah, remain unchanged due to their possessions; the Prince's dagger, the Vizier's staff, and Farah's medallion.

The lights are coming down. Frank, Dean, and Sammy are about to take the stage. This is the moment we remember, when Las Vegas became classic. And it was at the Sands. Built in 1952 over the ashes of Hollywood Reporter publisher Billy Wilkerson's last chance in Las Vegas, the Sands was a collective effort. Underworld figures like Meyer Lansky, Doc Stacher, and Frank Costello provided the cash. Beloved Texas gambler Jake Freedman was the public face. Manhattan nightclub king Jack Entratter kept the Copa Room filled and made the party happen, every night. Carl Cohen, esteemed as the greatest casino manager in the history of the business, made the team complete.

The Nat King Cole At The Sands album captured an iconic singer at the peak of his powers, performing live in one of Las Vegas’ most famous venues, accompanied by an orchestra under the baton of conductor Antonio Morelli.

Easily the longest of any Capitol single-disc compilation, 2005's The World of Nat King Cole also benefits from a fresh remastering of its material to make it the best introduction to the interpretive brilliance of Nat King Cole. Nearly all the hits that need to be here are indeed present: "Straighten Up and Fly Right," "Route 66," "Nature Boy," "Too Young," and "Mona Lisa." The compilers also wisely chose a few representative songs to replace some of the middling hits; the only surprise is the absence of "The Christmas Song" and "Lush Life," although the chart hits "Answer Me, My Love," "Pretend," "Looking Back," and the much-maligned "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer" are missing for good reasons.

Set in the mystical lands of Persia, a rogue prince and a mysterious princess race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.

Over 45 Minutes of Previously Unreleased material, highlighted by the never before released song 'It's Not What You Say', which makes it a truly historical document just on this unreleased song alone. For the first time ever, this package features the complete concert plus loads of bonus material, including Band Introductions, Interesting banter between Nat and the band and the crowd, as well as pre-concert rehearsals for 5 of the songs. This is also newly re-mastered in amazing stereo sound. This was the only on-stage recording to feature the beautiful voice of Nat King Cole, now sounding better than ever. Listen to Nat singing, playing the piano and entertaining a cheering crowd of mostly celebrities. A truly historical event.