Natalie Cole - Unforgettable: With Love

A major change of direction for Natalie Cole, Unforgettable found the singer abandoning the type of r&b/pop she'd been recording since 1975 in favor of jazz-influenced pre-rock pop along the lines of Nat King Cole's music. It was a surprising risk that paid off handsomely -- both commercially and artistically. Naysayers who thought that so radical a change would be commercial suicide were proven wrong when the outstanding Unforgettable sold a shocking five million units. Quite clearly, this was an album Cole was dying to make. Paying tribute to her late father on "Mona Lisa," "Nature Boy," "Route 66," and other gems that had been major hits for him in the 1940s and early '50s, the 41-year-old Cole sounds more inspired than she had in well over a decade. On the title song, overdubbing was used to make it sound as though she were singing a duet with her father -- dishonest perhaps, but certainly enjoyable. Thankfully, standards and pre-rock pop turned out to be a primary direction for Cole, who was a baby when the title song became a hit for her father in 1951. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Schmitt Engineer, Mixing Al Viola Guitar Alan Broadbent Piano, Celeste Alan DeVeritch Viola Alexander Treger Violin Anas Alaf Assistant Engineer, Engineer Anatoly Rosinsky Violin André Fischer Arranger, Producer Andy Simpkins Bass Anne Karam Cello Antony Cooke Cello Armand Karpoff Cello Armen Garabedian Violin Armen Ksadjikian Cello Armin Steiner Engineer Arnold Belnick Violin Arthur Maebe French Horn Assa Drori Violin Barbara Porter Violin Berj Garabedian Violin Bernard Kundell Violin Berwyn Linton Copyist Bill Holman Arranger Bill Hughes Copyist Bill Reichenbach Jr. Trombone (Bass) Bob Efford Sax (Baritone) Bob Tricarico Sax (Baritone) Bonnie Douglas Violin Brad Cole Piano Brad Wanaar French Horn Brian Leonard Violin Brian O'Connor French Horn Bruce Dukov Violin Bruce Paulson Trombone Buell Neidlinger String Bass Carole Mukogawa Viola Cecille Parker Stylist Charles Loper Trombone Charlie Davis Trumpet Chris Rich Assistant Engineer, Engineer Chuck Domanico String Bass, Bass Chuck Findley Trumpet Clare Fischer Arranger, Piano, Rhythm Arrangements Clayton Haslop Violin Conte Candoli Trumpet Dan Higgins Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano) Dan Neufeld Viola Daniel Rothmuller Cello Darius Campo Violin Dave Reitzas Mixing, Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer, Engineer Dave Weckl Drums David "Fathead" Newman Sax (Tenor) David Duke French Horn David Foster Producer David Stockhammer Viola Debbie Hall Vocals (Background) Deborah Mitchell Copyist Dennis Budimir Guitar Dennis Karmazyn Cello Denyse Buffum Viola Diana Halprin Violin Dixie Blackstone Violin Don McInnes Viola Don Menza Sax (Tenor) Don Shelton Vocals (Background) Donna Davidson Vocals (Background) Dorothy Remsen Harp Dorothy Wade Violin Doug Saks Mastering Doyle Partners Design Dwight Mikkelsen Copyist Edith Markman Violin Elizabeth Finch Copyist Endre Granat Violin Ezra Kliger Violin Frank Szabo Trumpet Fred Hayman Clothing/Wardrobe, Wardrobe Frederick Seykora Cello Gail Cruz Violin Gary Foster Woodwind, Flute, Sax (Alto) Gary Grant Trumpet Gayle Levant Harp Gene Cipriano Oboe, Woodwind Gene Merlino Vocals (Background) George Bohannon Trombone George Bohanon Trombone George Hurrell Photography Gerald Vinci Violin Haim Shtrum Violin Harold Jones Drums Harris Goldman Violin Harry Shirinian Viola Henry Ferber Violin Ike Cole Piano Irma Neumann Violin Isabelle Daskoff Violin Israel Baker Violin Jack Furlong Copyist Jack Nimitz Sax (Baritone), Woodwind Jack Redmond Trombone Jacqueline Brand Violin James Cowger Copyist James Getzoff Violin James Hughart Drums, Bass Janet Zeitoun Hair Stylist Jeff Hamilton Drums Jeffery Jones Copyist Jeffrey "Woody" Woodruff Engineer Jeffrey Jones Copyist Jerry Jordan Engineer, Assistant Engineer Jim Hughart Bass Jim Thatcher French Horn JoAnn Turovsky Harp Jodi Burnett Cello Joe Sample Piano Joey Wolpert Engineer John Bruno Engineer, Assistant Engineer John Chiodini Guitar John Clayton Bass, String Bass John Collins Guitar John Johnson Tuba John Patitucci Bass John Pisano Guitar John Thomas Johnson Tuba Johnny Mandel Adaptation, Orchestral Arrangements, Arranger Joseph Estren Copyist Julie Gigante Violin Karen Jones Violin Kathleen Lenski Violin Katie Kirkpatrick Harp Kazi Pitelka Viola Ken Yerke Violin Kenneth Burward-Hoy Viola Kerry Katz Vocals (Background) Kevin Becka Engineer, Assistant Engineer Lanny Morgan Sax (Alto) Larry Bunker Percussion Larry Hall Trumpet Lily Chen Violin Louise Di Tullio Flute, Woodwind Margaret Maryatt Copyist Margaret Storer String Bass Mari Tsumura-Botnick Violin Marilyn Baker Violin Marilyn L. Johnson French Horn Marnie Riley Assistant Engineer, Engineer Marty Paich Arranger, Orchestral Arrangements, Rhythm Arrangements Maurice Cevrero Copyist Michael Ferril Violin Michael Markman Violin Michael Melvoin Piano Michel Legrand Orchestral Arrangements, Arranger Michelle Winding Assistant, Assistant Producer Mike Lang Piano Mike Nowack Viola Milton Thomas Viola Miwako Watanabe Violin Monty Alexander Piano Murray Adler Violin Myra Kestenbaum Viola Myron Sandler Viola Natalie Cole Vocals, Vocal Arrangement, Arranger Nathan Kaproff Violin Nelson Riddle Arranger Nils Oliver Cello Nolan Andrew Smith Trumpet Oscar Brashear Trumpet Pamela Goldsmith Viola Pat Coil Synthesizer Paul Shure Violin Paula Hochhalter Cello Pavel Farkas Violin Pete Beltran Trombone (Bass) Pete Christlieb Sax (Tenor), Saxophone, Woodwind Peter Darmi Engineer Pierre Leloup Linguist Rail Jon Rogut Engineer, Assistant Engineer Ralph Burns Arranger Ralph Grierson Synthesizer Ralph Morrison Violin Randy Kerber Synthesizer Randy Long Engineer, Assistant Engineer Ray Blair Engineer, Assistant Engineer Ray Brown Arranger, Bass Raymond Tischer Violin, Viola Rene Mandel Violin Richard Mitchell Sax (Tenor) Richard Nash Trombone Rick Baptist Trumpet Rick Logan Vocals (Background) Rick Mitchell Sax (Tenor) Rick Todd French Horn Rick Winquest Assistant Engineer, Engineer Robert Stone String Bass Roland Kato Viola Ron Gorow Copyist Ronald Cooper Cello Ronald Folsom Violin Ronald Langinger Flute Ronnie Lang Woodwind Roy Trakin Liner Notes Sally Stevens Vocals (Background) Samuel Boghossian Viola Shari Sutcliffe Project Coordinator Sheridon Stokes Woodwind Sid Page Violin Sid Sharp Violin Sol Gubin Drums Stanley Plummer Violin Stephen Erdody Cello Steve Huffsteter Trumpet Steve Kujala Woodwind Stuart Canin Violin Susan Greenberg Flute Susan Stevens Vocals (Background) Suzie Katayama Copyist Tara Posey Make-Up Terry Brown Assistant Engineer, Engineer Thomas "Snake" Johnson Trombone Thurman Green Trombone Tim Lauber Engineer, Assistant Engineer Tom Boyd Oboe Tom Garvin Synthesizer Tommy LiPuma Rhythm Arrangements, Producer Valerie Smith ?, Linguist Vincent DeRosa French Horn Warren Luening Trumpet William Francis Copyist William Perkins Sax (Alto) Woody Woodruff Engineer Yoko Matsuda Violin