L-O-V-E

Nat King Cole recorded this song in June 1964 and released it as a single that September, with the album of the same name following in 1965, just weeks before his death. Bert Kaempfert and Milt Gabler wrote it, and the arrangement gives Cole the bright trumpet of Bobby Bryant to spar with between lines. Couples choose it because the lyric spells out the word and explains each letter, which is playful rather than solemn, and the tempo is a relaxed swing that suits a foxtrot or a simple side to side step. Cole also recorded the song in German, French, Italian, Spanish and Japanese for his overseas audiences.