Unforgettable (Nat King Cole song) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Unforgettable" |
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Early-1950s sheet music
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| Single by Nat King Cole | ||||
| from the album Unforgettable | ||||
| B-side | "My First and My Last Love" | |||
| Released | October 1951 | |||
| Recorded | August 17, 1951 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:33 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Irving Gordon | |||
| Producer(s) | Lee Gillette | |||
| Nat King Cole singles chronology | ||||
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| Dinah Washington singles chronology | ||||
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"Unforgettable" is a popular song written by Irving Gordon and produced by Lee Gillette. The song's original working title was "Uncomparable"; however, the music publishing company asked Gordon to change it to "Unforgettable". The song was published in 1951.
Contents
Nat King Cole version
The most popular version of the song was recorded by Nat King Cole in 1951 from his album Unforgettable (1952), with an arrangement written by Nelson Riddle. A non-orchestrated version of the song recorded in 1952 is featured as one of the seven bonus tracks on Cole's 1998 CD reissue of 1955's otherwise completely instrumental album, Penthouse Serenade. On March 30, 1961, Nat King Cole recorded the tune anew in a stereo version (with Ralph Carmichael and his Orchestra) of the Riddle arrangement, for the album The Nat King Cole Story (1961).
In 1991, after Elvis Presley's musical director Joe Guercio had the idea, Cole's original 1951 recording of the song was edited and reworked to create a duet with his daughter, Natalie. The remixed version reached number 14 on the Hot 100, matching the peak position of the original version on the Billboard Best-Selling Pop Singles chart, and also number three on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The song also won three awards at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards (1992): Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.
Nat Cole's original recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000.
Natalie and Nat King Cole version
| "Unforgettable" | ||||
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| Single by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole | ||||
| from the album Unforgettable... with Love | ||||
| B-side | "Cottage for Sale" | |||
| Released | June 1991 | |||
| Recorded | 1991 | |||
| Length | 3:29 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Irving Gordon | |||
| Producer(s) | David Foster | |||
| Natalie Cole singles chronology | ||||
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| Nat King Cole singles chronology | ||||
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American singer Natalie Cole released a cover of the song on her album Unforgettable... with Love (1991). The song, reworked as a "virtual duet" with her father, Nat King Cole, reached number three on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, number one on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary chart, and number two on the Australian Singles Chart. The performance of the song at the 1992 Grammy Awards was released on the 1994 album Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume I.
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 2 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 5 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 15 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) | 1 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | 40 |
| France (SNEP) | 36 |
| Germany (Official German Charts) | 78 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 10 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 20 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 15 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 7 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 19 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 14 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 3 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 10 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1991) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 12 |
| Belgium (Ultratop) | 32 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) | 2 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 50 |
| US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual) | 119 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 56 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Sales |
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| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000^ |
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^shipments figures based on certification alone |
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Other cover versions
Semprini with Rhythm Acc. recorded it in London on March 26, 1952 as the third melody of the medley "Dancing to the piano (No. 14) - Part 1. Hit Medley of Foxtrots" along with "Slow Coach" and "Cry". It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10263.
Other cover versions were performed or recorded by:
- Acoustix (1998)
- George Benson - Inspiration (A Tribute to Nat King Cole) (2013)
- Andrea Bocelli and Lisa Kelly (2010)
- Captain & Tennille (2001)
- Roberto Carlos - Live at Jerusalem (2011)
- Vikki Carr (1997)
- Jackie Chan w/ Ani DiFranco (2002)
- Sammy Davis Jr. on his tribute album to Cole, who died in 1965, The Nat King Cole Songbook, (1965)
- Roberta Flack (1991)
- Aretha Franklin for her album Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington (1964); (1976)
- Marvin Gaye (1965)
- Yvette Giraud (1953, in French under the title "Inoubliable")
- Earl Grant (1960)
- Merle Haggard (2004)
- Engelbert Humperdinck (1980)
- Bradley Joseph (2006)
- Teddi King - All the King's Songs (1959)
- Peggy Lee (1963)
- Leo Masliah of the disc Textualmente 1 (2001)
- Johnny Mathis (1983)
- Masaya Matsuura on his solo album "Beyooond!!!" (2013)
- Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes (2006) (Will & Grace finale as Jack McFarland and Karen Walker)
- Peter Nero (1997)
- Nianell and Dozi - It Takes Two (2009)
- Pepper Adams Quintet (1957)
- Oscar Peterson (1965)
- Esther Phillips (1976)
- Lou Rawls (1977)
- Kenny Rogers (1998)
- Diane Schuur (1991)
- Marlena Shaw (1986)
- Sia - Finding Dory Soundtrack (2016)
- Ricky Vallen (2009)
- Dinah Washington (1959) (was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001)
Sampled by song
- Nas on "Can't Forget About You" (2006)
See also
In Spanish: Unforgettable (canción de Nat King Cole) para niños
