If you love great old songs (including obscure, should-have-been-standards-that-somehow-got-overlooked) then you will love this album -- which is "five star" in every respect.

And if great albums, deserve great liner notes, then Nat King Cole's best friend Dick La Palm (who Natalie recalls "has known me since I was born") deserves to have won the "Grammy," (if there were such a category, when this album was released).

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"Tell me a story" Dick La Palm quotes Lester Young as saying --- by way of advice to up-and-coming jazz musicians: Meaning, `Give me more than just the notes.' If the sax giant were still around today to hear Natalie Cole's delivery of Rodgers & Hart's "He Was Too Good to Me" (my favorite here) Lester would surely bestow his benediction on Natalie Cole as a great story teller in song.

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Just this week, Natalie told fans (at a forum devoted to her music) that "My (only) instrument is my voice." Well, her instrument is the best in the business - according to the "Who's Who" of musicians, arrangers and producers involved in this classic album. Truly, Natalie Cole is a `musician's musician' whose greatest admirers include some jazz giants -- who went out of their way to make this album the best of its kind (rivaled in greatness only by Natalie's multi-platinum "Unforgettable" which preceded this one, and the subsequent "Ask a Woman Who Knows").

One of the album's (three) co-producers Phil Ramone, noted that Natalie was her own executive producer and took complete charge of the album's `concept.' She consulted with her producers - (the others were David Foster and George Duke) - but then, Ramone says, "She challenged everything I believe in musically." Even more significantly, Ramone noted: "Rarely (do) the musicians hang around long after the session is over." (They always did for Sinatra and they did it here for Natalie.) Ramone said, the all-star cast of musical greats "thanked (me) profusely for being called to (this) date. Clearly I was not the only one moved by her."

Featured soloists included giants of the trumpet, harmonica, piano, guitar and saxophone --- Wynton Marsalis, Toots Thielemans, Bob James, Lee Ritenour and Michael Brecker. The stellar cast of (nine) arrangers was headed by the current dean of orchestrators, Johnny Mandel (who arranged an updated "Silent Night" on Frank Sinatra's 2004 Christmas Collection). There is even a snippet of Nat Cole's original Hammond organ solo (from 1961) on Natalie's powerhouse update of Irving Berlin's "Let's Face the Music and Dance."

There are too many highlights to list here - but Natalie herself singled out one or two of the solos in her full page of (small print) `Thank You's.' In praising the greatest harmonica player who ever lived, Toots Thielemans, Natalie said -- of his breathtakingly beautiful contribution to the Victor Young classic "Love Letters": "You have brought just the right touch of grace and style to this music. I am honored."

And of trumpet giant Wynton Marsalis' "dazzling" solos in the middle and at the end of "He Was Too Good to Me" Natalie said simply, "It brings me to my knees."

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Her great father's best friend deserves the last word, when he observes that "Songs of love - requited or unrequited -- don't come any better than these!"

"Each deals with passion deftly; lightly enough to fit neatly into thirty-two bars; heavily enough to elicit sighs and tears from the ladies, and even a twinge or two from the gentlemen. "The Torch" (in these songs) is carried on the INSIDE. And so is the heat. (Only) the surface is cool!"

"You wander down the lane and far away

Leaving me a song that will not die

Love is now the stardust of yesterday

The music of the years gone by"

~ Stardust ~

Hoagy Carmichael & Mitchell Parish

"Stardust" was nominated for 1997 Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal performance.

"When I Fall in Love" won a 1997 Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Accompanying Vocals.

"Teach Me Tonight" was nominated for 1997 Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocals.

This 1996 recording is truly remarkable. Three Grammy nominations and one of them a winner! With her impeccable and incomparable style of singing, Ms. Cole's performances prove to be her shining moments. The repertoire of songs was tastefully chosen and the guest musicians are very impressive, the likes of Lee Ritenour, Bob James, Michael Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, John Pizzarelli, Toots Thielemans, Harvey Mason, and George Duke, among many others. Not to mention the best arrangers you can think of...Johnny Mandel, Alan Broadbent, Jim Hughart, Clare Fischer, Rob Maunsey, Jerry Hey, John Clayton and Charles Floyd. And of course this recording wouldn't be possible if not for David Foster, Phil Ramone, George Duke and Ms. Natalie Cole herself. What a great team!

Being a hopeless romantic, I can't help being moved by the beauty of songs in this CD and the way they were performed to perfection, the loveliest songs ever penned by famous songwriters and composers starting with my all-time favorites "When I Fall In Love," "Stardust," "Teach Me Tonight," "Like A Lover," "Let's Face The Music And Dance" and "Love Letters".... (straight from your heart... keep us so near while apart... I'm not alone in the night... when I can have all that love you write... I memorize every line... I kiss the name that you sign...").

There are two versions of "When I Fall In Love" - - digitally remastered duets with Nat King Cole. The first one with English lyrics, and the last track in English and Spanish. Ms. Cole's rendition of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Dindi" proves that she can also sing in Portuguese.

On liner notes, Ms. Cole dedicated this album to her late brother, Nat Kelly Cole, whom she knows is "listening with all ears up in Heaven." And to quote the last paragraph on her "Thank You's" ...."Most importantly, I thank my Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, for His unfailing grace and mercy in my life. You don't know what He's done for me--He gave me the victory!!!"

And Ms. Cole's victory is through sharing with us her gift of making beautiful music for our listening pleasure of a lifetime!

"Though I dream in vain

In my heart, it will remain

My stardust melody

The memory of love's refrain"

Natalie Cole has a definitely 'Unforgetable Voice.' Stardust brings me some of the best memories of my life. If ever in need of relaxation, Stardust with soothe your entire mindset. I can't say enough good about this. 'He Was Too Good to Me' is a definite winner

5 Stars forever . It don't matter what Natalie Cole is singing . She has a voice that is yet to be matched. I adore Love letters . All the songs are just beautiful on this cd. A magical ride . Can't wait for new material from Miss Natalie Cole.

Great Album. Good for my collection of great R&B, blues and jazz women singers. Will buy more like it. Thanks.