Natalie Cole achieved what many in the music industry thought was impossible: she successfully transitioned from a contemporary R&B star to a jazz chanteuse by embracing the shadow of her legendary father, Nat King Cole . Her twelfth studio album, Unforgettable… With Love , released under Elektra Records
, became a cultural phenomenon that defined a new era of "virtual duets" and revived interest in the Great American Songbook. A Bold Departure
Before 1991, Natalie Cole had largely avoided her father's repertoire to establish her own identity in soul and pop. However, her debut for
saw her dive headfirst into his catalog. At a time when grunge and hip-hop were beginning to dominate the airwaves, a 22-track collection of mid-century jazz standards was a massive gamble that her own label initially feared would not sell. The Technological Marvel: "Unforgettable"
Album Review: Natalie Cole, “Unforgettable…With Love” (1991)
Natalie Cole's Unforgettable... with Love , released on June 11, 1991, under Elektra Records
, is a tribute album where she covers jazz and pop standards previously performed by her father, Nat King Cole. Key Album Details Significance:
It served as Natalie's 12th studio album and her debut for Elektra after leaving EMI. Commercial Success: The album spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 and sold over seven million copies in the U.S.. Award Recognition: It won seven Grammy Awards
in 1992, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. Production:
Features arrangements by David Foster, Andre Fischer, and Ray Brown, among others. Track List The standard version of the album contains 22 tracks: The Very Thought of You (It's Only A) Paper Moon This Can't Be Love That Sunday That Summer Orange Colored Sky Medley: For Sentimental Reasons / Tenderly / Autumn Leaves Straighten Up and Fly Right Don't Get Around Much Anymore Nature Boy Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup Almost Like Being in Love Thou Swell Non Dimenticar Our Love Is Here to Stay Unforgettable (Duet with Nat King Cole) — Uses electronic mixing to pair their vocals Audiophile Audition Recent Reissues A 30th-anniversary reissue was released by Craft Recordings in 2022, featuring remastered audio and bonus tracks like " Cottage for Sale Audiophile Audition vinyl availability background stories on a particular track from this album?
In the winter of 1991, the music world was still recovering from a seismic shift. Grunge was crawling out of Seattle, hip-hop was claiming its throne, and the glossy pop of the '80s was crumbling like old paint. It was an odd time for a 41-year-old singer to release an album of her dead father’s old standards.
But Natalie Cole had a ghost to chase.
The project was titled Unforgettable… with Love. Elektra Records, her label, had initially balked. "Standards?" the executives asked. "Nat, you’re a funk-soul diva. You gave us 'This Will Be.' You don’t do Cole Porter."
Natalie just smiled. She knew the ghost.
The studio was a dimly lit room in Los Angeles. A 24-track analog board hummed with warmth. Natalie stood behind a vintage Neumann microphone, wearing a simple black dress and her father’s old signet ring on a chain around her neck. The producer, Tommy LiPuma, nodded from the booth.
"Let's try 'Unforgettable' again," he said softly. "But this time, don't sing at him. Sing with him."
They rolled tape. The orchestra—arranged with lush, romantic strings by Nelson Riddle’s old protégé—began the familiar, slow climb of chords. Then came Nat King Cole’s voice, isolated from a 1961 master tape, warm as bourbon, floating through Natalie’s headphones: “Unforgettable… that’s what you are…”
Natalie closed her eyes. She was five years old again, sitting on the living room floor of the Hancock Park house, watching her father practice at the piano. She remembered the way his hands hovered over the keys like they were blessing them. She remembered the Camel cigarettes and the quiet cough he tried to hide. She remembered December 15, 1965—the day the man with the velvet voice went silent. natalie cole unforgettable with love 1991 elektrarar
She opened her mouth.
“Unforgettable… though near or far…”
Her voice entered the left channel. His voice lived in the right. The engineer, Al Schmitt, had worked magic—aligning the tempos, matching the keys, making a dead man breathe again. But the real magic was Natalie’s restraint. She didn’t imitate. She didn't compete. She leaned into the space between their voices like a daughter leaning in for a hug.
Halfway through the song, she hit the line: “Never before… has someone been more…”
Her voice cracked—just a hair, just a human moment of grief. She didn’t stop. She let the tear fall onto the mixing console. In the booth, LiPuma took off his headphones and wiped his own eyes.
When the final note faded—“in every way… and forever more…”—silence filled the room. Not the silence of a mistake. The silence of something finished.
Natalie opened her eyes and whispered to no one: “Did I get it right, Daddy?”
The engineer played back the take. And for three minutes and twenty-nine seconds, Nat King Cole was alive again, duetting with his daughter across the divide of death.
The album was released on June 11, 1991. It debuted at number 65 on the Billboard 200. Critics were kind but cautious. Then something strange happened. Word of mouth spread. Grandparents bought it. Their children borrowed it. College students who had never heard of "Straighten Up and Fly Right" found themselves humming it.
By Christmas, Unforgettable… with Love was number one. It sold over seven million copies in the U.S. alone. It won seven Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for that impossible duet.
At the Grammy ceremony, Natalie stood at the podium, holding the gold gramophone. She looked up at the ceiling—or beyond it.
“This is for you, Daddy,” she said. “For teaching me that a song isn’t just notes. It’s a place where people who love each other never have to say goodbye.”
And somewhere—in the grooves of a vinyl record, in the static of an old radio, in the quiet of a living room where a daughter sang with her father’s ghost—the music played on.
Unforgettable… that’s what you are.
8. Unforgettable (Duet with Nat King Cole)
If you are digging through your parents’ attic or a dusty record store, here is how to spot a potential "Natalie Cole Unforgettable With Love 1991 Elektrarar":
9 61099-2 (CD) or 1-61099 (LP). Any number with an extra R, a P, or a misprint is a candidate.Upon its release in June 1991, Unforgettable… with Love exceeded all expectations. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and climbed to the upper echelons of the Billboard 200, eventually selling over 7 million copies in the United States alone. Natalie Cole achieved what many in the music
Critics praised Cole’s vocal versatility. She didn't try to mimic her father’s baritone smoothness; instead, she brought her own R&B-tinged clarity and power to tracks like "L-O-V-E," "Mona Lisa," and "Route 66."
At the 1992 Grammy Awards, the album was the night's big winner. It took home Album of the Year, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, and Record of the Year for the title track duet. In her acceptance speech, a visibly moved Cole acknowledged the gravity of the moment, cementing the album as the defining achievement of her career.
1. The Very Thought of You
2. Paper Moon
3. Route 66
Critics praised Natalie’s ability to honor her father without imitation, her matured vocal phrasing, and the tasteful production that avoided over-synthesized 1990s pop clichés.
The album includes 22 songs, most famously:
The album’s crown jewel, "Unforgettable," was a digital miracle. Using state-of-the-art (for 1991) recording technology, producer David Foster and engineer Al Schmitt extracted Nat King Cole’s original 1961 vocal track from a Capitol Records master tape. They then had Natalie sing a new duet part in the same key, syncing her phrasing to her father’s.
The result was breathtaking. When the song hit radio, listeners wept. It wasn’t just a cover; it was a séance. This track alone propelled the album to #1 on the Billboard 200, where it stayed for five weeks. It won seven Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.
9. Ave Maria
10. Too Young
11. Nature Boy
12. Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup
13. A Blossom Fell
14. Our Love Is Here To Stay
Natalie Cole's Unforgettable... with Love, released on June 11, 1991, by Elektra Records, stands as a landmark "virtual reunion" and a career-defining tribute to her father, jazz legend Nat King Cole. A Technical and Emotional Milestone
The album's centerpiece is the titular track, "Unforgettable." In a revolutionary move for 1991, engineers used multitrack technology to splice Nat King Cole's original 1951 vocal recording with Natalie's new studio performance. This digital duet created a "sonic bridge" between eras that resonated deeply with audiences. Critical and Commercial Success The album was released on June 11, 1991
Sales Performance: The album became a massive crossover hit, spending five weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard charts. It has sold over 14 million copies worldwide and is certified 7x platinum in the U.S..
1992 Grammy Sweep: The project dominated the 34th Grammy Awards, winning seven trophies, including: Album of the Year Record of the Year ("Unforgettable") Song of the Year ("Unforgettable") Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance
Other Honors: It also earned the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Female. Musical Direction
Moving away from her earlier R&B and pop roots, Natalie embraced the Great American Songbook for this project. The album features 22 standards, including classics like "Mona Lisa," "L-O-V-E," and "Route 66," with lush arrangements by renowned producers André Fischer, David Foster, and Tommy LiPuma. The Tracklist Highlights
Natalie Cole's "Unforgettable" is a timeless classic. Here's some content related to her 1991 album "Unforgettable... with Love":
Album Overview
"Unforgettable... with Love" is the sixth studio album by American singer Natalie Cole, released in 1991. The album is a tribute to her father, Nat King Cole, and features his classic hits re-recorded by Natalie.
Tracklist
Some notable tracks from the album include:
Awards and Accolades
The album won several awards, including:
Impact
"Unforgettable... with Love" was a commercial success, reaching platinum certification in the US and selling over 4 million copies worldwide. The album's success helped introduce Nat King Cole's music to a new generation of listeners.
Legacy
The album has been widely praised for its nostalgic value and Natalie's soulful vocals. It remains one of the best-selling tribute albums of all time, and its impact can still be felt in the music industry today.
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