Eight Top Pops Album Reviews

Billboard requires a JavaScript enabled browser to get the full experience

AMG Review

The 10" LP collection Eight Top Pops compiles eight songs that appeared on singles by Nat King Cole during 1952. The first two, "Somewhere Along the Way" and "Walkin' My Baby Back Home," were the biggest hits, both reaching number eight in Billboard. "Because You're Mine," Cole's cover of the Mario Lanza movie song (done in a far more relaxed style than Lanza's, of course), was also a major hit, reaching number 16. "Faith Can Move Mountains" and "The Ruby and the Pearl" were somewhat less successful, but still lodged in the Top 30, as did the B-sides "Funny (Not Much)" and "I'm Never Satisfied." The only one of the eight songs not to earn a chart placing was "A Weaver of Dreams," the B-side of the single "Wine, Women and Song." On the various tracks, Cole addresses charts written by his conductors Les Baxter, Billy May, Nelson Riddle, and Pete Rugolo, varying the mood from lightly romantic to lightly melancholic, but always remaining as smooth a crooner as ever. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide