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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Unforgettable

By Irving Gordon
1951

Perhaps one of the most enduring of all standards, still commonly known today by people of all ages, mainly thanks to the recording by Nat King Cole. It was Cole who introduced the song in 1951, re-recorded it in stereo ten years later, and with whom it has always been identified. His version was famously edited in 1991 into a posthumous "duet" with his daughter Natalie, which won the Grammy for Best Recording. Sadly, that version also amended the fine Nelson Riddle arrangement to including a cheesy sax solo in place of Riddle's trademark shimmering strings.

Lyrics:

Unforgettable
That's what you are,
Unforgettable
Tho' near or far.

Like a song of love that clings to me,
How the thought of you does things to me.
Never before
Has someone been more...

Unforgettable
In every way,
And forever more
That's how you'll stay.

That's why, darling, it's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am
Unforgettable, too.

Recorded By:

Dick Hyman
Dinah Washington
Sammy Davis Jr.
Marvin Gaye
Lou Rawls

2 comments:

Bob said...

I love both of Nat's recordings, though I think the '51 finds him in better voice. (Just my two cents.)

I have no use for the Nat/Natalie revision......

B-Sol said...

I'd have to agree, Bob. It's a shame how they murdered Riddle's arrangement for the duet version.

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