When Natalie Cole first launched her career, everyone was expecting her to sing her father Nat's songs, or to sing the type of music, he did later in his career: middle-of-the-road pop. Well, Natalie specifically steered clear of doing that because she wanted to prove that she could make it on her own, and desperately wanted to step out of her father's massive shadow. So she sang straight up R&B, as a disciple of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. She established herself as a top vocalist during the mid '70s and into the '80s but not without some personal troubles.

This CD, UNFORGETTABLE WITH LOVE, gives fans of both Natalie and her dad a treat. No doubt the world greatly misses Nat King Cole; we can't help but think of what would've happened had he lived. But to carry on his legacy is his daughter doing his songs now, even though at one time she didn't want to. But it was time! We might as well keep it in the family, right? Who else is more deserving of covering his material? And Natalie does a wonderful job, too. The technology used to make Natalie sing "Unforgettable" with her dad is nothing new now, but when the CD first came out, everyone was saying, "How did they do that?" And to this day, I get choked up just listening to that duet. Natalie covers 22 of her dad's hits on this CD, such as "That Sunday, That Summer" (another tear-jerker for me), "L-O-V-E", "Mona Lisa", "Thou Swell", "Nature Boy", "The Very Thought Of You" and "Our Love Is Here To Stay". Plus she does a medley of three of her dad's most romantic tunes: "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons", Tenderly" and "Autumn Leaves". Absolutely beautiful. Natalie, your dad would be proud. Well done, "Sweetie"!

Natalie Cole's pop albums always featured at least one jazzy, swinging track, so it came as no surprise when she decided, in 1991, to release an all-out tribute to her father, jazz-legend Nat "King" Cole, complete with full orchestra. It serves not only as a strong and fitting tribute to one of music's greatest figures, but as a perfect opportunity for Natalie Cole to expand her horizons...and her fan base.

Let's be honest...they just don't write 'em like they used to, and therefore Natalie never had quite the chance to show off the grace and elegance of her voice as she does on the likes of "The Very Thought of You," "Mona Lisa," and "Our Love is Here to Stay." Producers Andre Fischer, Tommy Lipuma, and David Foster keep Natalie in superior arragements throughout, especially evident on "Too Young" and an exquisite rendition of "Lush Life." There's plenty of swing, too, however: "Paper Moon," "Route 66," and "L-O-V-E" are songs that couldn't be authentically pulled off by just any pop singer, but Natalie more than rises to the challenge. Furthermore the frantically-paced "Avalon" and the midtempo "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," the latter boasting a slick scat, are among the album's best tracks.

But the finest moment comes at the finale: through the wonders of modern technology, Natalie is afforded the opportunity to sing with her father, digitally remastered here to gorgeous effect on the album's title track. Unfortunately, the practice inspired countless, less-appropriate knock-offs (even Natalie reprised the idea two albums later with far less impact) but here, Natalie's obvious love and affection for her father and his music come through tenfold, and we're treated to one of the most beautiful and moving moments in jazz. In summation, a talented daughter pays tribute to her legendary father, singing timeless classics admist top-notch arrangements traditional enough for purists to admire, but accessible enough for pop fans to discover and cherish. "Unforgettable" indeed.

"Unforgettable" has influence and importance beyond being music's most famous father-daughter dance. Its just-enough contemporizing of some of music's most treasured standards opened many to pre-rock songs for the first time. It also raised not only Natalie's and her father's profile, but of their contemporaries (Louis Armstrong, Sinatra's "Duets" sets) to the point where romantic films like "Sleepless In Seattle" depended on their classic music.

It came down to choices, and "Unforgettable" made all the right ones. Cole and producer Tommy LiPuma joined session musicians from Nat Cole's original recordings (at Capitol studios, yet), with more modern jazzmen like Joe Sample and John Pattitucci. She chose atmospheric arrangements from Michael Legrand, Johnny Mandel and David Foster. She chose her father's early, more swing/jazz/pop material ("Thou Swell," "Avalon," a sweet "Very Thought Of You") over countrified sing-a-longs like "Ramblin' Rose." And rather than repeat her father's warm vocal phrasing, Cole instead reached back to female jazz's Mount Rushmore (Ella, Dinah, Sarah, etc.) and even the sass of her early, R&B hits.

The result is a set that comes closest in tone to the albums Nelson Riddle, Billy May, and Gordon Jenkins arranged at Capitol for that label's legendary pop singers (Cole, Sinatra, Ella, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland in her brief stay there). They raised jazz-influenced vocals to the gold standard of pop. So does "Unforgettable", Natalie Cole's one essential album.

Every time I listen to Natalie Cole's CD featuring remakes of her father's music, I am amazed by how great it sounds. Natalie's voice is really beautiful on this CD and sounds perfectly tailored for the pop and jazz standards her father made. Recently, I listened to this CD back-to-back with a Nat King Cole greatest hits CD, and I honestly have to say that I prefer Natalie's music. I know that sounds almost blasphemous, but Nat's arrangements tend to be more sedate (reflective of 50's and 60's traditional pop music). Natalie's recordings of this music have more punch. Of course, much of that may be due to improved recording techniques and so forth, but it also has to do with differing vocal styles. Nat was more of a crooner than Natalie. As much as I like Nat King Cole's music, I have to admit that this CD is perhaps even better! That's quite an accomplishment, and this CD should please even Nat's fans.

Recently I purchased the replacement CD copy from Amazon after loaning the original to a friend, who promptly lost it. Oh well. It had been quite some time since I listened to this disc, but upon receiving it in the mail only 4 days after placing my order online (thanks, Amazon -- speedy delivery, as usual), I quickly became re-acquainted with the wonderful songs on this CD. It's like running into a childhood friend where you always discover something new everytime you're together. That's my feeling everytime I listen to this CD.

The song selection is impeccable -- every song so closely identified with Nat "King" Cole during his reign as one of the best singers to ever grace the music world in the 20th century. But what makes these songs special and "Unforgettable" is Natalie Cole's warm, sensual, yet faithful renditions made famous by her dad.

Legend has it that Natalie was first approached to record these songs almost 20 years earlier when she was still not even quite out of college. Apparently music producers and record companies wanted to "Cash In" on the notoriety of the relationship between the Cole family and these songs. But Natalie resisted because she wanted to carve out her own musical identity and distance herself from her dad's legacy. Story goes Natalie was approached time and time again by different producers over the years, but she continued to resist until her mom, Maria, finally encouraged her to just do it. But I think Natalie's own personal experiences with drugs and substance abuse also played a part. Emotionally she wasn't ready until the time was right.

1991 was finally the right time and her producers -- Andre Fischer (former ex), David Foster and Tommy LiPuma -- do a great job bringing in the beautiful lush orchestra to backup Natalie, who certainly doesn't disappoint. She was right in waiting out until the time was right to record these songs. Her painful years battling drugs only add to the nuance and subtlety of her interpretations. She has NEVER sounded better. She doesn't strain for any high notes, yet she hits every single note with ease and doesn't overpower the music, but lets the music speak for itself. Her renditions are right up there alongside the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Sarah Vaughan.

Personal favorites from this immaculate CD are: "That Sunday, That Summer" "Orange Color Sky" "Lush Life" "Very Thought of You" the very moving "Smile" and of course the "duet" with her dad on "Unforgettable". Natalie notes with pride in the CD jacket that "Smile" was written especially for her dad by the one and only Charlie Chaplin.

Thanks for making an "Unforgettable" CD, Natalie. Even 13 years after you recorded these songs, they're still timeless. And they always will be.

This CD may stand out as the cherry on top of a delicious cake. It is your Finest Hour as an Artist.