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":
Unforgettable… with Love did more than just revive Natalie Cole’s career; it paved the way for the "Great American Songbook" revival that would follow. It set a precedent that classic jazz standards could be commercially viable for contemporary artists—a path later walked by Rod Stewart, Michael Bublé, and Lady Gaga.
For fans of the "Elektra" era of Cole, the album stands as a testament to her artistry. It proved that she was not just "Nat King Cole's daughter," but a formidable interpreter of song in her own right. The album remains a masterclass in production, vocal performance, and the enduring power of family legacy.
Verdict: Unforgettable… with Love is a rare instance where marketing concept, technological innovation, and emotional sincerity aligned perfectly. It is, true to its name, unforgettable.
Natalie Cole's Unforgettable... with Love, released on June 11, 1991, by Elektra Records, remains her most successful and culturally significant album. A departure from her previous R&B/pop style, this project served as a deep homage to the jazz standards made famous by her father, Nat King Cole. Key Highlights and Impact The "Unforgettable" Natalie Cole Arrangements
Natalie Cole 's 1991 album Unforgettable... with Love is more than just a tribute—it was a career-defining masterpiece that bridged two generations through the power of music. Released under Elektra Records, it marked a sharp departure from her established R&B sound, successfully reinventing her as a sophisticated interpreter of the Great American Songbook. A Masterful Tribute
The album features 22 tracks originally made famous by her father, the legendary Nat King Cole. Natalie avoids simple imitation, instead delivering the material with a smooth, effortless control that highlights her vocal versatility. Backed by lush, orchestral arrangements and exceptional production from David Foster and Tommy LiPuma, the record feels both timeless and impeccably polished. The Technical "Miracle"
The emotional and commercial centerpiece is the title track, "Unforgettable," a virtual duet between Natalie and her late father. In 1991, the technology used to blend Natalie’s live vocals with her father’s 1951 studio recording was revolutionary, creating a seamless, poignant performance that felt like a "miracle" captured on tape. Standout Tracks Album Review: Natalie Cole — Unforgettable…With Love
Released on June 11, 1991, Unforgettable... with Love is the twelfth studio album by Natalie Cole
and a tribute to the legendary standards made famous by her father, Nat King Cole. It served as her debut for Elektra Records and became the most successful album of her career, selling over 7 million copies in the US and more than 14 million worldwide. 🏆 Key Achievements
Grammy Success: Swept the 1992 Grammy Awards with 7 wins, including Album of the Year.
Historical Milestone: Natalie Cole became the first African-American woman to win the Grammy for Album of the Year.
Chart-Topper: Spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
The "Virtual Duet": The title track used multitrack technology to create a duet between Natalie and her late father, winning Record of the Year. 💿 Tracklist
The original release contains 22 tracks of jazz and pop standards: The Very Thought of You André Fischer Paper Moon Tommy LiPuma André Fischer David Foster André Fischer This Can't Be Love André Fischer André Fischer David Foster That Sunday That Summer David Foster Orange Colored Sky Tommy LiPuma Medley: For Sentimental Reasons / Tenderly / Autumn Leaves Tommy LiPuma Straighten Up and Fly Right André Fischer David Foster Don't Get Around Much Anymore André Fischer David Foster Nature Boy André Fischer Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup André Fischer Almost Like Being in Love David Foster Thou Swell André Fischer Non Dimenticar Tommy LiPuma Our Love Is Here to Stay André Fischer Unforgettable (Duet with Nat King Cole) David Foster 🎹 Musical Credits Producers: David Foster, André Fischer, and Tommy LiPuma. natalie cole unforgettable with love 1991 elektrarar
Special Guest: Natalie's uncle, Ike Cole, provides piano accompaniment on several tracks.
Style: Features lush orchestration, big band arrangements, and intimate small-group jazz settings. 💡 Looking for something specific? I can help you find:
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.
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…” If you are digging through your parents’ attic
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.
Released on June 11, 1991 Unforgettable... with Love is the twelfth studio album by American singer Natalie Cole
. It serves as a comprehensive tribute to her father, jazz legend Nat King Cole
, featuring 22 of his standards. The album marked a major career reinvention for Cole, moving from her R&B and pop roots toward the Great American Songbook Production and Technical Innovation
The album is renowned for its lush orchestral arrangements and then-revolutionary technology. Musoscribe The title track, " Unforgettable The album was released on June 11, 1991
," was electronically engineered to blend Natalie’s new vocals with her father’s original 1951 recording, creating a "virtual duet" that became a global sensation. Producers: The project was helmed by major industry figures, including David Foster Tommy LiPuma , and Cole's then-husband André Fischer Personnel: It features top-tier jazz musicians, such as bassist , and personal family contributions from Natalie's uncle, , on piano. Tracklist Highlights
The album covers a vast range of her father's repertoire, from upbeat swing to intimate ballads:
Natalie Cole - Unforgettable… With Love – Elektra Records
Unforgettable... with Love
Released in 1991, Natalie Cole's "Unforgettable... with Love" is a timeless masterpiece that pays tribute to her legendary father, Nat King Cole. This Elektrar Records album is a loving reinterpretation of her father's classics, reimagined in Natalie Cole's own unique style.
The album features 12 iconic songs made famous by Nat King Cole, including the titular track "Unforgettable," which was re-recorded as a duet with her father through the use of digital technology. This innovative approach allowed Natalie Cole to sing alongside her father's original vocals, creating a poignant and nostalgic effect.
Produced by Doug Lacy and Andrew McPherson, "Unforgettable... with Love" boasts lush orchestral arrangements and tasteful instrumentation, perfectly capturing the essence of Nat King Cole's signature sound. Natalie Cole's soulful vocals bring new life to timeless classics like "Route 66," "Mona Lisa," and "Nature Boy," while her own original compositions, such as "When I Fall in Love," showcase her impressive songwriting skills.
The album received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with many praising Natalie Cole's vocal performance, the album's production, and the clever use of digital technology to create a virtual duet with her father. "Unforgettable... with Love" went on to win several Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for the title track.
"Unforgettable... with Love" remains a cherished album in Natalie Cole's discography, and its influence can still be heard in contemporary music today. This beautiful tribute to Nat King Cole's legacy serves as a testament to the enduring power of music to bridge generations and touch the hearts of listeners worldwide.
Released on June 11, 1991, Unforgettable... with Love Natalie Cole's career-defining tribute to her father, Nat King Cole . This twelfth studio album marked her debut for Elektra Records
and a major departure from her previous R&B sound toward traditional pop and jazz standards. Production & Artistic Significance The album was produced by a powerhouse team including David Foster Tommy LiPuma André Fischer
. It is most famous for its closing track, "Unforgettable," which used then-revolutionary technology to create a "virtual duet" between Natalie and her late father. This recording helped Natalie embrace her family legacy and solidified her reputation as a sophisticated jazz-pop vocalist. Awards & Commercial Success
In 1990, Natalie Cole was at a crossroads. Despite early success as an R&B star ("This Will Be," "I've Got Love on My Mind"), the late 1980s had been less kind. Drug addiction and label disputes had stalled her momentum. Her then-manager, and future husband, Andre Fischer, proposed a radical idea: a tribute album to her father, who died of lung cancer in 1965 when Natalie was just 15.
The concept was risky. A pop/R&B singer tackling the Great American Songbook, backed by the London Symphony Orchestra? The label, Elektra Records, was hesitant. But Cole was determined. The result was a 22-track double LP (and later, a single CD) featuring classics like "The Very Thought of You," "Mona Lisa," "L-O-V-E," and the titular "Unforgettable."