A graduate of Ewing High School, Ewing New Jersey, Cole started on alto saxophone when he was ten encouraged by his father who owned a jazz club in New Jersey. Winning a scholarship, he attended Berklee College of Music for two years before beginning his professional career.
In 1969, he joined drummer Buddy Rich's Big Band. After working with Lionel Hampton's Big Band and Doc Severinsen's Big Band, he formed his Richie Cole Quintet and toured worldwide, developing his own "alto madness" bebop style in the 70s and early '80s. He formed the Alto Madness Orchestra in the 1990s.
In 2005, he was awarded the State of California Congressional Certificate of Lifetime Achievement in Jazz on behalf of the Temecula Jazz Society.
Pure Imagination
Richie Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a world of pure imagination
Take a look and you'll see
Into your imagination
We'll begin with a spin
Traveling in the world of my creation
What we'll see will defy
If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Want to change the world, there's nothing to it
There is no life I know
To compare with pure imagination
Living there, you'll be free
If you truly wish to be
If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Want to change the world, there's nothing to it
There is no life I know
To compare with pure imagination
Living there, you'll be free
If you truly wish to be
The lyrics to Richie Cole's song "Pure Imagination" are about the limitless possibilities of one's imagination. The opening lines invite the listener to explore a world of pure imagination by taking a metaphorical journey into their imagination. The lyrics suggest that the world of imagination is a magical place where anything is possible and that the listener has the power to shape that world.
The second verse continues with the metaphorical journey, describing how the journey will begin with a spin and the viewer will see things beyond explanation. The chorus tells us that we can view paradise and find anything we want there. If we want to change the world, there's nothing to it; we can make it happen through the power of our imagination.
The final verse echoes the earlier themes of the song, telling us that there's no life like one lived in a world of pure imagination. It suggests that living in this world with free, boundless creativity is entirely possible but depends on whether the listener truly wishes it.
Overall, the lyrics encourage listeners to embrace their imagination and tap into the incredible power that it holds. It reminds us that by looking within ourselves and exploring the vast potential of our ideas, we can achieve anything.
Line by Line Meaning
Come with me and you'll be
I am inviting you to join me on a journey
In a world of pure imagination
The world we are entering is one of limitless possibilities
Take a look and you'll see
Observe and explore with me
Into your imagination
The journey will take place within your mind
We'll begin with a spin
Our journey will start with excitement and energy
Traveling in the world of my creation
We will be exploring the world I have created in my mind
What we'll see will defy
The sights we encounter will be beyond explanation or comprehension
Explanation
We will not be able to understand everything we encounter
If you want to view paradise
To see something extraordinary
Simply look around and view it
Just observe and appreciate what surrounds you
Anything you want to, do it
Anything is possible in this world of imagination
Want to change the world, there's nothing to it
The power to change the world is within our imagination
There is no life I know
There is nothing in reality that compares to
To compare with pure imagination
The limitless potential of imagination
Living there, you'll be free
In this world of imagination, you will be liberated to do anything
If you truly wish to be
But it is up to you to fully embrace and believe in this world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore, TARADAM MUSIC, INC., Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kyla Wood
"There is no place to go
To compare with your imagination
So go there to be free
If you truly wish to be"
Fly on in peace Richie Cole , gone too soon.
Desperate Times
Beautiful music from a master!
brocczz
The brief lead theme from the legend David Raskin's haunting "The Bad and the Beautiful" score, and then his rendition of PI knocked me out...cosmic thanks for posting this.
Sound Kodz
R.I.P. Master Richie Cole .
Kathy Cahill
So sad. He had such a lovely sound.
Ned White
i can't stand that obnoxious vibrato he's come to have ...
cl5k
i love it..Rip Richie