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Review about Lush Life ------Performed by Nat King Cole | 06/26/2007 11:00:00 AM Recording unauthorized by composer While this recording displays Nat Cole's great voice to good advantage, it was made without the knowledge or consent of the song's composer, Billy Strayhorn. The recording did serve to introduce the song to a wider audience; Strayhorn had regarded it as a private effort, which he played only at parties or for friends. The arrangement is awful, and departs entirely from the original intent of the song. This song has a dour, even bitter, outlook, belying the young age of the composer, who started writing it while still a high school student. Some have guessed that the song is a reference to Strayhorn's homosexuality. A great song - oddly, not really a jazz song at all - which deserved better treatment than this recording. Thanks to drjeo for submitting the review.