Nat King Cole (1992)

Nat King Cole died in 1965, but this year the easy-swinging singer, pianist, and trio leader has sold more records, won more prizes, and earned more plaudits than most living performers. So the news of yet another collection of his work is bound to land with the thud of an anticlimax. Yet Nat King Cole, a generous four-CD sampling of his trio and pop recordings, includes almost all of his hits as well as a couple of previously unissued jewels (an affecting duet with his wife, Maria Cole, ''Ev'ry Day (I Fall in Love),'' and a droll send-up, ''Mr. Cole Won't Rock & Roll''). It should more than satisfy the Nat Cole hunger of those who don't need the complete works. Only a poorly designed booklet mars this knowing and adroit survey of the many peaks in his astonishing career. A