Natalie Cole

SIMPLY THE BEST...THE MUSICAL "CHARTS" AND HER LYRIC STYLE MAKE EACH SONG A "STANDARD". I THINK THIS ALBUM IS ONE OF HER BEST!

I purchased this album after hearing Natalie's performance of Nice and Easy on Dr. Phil recently. This is an outstanding album. An additional standout track is Coffee Time.

This is a wonderful collection of Natalie Cole. It includes some new and some old, including some songs mixed like she did "Unforgettable" with her father's voice.
One of her best!

Natalie Cole's voice is flawless on this collection of American Standards. Just like UNFORGETTABLE her emotive yet perfectly controlled vocals seemlessly plays with the lush orchestration. The clarity of her voice reminds one of the great Ella Fitzgerald.

It's fun to hear her have fun with the uptempo songs, even inject a bit of soulfulness (remember the power-house voice from the 70's?), but it is on the ballards where one feels the full range and color of her deceptively simple vocal style. This is highlighted in "You Go To My Head", "Here's That Rainy Day" and "Lollipops and Roses", where she pulls every bit of emotion out of the lyrics.

The songs are possibly the lesser known or remembered standards - the kind of songs that makes the listener initially scratch the brow but then go "oh yeah - I remember this". Orchestration is sometimes a bit expected but nonetheless perfect for Cole's voice.

This collection is a great way to introduce young children to great music and wonderful singing. My kids are amazed to hear that the person singing is the same on the 70's classics "This Will Be - An Everlasting" and "I've Got Love". It just goes to show that a great singer can sing anything.

Although I don't think this is the best CD Natalie Cole has ever done, it is still very good and pleasant to listen to. I like it better each time I listen to it. She certainly is a credit to the legacy of her father and continues to reach for better performances all the time. May she sing for a long time to come.

One of the best Christmas Albums around. The Carol of the Bells arrangement is wonderful. A great addition to your Christmas Music Library.

The first track is one of those things of legend you hear once on an all-christmas radio station and never hear again. It took years to track down the album, and another year to buy this one because no one had it. I was pleasantly surprised by the rest of the album, which is all good, but none of them reached the status as Foster's piece.

I'd never heard of David Foster until earlier last year when the first track, Carol of the Bells, started playing on local FM stations. It is awesome and I immediately went home and ordered it and another of his discs (which I gave as a Christmas present.) When I listened to the disc all the way through I came away a little disappointed. Perhaps I was expecting too much based on the first track. The first track and a couple of other tracks were superb. The rest left me feeling as though Foster tried very hard to find new ways to arrange old songs but somehow lost the magic of them in the translation. Perhaps I'm just being an old fart but I do continue to love other arrangements of Christmas music that aren't the old standards from TSO to some of the different arrangements that James Taylor has done.

The instrumentals are excellent. This is a nice addition to a Christmas music collection

THIS IS A CD, MOSTLY COMPOSED AND PRODUCED BY DAVID FOSTER, WHO IS A REAL GENIUS....I WAS AMAZED HOW MANY SONGS FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS HE WAS INVOLVED IN...THE CD WAS WELL WORTH GETTING....THE PRICE WAS GREAT AND THE PROCESS OF BUYING ON LINE WAS VERY EASY...IT IS A CHRISTMAS CD....IF YOU LOVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC AS I DO ..IT WILL BE YOUR FAVORITE, IT HAS VARIOUS ARTIST SINGING AND THEY ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST...I AM ONE HAPPY CUSTOMER!

Probably one of the best albums ever made. Astonishingly great production values. A remarkable talent. A must for any music lover.

Natalie Cole, one of the preeminent vocalists of our time, puts her pop/r&b career on hold for this labor of love. Partly as a tribute to her late, great father, Nat "King" Cole, Natalie covers 22 of his greatest hits from the classic American songbook that made him famous. Much is so achingly romantic it practically hurts. Everything about this album is outstanding: production, arrangements, choice of songs, performance and sales (over 14 million units and counting). Unarguably one of the ten greatest albums of all time of any genre.

The power and love that Natalie has put into this CD has all the earmarks of her debut album of many years ago. Her talent really shines and if her father was still alive he would have to say : well done.

I really enjoyed this CD. I could almost feel the presence of Natalie's father while she sang his songs. It's a very romantic CD and makes great cocktail/dinner music.

If one were to fill a MUSICAL time capsule, then "Unforgettable: With Love" would be placed in it. Not only is the album does the album pay tribute to one of the all-time greats of music, Cole's father Nat, but it is a multiple Grammy-winner that appealed to fans of many genres.

Cole is very effective singing the standards made famous by her father and realizes that his stamp is emblazoned on most of them. She never tries to imitate him, just offers her own spin on such gems as "Mona Lisa," "Smile," "Straighten Up and Fly Right," "Nature Boy," and "Our Love is Here to Stay."

Of course, no musical collection would be complete without the landmark and one-of-a-kind (at the time) pairing of father and daughter on "Unforgettable."

The song is just as the title says and worthy of the praise it has garnered since its release.

I can't believe that I didn't buy this album sixteen years ago.

Where was my brain???

Each Christmas season there is a glut of single-artist and multi-artist compilations vying for your attention (and dollars), but if you see this one, which first entered the scene in 1999, and you are thinking about adding to your Christmas music library, my advice would be to grab a copy.

In addition to beautiful renditions of traditional and familiar classic carols like Hark The Herald Angels Sing, O Tannenbaum, and Carol Of The Bells, Natalie and The London Symphony Orchestra outdo themselves on Mel Torme's The Christmas Song, Sammy Cahn & Julie Styne's Christmas Waltz, and Leroy Anderson's immortal Sleigh Ride. My particular favourite, however, is their handling of David Foster and Linda Thompson Jenner's My Grown-Up Christmas List, which became a hit single in 2003 for Kelly Clarkson.

The sound quality is perfect, although the fold-out insert is confined to a re-listing of the tracks showing composers and two brief paragraphs from Natalie in which she acknowledges those who worked with her on the album, PLUS another full-length shot of Natalie in that white gown.

The wonderful father/daughter duet The Christmas Song alone is worth the cost of the CD. But the whole CD is great. Natalie's Grown Up Christmas List is one of the best versions--heartfelt, sincere (get out your box of kleenex, you'll need it). When she sings this song it is a touching plea for peace and increase human kindness. She doesn't just march through the lyrics in this song (or any song she performs, for that matter)--she LIVES them. I challenge you not to cry after the modulation of the song and the choir comes in.

What makes Cole's version of Sleigh Ride so great is the change of tempo. She has fun with the song, and that makes it a fun song to listen to.

Also recommended:

Angel on My Shoulder: An Autobiography--this book shows that Natalie Cole is not just a great singer, she is an incredible, amazing, and courageous woman--an awesome example of strength.

Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices--remember the box of kleenex you got for Natalie's Grown Up Christmas List? Well, save some tissues for this book.

Almost all the cuts focus on Pop-MOR Standards. There is a Bring-Back-The-Dead-Duet with her Dad (Nat 'King' Cole) on "The Christmas Song", yes this worked once on "Unforgettable", but to keep doing this gets to be a little stale or why just do a complete Duet Project with Natalie and her Dad? (Hmmmmmmmm, Something to think about, who knows maybe it could be a Grammy winning project?). Standout cuts are: "Sleigh Ride", "Mary, Did You Know" & "Carol Of The Bells". Now understand, this ain't the type of album to get your party started, but for some real nice Office Party this would work well...Wine, Cheese & Crackers.

I originally bought this item because I love the song "Mary Did You Know?" Natalie Cole's voice only made it that much more enjoyable. The best surprise on the CD was a duet with her father. I really love the sound of their two voices together.

I enjoyed Ms. Cole's CD. I have always listened to her father's CD during the holidays and now I can listen to hers too. It was quite enjoyable.

After receiving an iPod this year, one of the 1st songs I looked for was "The Holly and the Ivy" by Natalie Cole. I was disappointed not to see it available at the iTunes store. So, I looked it up on Amazon and knew I could get it by buying the album of the same title. Eventually I did. There are some acceptable songs on this album but they are not in the same league as the last track, "The Holly and the Ivy." Natalie's rendition of this song is in the same ballpark of greatness as her dad's "The Christmas Song," one of the best Christmas tunes of all time. And that is why I rate this CD four stars.

This is a happy, classic Christmas CD and a must have for your collection. All the songs are very well performed but No More Blue Christmas and A Song for Christmas are quite beautiful.

Natalie's first Christmas album and probably her best--excellent! Great song selections, both new and old. What a classy lady. Be sure to check the companion PBS special "Holly and Ivy"-it's not available on DVD but you can still find it on VHS. You won't be disappointed!

I ordered this cd from a seller here on amazon and never received the merchandise. My money was taken immediately without thought. Two months after not receiving my merchadise I emailed the seller and one month later I still have not received the cd or a response. I write this statement in March 2007 and I ordered the cd in December 2006. Sellers like this will make one think twice about ordering online again. Otherwise I am assured this is one of the best cd's Natalie has ever recorded and it remains to be a timely holiday classic.

"Thanks to you my Father and my Lord Jesus Christ through whom I can do all things which strengtheneth me. May this music carry a blessing in whatever way He sees fit." ~ Natalie Cole ~

If there's one Christmas song that I enjoy listening to all-year-round, it's the wondrous "A Christmas Song" by Mel Torme and Robert Wells. This beautiful carol was written forty-five years ago and still going on strong. It's timeless and classic. Simply put, it's the epitome of what Christmas is all about. It was the great singer Nat King Cole who first popularized this song. And now his equally talented daughter and chanteuse extraordinaire Natalie Cole sings it so splendidly in this album. This is one of the best recordings of Ms. Cole from my collection.

This is one of the Christmas CDs I would highly recommend. It's a perfect Christmas gift to any music lover. Celebrate the Christmas Season in style and make this CD a constant companion in your car, at work, at home or to any Holiday parties. The choice of material reflects the true essence of Christmas and made more so special with the elegance of Ms. Cole's delivery and renditions as well as the seasoned arrangers headed by Alan Broadbent and the expert musicians who made this recording one of the best Christmas albums of all-time.

You'll enjoy listening to the exuberance of "Jingle Bells," the solemnity of "The First Noel" and "Silent Night," the charms of "Caroling, Caroling" with chorus by the Children's Choir, the majesty of "Joy To The World," the radiance of a Christmas Medley of "Jingle Bell Rock," "Winter Wonderland," "Little Drummer Boy" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and of course the eternal beauty of "A Christmas Song."

"And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas to you."

She's just great and any collection of her songs would be off the hook. This one is no exception. Loved it!

THE CD CAME IN RECORD TIME AND IT HAD ALL THE GREAT MUSIC THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

Natalie Cole's greatest Hits are really a great CD with many wonderful songs and melodies.

I like this cd a lot. Natalie sure has had a lot of great songs over the years. One song in particular (which of course as luck would have it) is missing from here. A Little Bit of Heaven (from a now unobtainable cd Dangerous) is my all time fave of hers. In the mean time, I still love Miss You Like Crazy etc. This is a good cd for all Natalie fans - and even if you aren't - because there is a good mix of older and newer material. I give it a four because of the mix, but minus one star because of the missing hit.

I want to love this, really I do. But Rule One of a Greatest Hits disc is to actually use the hit version of the song. "Our Love" and "Mr. Melody" are here in unnecessary live versions. ("Lucy in the Sky..." was live from the get-go; I don't like it but at least it's the "correct" version.)

If there's ever a Volume 2, it needs to have the above hit versions plus such omissions as Sophisticated Lady, Someone That I Used To Love, Jump Start, Dangerous, A Little Bit of Heaven, and Starting Over Again. What's the holdup? Even U2 put out hits discs faster than this...

Every once in awhile I run across an album that excells, not because of the shining brilliance of one artist, but because of the collective impact of several. Here, in this album, are some little-known gems from Christmas music literature. I was captivated by the lilting and primitive joy in "Jesus, the Light of the World," which I had never heard before. Then there is Chanticleer and its rendition of Charles Ives' "Christmas Carol," a classic too little known. There are others. If you look for unique renditions of familiar and unfamiliar Christmas music to enhance the joy of the season, this album is a must-buy.

The minute I heard Thomas Hampson sing the first few notes of Adeste Fideles, I knew I had to have this album. It is a marvelous compilation of Classical Christmas favorites (excerpts from the Bach, Vivaldi and Corelli Christmas Concertos and The Nutcracker) and standard Christmas favorites, as well as some of the lesser heard Christmas gems.

The vocal power on this 2 CD set is amazing as well--Broadway star Linda Eder, Thomas Hampson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Jose Carreras, Chanticleer, and numerous others. I usually purchase one Christmas CD a year. This was it for me this year--make it part of your holiday collection.

Bought this CD on one of those insane, last minute gift searches and ended up keeping it for myself. The CD cover is awful ugly. But the music inside is a delightful surprize. If you have not heard any of these tracks before, trust me, this is good stuff. FourPlay, Anita Baker and strong bass lines played with a Christmas touch. You will thank me 12 times for letting you in on this jewel. My favorites: Anita Baker's "Christmas Fantasy"- listen to her phrasing over that beat; FourPlay's "It came upon a midnight clear"-a very heavy, aggressive piano with percussion and guitar to match; and Donna Summer's "Christmas Spirit"- the chorus is just inspiring. So there, in the end I did make a gift of this CD. Go for it, enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Wow, a Christmas CD that has some new 2007 recordings from R&B legends of the 70's and 80's. Nice package of great singing, arrangements and songs. I bought it for the 2 new songs by the Pointer Sisters - the first studio recordings made since June Pointer passed away, and her niece Issa replaced her. Their version of " CAROL OF THE BELLS " is amazing - very spiritual, and highly intricate with the harmonies & layers of vocals. Plus, they do a new song " CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK ". For that matter, any fan of the big name artists on this CD will want to have this collection for the new and rare songs that are on it.

This was another one of my post-Christmas bargains. As the title says, the 12 tracks on this disc are both smooth and soulful--with an emphasis on smooth. Song selections are almost evenly divided between the familiar and the original.

The Pointer Sisters start things upbeat with "Christmas in New York," along with a bouncy version of "Carol of the Bells." Al Jarreau performs two funky originals, including "Peggy Virginia" which he co-wrote. Fourplay provide two jazzy instrumentals--"It Came Upon a Midnight CLear" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." These six tracks are debuting on this holiday release.

The other six tracks, like Take 6's haunting "Away in a Manger" and Anita Baker's gorgeous "Christmas Fantasy," were culled from previous holiday albums. Altogether, this makes for pleasant listening. [Running Time - 51:55] RECOMMENDED

I discovered this wonderful production after Unforgetable. In many ways Stardust was much more of a surprise.

Natalie Cole - How can you ever go wrong with listening to her music. It is timeless and soothing to listen to.

Had the CD several years ago, lost it, and had to buy it again. Love Unforgettable with Natalie and Nat.

Natalie Cole knows the there is poetry in music which suits her voice well, but it is more than understanding the lilt of a phrase to make a song great. Many song-stylists are able to smooth over old songs and pass them off as "their own". But it's her way of introducing and exploring these songs very substance and heart that makes this release so very good. These are great love songs of the highest order and Natalie does them greater justice. The music, not ordinarily heard on other CDs, was chosen with care. The first song, "There's A Lull In My Life" was from a long forgotten 1937 film called "Wake Up and Live", a beautifully crafted song which Natalie put her own rich vocal style on and makes it shine, even after 60 years of obsurity. Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" has been recorded so often by others, yet Natalie's version became the title song of the CD. In 1936, Irving Berlin penned a song for a film called "Follow That Fleet", entitled "Let's Face The Music and Dance" with none other than Fred Astaire. Natalie used the organ introduction to cover this song. "Teach Me Tonight" and "What A Difference A Day Makes" and "Love Letters" are all sung with honesty that makes the song even better after many years of use by others. But it is "When I Fall In Love" that harkens back to Natalie's dad Nat King Cole...a great song that would be difficult for anyone else to sing but Natalie proves that the song is timeless and she does indeed makes it her own song. The up-beat jazz piece "If You Could See Me Now" (recorded by Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan in the '60s) is a demanding song but Natalie gives it a new "twist" and sings it softer and with great feeling. There are so many great songs in this CD. I highly recommend it to those who want to update their "easy listening" catalog of music. Natalie Cole gives new meaning to love songs best heard under a full moon and stardust. I do like this CD and play it often.

"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."

Please disregard the last reviewer who complains this compilation does not include hits from the 80's and 90's. It's very obvious he does not know anything Natalie's career. This great CD represents when we(her core audience) discovered her as a soulful sister putting it down. It is obvious he did not bother to read this CD is a compliation of material from CAPITOL records 1975-1981, not from the late 80's(EMI) or 90's(Elektra)when she recorded "Pink Cadillac" etc.. Check it out for yourself if you want to hear where Natalie began. A stark and exciting contrast from the dinner music that would become her.

There are often times where a actual greatest hits album can deliver, or miss out upon an artists' highs and lows from their musical career. That hasn't happened with many performers in the industry. Although there have been some good artists like Natalie Cole who've really strided into the light, from where everybody thought the career was in oblivion. Her career in the late 80's and 90's was realy something that still stands as definitive as it also was back in the 70's, despit her problems with vices like drugs and other incidents. Arguably, her greatest hits haven't been definitive at all, and this one hits that same theory.

Natalie Cole Anthology is a double album retrospective of Natalie's voice from her era with Capitol Records in the 70's and 80's. The songs here are showcased fairly well with each tone of her elequent voice from tracks like I've Got Love On My Mind, the definitive classic This Will Be (Everlasting Love) her rendition of The Beatles classic Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and so many others. Although the compilation does showcase a diva at one of her hey days. the album definitely overlooks a lot from Natalie Cole during her 80's and 90's periods. The collection really overlooks tracks like Pink Cadillac, I Live For Your Love, and especially Unforgettable, her definitive recording with her father, the legendary Nat King Cole.

All in all, the Natalie Cole Anthology does miss out on so much, and does deliver partily some of her great career. Instead, I absolutely suggest you purchase the Natalie Cole single disc Greatest Hits Volume 1 instead. It is a much more definitive collection than this one. This is just forgettable.

Album Cover: B

Songs: C 1/2-

Price: C

Remastering: B-

Overall: C

Natalie Cole's career on Capitol Records is thoroughly covered on "Anthology." All 16 of her solo R & B chart hits from 1975 to 1981 are here (two duets with Peabo Bryson are on his entry in this series).

I thought about a 4-star rating because it seems 16 songs could have fit on one cheaper disc. But too many fans would correctly point out the superiority of some album cuts to some of the songs actually released as singles, so this earns the highest rating by being generous on both counts.

Her big hits deserve more play on "oldies" radio: the sassy "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" and the pretty ballads "I've Got Love On My Mind" and "Our Love." But this is not a hits CD to use the skip button on. Especially on Disc 1, all the songs are excellent.

If your interest is more casual, the cheaper "Collection" has the key hits and a couple of album tracks. To me, "Greatest Hits Vol. I" fails by using who-asked-for-'em live versions of "Mr. Melody" and "Our Love" while inevitably leaving off too much. Rather than a "Vol. II" I would rather see Hip-O or Rhino do an equally thorough comp of the second part of Natalie's chart career. If you can, I recommend springing for this over "Collection."

All Natalie's key big hit for Capitol are
included and the abundance of strong album
tracks from 1975-81 era. Her whole "Natalie
Live" album is a treat and it's great to hear
3 tracks were added to this anthology. Every
one probably has there favorites that weren't
added. Missing are "Still In Love" and at least
one great duet with Peabo like "Gimme Some Time"
or their stunning re-make of Natalie's self-penned
"Your Lonely Heart." Kudos to the compiler
for adding gems like the soulful "Hold On" and
the plaintive "I'm Sorry."

A much better collection than the Greatest Hits cd of a few years ago, but wish some key tracks were included, as well as later material. Missing are "Heaven Is With You, "Touch Me" and "Keep Smiling" from Natalie, "I Can't Breakaway" from Unpredictable, and pretty much everything from Thankful. I am very pleased with the inclusion of "Peaceful Living" from Unpredictable. I've always felt that was one of Ms. Cole's strongest recordings.
All in all, a welcome addition, but the Diva deserves more! Almost thirty years in the business demands more respect!