Album lore

Unforgettable, issued by Capitol in 1954, collects twelve tracks that showcase Nat King Cole’s transformation from jazz pianist to consummate romantic crooner. The album leans on Cole’s early ’50s collaborations with arranger and conductor Nelson Riddle, whose orchestral backings—lush yet intimate—frame Cole’s velvety baritone. Among these, “Mona Lisa” and the title track stand as definitive ballads of the era, embodying the era’s adult standards with understated elegance.Notably, the record includes Riddle’s 1954 treatment of Dimitri Tiomkin’s “Hajji Baba,” a cinematic theme given a campy, exotic flair through Ned Washington’s lyrics and Cole’s nuanced delivery. Originally released as a 10-inch LP in 1952, this 12-inch reissue adds further depth to an already distinguished collection. For the crate-digger and vocal jazz enthusiast alike, Unforgettable remains a vital artifact of 1950s popular music, its resonance undiminished by time.

Album lore

Unforgettable, issued by Capitol in 1954, collects twelve tracks that showcase Nat King Cole’s transformation from jazz pianist to consummate romantic crooner. The album leans on Cole’s early ’50s collaborations with arranger and conductor Nelson Riddle, whose orchestral backings—lush yet intimate—frame Cole’s velvety baritone. Among these, “Mona Lisa” and the title track stand as definitive ballads of the era, embodying the era’s adult standards with understated elegance.Notably, the record includes Riddle’s 1954 treatment of Dimitri Tiomkin’s “Hajji Baba,” a cinematic theme given a campy, exotic flair through Ned Washington’s lyrics and Cole’s nuanced delivery. Originally released as a 10-inch LP in 1952, this 12-inch reissue adds further depth to an already distinguished collection. For the crate-digger and vocal jazz enthusiast alike, Unforgettable remains a vital artifact of 1950s popular music, its resonance undiminished by time.