Studio Album · No. 2
Unforgettable Songwriting Credits by Nat King Cole
Produced by Lee Gillette
Holds writing credit on 0 of 12 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 0 / 12 documented
Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Nat King Cole carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Unforgettable is a singer's album, not a songwriter's. Nat King Cole wrote none of these songs; every title comes from outside writers of the mid-century popular songbook. Irving Gordon wrote the title track 'Unforgettable' on his own, and the film standard 'Mona Lisa' was written by the songwriting team of Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, who won the 1950 Academy Award for Best Original Song for it. Cole's contribution is his voice and phrasing, framed by the arrangements of Nelson Riddle, Les Baxter, and Pete Rugolo, so the writing credits point entirely away from him and toward the songwriters he interpreted.
Unforgettable is a studio collection of ballads by Nat King Cole, issued by Capitol Records as a 12-inch LP in 1954 after an earlier 10-inch edition in 1952. It gathers a run of Cole's most enduring Capitol sides, including the title track 'Unforgettable,' 'Mona Lisa,' and 'Too Young,' songs Cole sang but did not write. The material comes from outside songwriters of the era: Irving Gordon supplied 'Unforgettable,' while the Paramount film song 'Mona Lisa' came from Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. Cole's warm baritone sits against lush orchestral settings arranged chiefly by Nelson Riddle and Les Baxter, with further backing from Pete Rugolo's orchestra and Cole's own trio. The record has since been certified Platinum in the United States and remains one of the defining showcases of Cole the interpreter rather than Cole the writer.
Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Unforgettable
#14
|
Irving Gordon | Irving Gordon | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Nelson Riddle (Arranger, Orchestra) |
| 2 |
A Portrait of Jennie
|
Gordon BurdgeJ. Russell Robinson | Gordon BurdgeJ. Russell Robinson | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals) |
| 3 |
What'll I Do?
|
Irving Berlin | Israel Isidore Baline | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Nat King Cole Trio (Performer) |
| 4 |
Lost April
|
Eddie DeLangeEmil NewmanHerbert W. Spencer | Eddie DeLangeEmil NewmanHerbert W. Spencer | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Nat King Cole Trio (Performer) |
| 5 |
Answer Me, My Love
|
Fred RauchCarl SigmanGerhard Winkler | Fred RauchCarl SigmanGerhard Winkler | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Nelson Riddle (Arranger, Orchestra) |
| 6 |
Hajji Baba (Persian Lament)
|
Dimitri TiomkinNed Washington | Dimitri TiomkinNed Washington | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Nelson Riddle (Arranger, Orchestra) |
| 7 |
Too Young
#1
|
Sylvia Dee | Sidney Lippman | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Les Baxter (Arranger, Orchestra) |
| 8 |
Mona Lisa
#1
|
Jay LivingstonRay Evans | Jay LivingstonRay Evans | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Les Baxter (Arranger, Orchestra) |
| 9 |
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
|
Deek Watson | William Best | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Nat King Cole Trio (Performer) |
| 10 |
Red Sails in the Sunset
|
Jimmy Kennedy | Hugh Williams | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Pete Rugolo (Arranger, Orchestra) |
| 11 |
Pretend
|
Dan BellocLew DouglassFrank LaVereCliff Parman | Dan BellocLew DouglassFrank LaVereCliff Parman | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Nelson Riddle (Arranger, Orchestra) |
| 12 |
Make Her Mine
|
Sammy Gallop | Chester Conn | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Nelson Riddle (Arranger, Orchestra) |