Saga of Second Bests #3

‘Pretend’ – Nat King Cole, 14/05/1953

It’s hard to beat a bit of Nat King Cole. His voice is such a comfort, so cool and assured, silky yet powerful. Beyond this, ‘Pretend’ is nothing special. The hopeful lyrics bely suffering, but optimism was poptimism back in the fifties, if ‘I Believe’ is anything to go by, so the jolly keys keep any negativity no closer than a suggestion.

I don’t really have much else to say for this record. It is one of many Cole songs to hit the charts (although far fewer than the god-knows how many that struck the American charts), a paint-by-numbers easy-listening single that is to be expected from way back when.

My biggest takeaway from this song isn’t even necessarily about this version. What a tonic it is for Alvin Stardust’s cover, with its bland rock-and-roll stylings and washboard guitar riff! It really forces you to appreciate the time before rock and roll, and therefore before its poor imitators. Unfortunately, we’ll be meeting Alvin a bit further down the line.

Should it be silver?

Another battle with Frankie Laine’s ‘I Believe’. If I had to choose between the two, I reckon I would pick ‘Pretend’, but I can see why Laine stayed at the top. The more I listen to it for comparisons, the more I can sense its intoxicating evocations building in my chest. ‘Easy boy,’ I tell my swinging arm. ‘We aren’t at the Comeback Special yet.’

Rating

3 Alvin Stardusts out of 5

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