Written by Larry Conley Music by Willard Robinson

“Unforgettable,” was made into a virtual duet between songbird Natalie Cole (1950-2015) and her legendary dad, Nat “King” Cole (1919-1965) with the wizardry of new technology way after Nat “King” Cole’s death. Produced by David Foster in 1991, “Unforgettable” became an unexpected and delightful hit.

The duet of father and daughter reached Billboard’s Hot 100 at #14, #10 on the Hot R&B chart and #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart. “Unforgettable” also won the 1992 Song of the Year and 1992 Record of the Year at the Grammys. The triumph of this song and its parent album, Unforgettable… with Love, revived Foster’s career and jumpstarted another spectacular decade for the Hitman.

A previous review of “Unforgettable” is available in the archives. This week, take a look at the single’s b-side. Here you will find a gorgeous rendition of the evergreen, “Cottage For Sale.” This gem was also produced by Foster and wasn’t originally included on Ms. Cole’s Unforgettable…with Love

“Cottage For Sale” was a classic of the American songbook with over 100 covers to its credit. The first performance of “Cottage For Sale” was by The Revelers way back in 1930. Ms. Cole’s version sported a finger-snapping arrangement written by Foster with maestro Johnny Mandel (1925-2020). “Cottage For Sale” was another showcase for the late singer’s amazing abilities. Ms. Cole naturally shined with her soulful, crystal-clear mezzo-soprano and her sublime phrasing accompanied by a fantastic jazz quartet with the added plus of a beautiful acoustic piano solo.

The quality of this killer number deserved inclusion on the original version of Unforgettable… with Love. With the recent release of the 30th anniversary edition, justice was finally served and “Cottage For Sale” was added to the tracklist along with “At Last,” another b-side gem produced by André Fisher.

Listen

• Lead Vocal: Natalie Cole

• Arranged by Johnny Mandel & David Foster
• Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

Our little dream castle with every dream gone
Is lonely and silent, the shades are all drawn
And my heart is heavy as I gaze upon
A cottage for sale

The lawn we were proud of is waving in hay
Our beautiful garden has withered away
Where you planted roses, the weeds seem to say
A cottage for sale

From every single window, I see your face
But when I reach a window, there’s empty space
The key’s in the mail box the same as before
But no one is waiting any more
The end of the story is told on the door
A cottage for sale

From every single window, I see your face
But when I reach a window, there’s empty space
The key’s in the mail box the same as before
But no one is waiting any more
The end of the story is told on the door
A cottage for sale, for sale
Just a cottage for sale

“Mona Lisa” has been hailed as an American pop evergreen. It was written by the songwriting team of Ray Evans (1915-2007) and Jay Livingston (1915-2001) for the 1950 movie Captain Carey, USA, starring the late Alan Ladd (1913-1964). “Mona Lisa” was sung by the renowned Nat “King” Cole (1919-1965) and won the Academy Award as “Best Original Song.”

The song spent five weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Singles chart. The late singer also said that “Mona Lisa” was one of the favorites in his amazing repertoire. Needless to say, this song was one of the remakes that the late, great Natalie Cole (1950-2015) recorded in 1991 for the immensely successful tribute to her father, Unforgettable…With Love.

It was common knowledge that David Foster produced the now classic, Grammy-winning title track as a virtual father-daughter duet, but he also had a hand on several other cuts of Unforgettable…With Love, including the wonderful rendition of “Mona Lisa.” The legendary Johnny Mandel, who also won a Grammy for his arrangement of the “Unforgettable” duet, worked his magic again on “Mona Lisa.” Mandel provided a lush, silky orchestral background for Foster’s production. “Mona Lisa” was another Foster state-of-the-art affair with an intimate instrumental track that featured a gorgeous acoustic guitar by the fabulous John Chiodini. Ms. Cole knew she was doing the project of a lifetime and her vocal performance, with Foster’s brilliant support, was nothing short of sublime. With “Mona Lisa” and her whole Unforgettable…With Love album, Ms. Cole delivered a heartfelt tribute to her father, yet also crafted a musical masterpiece that audiences will treasure forever. Congratulations goes to Foster and his peers, the late, great Tommy Lipuma (1936-2017) and Andre Fischer, for transforming Ms. Cole’s vision into timeless music.

Listen

Lead Vocals: Natalie Cole

Bass: Ray Brown

Guitars: John Chiodini

Drums: Sol Gubin

Piano: Mike Lang & Michael Melvoin

Arranged by Johnny Mandel

Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa men have named you
You’re so like the lady with the mystic smile
Is it only cause you’re lonely they have blamed you
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your style
Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart
Many dreams have been brought to your door step
They just lie there and they die there
Are you warm? Are you real Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art
– Musical Interlude –
Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart
Many dreams have been brought to your door step
They just lie there and they die there
Are you warm? Are you real Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa

Around 1996, David Foster worked on a special cd titled For Our Children too! that benefited the Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Foster wasn’t only the executive producer of the project, but personally crafted seven tracks for it. Foster worked with some of his superstar friends including Cher, Babyface, Celine Dion, Toni Braxton, Faith Hill and the late Natalie Cole (1950-2015). Other music greats appearing in the stellar line-up were Sir Elton John, Seal, Richard Marx, Vanessa Williams and the late Luther Vandross (1951-2005). We already reviewed Ms. Braxton’s intense interpretation of the R&B classic, “Brown Baby” that’s still available in the archives.

There was another song that deserved the spotlight; Ms. Cole’s stunning rendition of the Joni Mitchell masterpiece “Both Sides Now.”

Ms. Cole’s brilliant performance of “Both Sides Now” transcended time and space. With Foster’s help, the late singer created a colorful landscape for the moving and meaningful lyrics. A special shout-out goes to arranger and film score composer Brad Warnaar. Warnaar crafted a spectacular orchestration for this number that was enhanced by Foster’s exceptional production. This delicate musical moment was further proof of Ms. Cole’s versatility and superior talent; a welcome chance to listen to her beautiful voice once again. 

For Our Children Too! was meant to include sweet lullabies for children. However, the top-notch level of sophistication of most of its tracks makes it total ear-candy for the most demanding soul, pop and jazz music lovers.

Listen

• Lead Vocals: Natalie Cole
• French Horn: Brad Warnaar
• Arranged by Brad Warnaar
• Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I’ve looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s cloud’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and ferries wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way

But now it’s just another show
You leave ’em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away

I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud,
To say “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I’ve looked at life that way

But now old friends they’re acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day.

I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all

I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all

Sung by the unforgettable Natalie Cole, “A Smile Like Yours” was the title-track on the original soundtrack of the 1997 romantic comedy starring Greg Kinnear and Lauren Holly. “A Smile Like Yours” was written by the amazing Diane Warren and produced by Walter Afanasieff and David Foster. Those two giant hit-makers were great friends with a deep, mutual respect.

Afanasieff and Foster basically owned the pop/adult contemporary charts in the nineties with their various productions and would occasionally join forces on a few selected projects. Afanasieff and Foster co-produced and co-wrote with Linda Thompson the stellar 1997 duet “Tell Him” that paired the phenomenal twosome of Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand. There’s a good chance that Ms. Cole’s “A Smile Like Yours” was crafted during that same time. William Ross, the extraordinary arranger, film composer, and main collaborator of both Foster’s and Afanasieff’s, wrote the music score for “A Smile Like Yours.” With this in mind, it’s clear that this was a powerhouse of a song. Warren delivered another winner; creating a gorgeous melodic line and memorable, gospel-tinged hook not far from her 1996 #1 hit, “Because You Loved.” Exactly like Dion did on that hit song, the celebrated Ms. Cole brought superior intensity to her elegant performance. Afanasieff crafted the instrumental track in the best Foster tradition helped by the Hitman himself to get the best sound in the studio while Ms. Cole delivered a flawless vocal performance. “A Smile Like Yours” was a minor hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 at #84 although its potential was better acknowledged on the Adult Contemporary chart where it reached the Top Ten at #8.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/A-SMILE-LIKE-YOURS.mp3|titles=A Smile Like Yours|artists=Natalie Cole]

Lead Vocals: Natalie Cole
Arranged by Walter Afanasieff

Produced by Walter Afanasieff & David Foster

Lyrics

Hmm, thought I’d seen everything there was to see in this world
Now I’m not so sure I’ve really seen anything at all
I thought life could show me no surprises
And then you came and showed me I was wrong
I have seen the bluest skies, rainbows that would make you cry
I have seen miracles that moved my soul, days that changed my life
I have seen the brightest stars shine like diamonds in the dark
Seen all the wonders of the world, but I’ve never seen a smile
As beautiful as yours, ooh, ooh, ooh, oh, I thought I’d been everywhere
I’ve climbed a mountain so high, sailed the sea, crossed the sky
And still I was nowhere at all, until that day, oh, you came to my senses
And your smile, it made sense out of it all, (I have seen the bluest skies)
Rainbows that would make you cry, I have seen miracles

(miracles that moved me soul) that moved my soul, days that changed my life,
I have seen the brightest stars shine like diamonds in the dark
Seen all the wonders of the world, but I’ve never seen a smile as beautiful as yours
(smile so beautiful) so beautiful, comes one time in a lifetime
A smile this beautiful, (a smile this beautiful) I’ve never dreamed I’d ever see, oh
(I have seen the bluest skies) I have seen it, (rainbows that would make you cry)
That would make you cry, I’ve seen miracles (miracles) moved my soul,
(days that changed my life) and days that changed my life
I have seen the brightest stars shine like diamonds in the dark
Oh, I’ve seen the wonders of this world (wonders of the world)
But I’ve never seen a smile (never seen a smile before as beautiful as yours)
Oh, I’ve never seen a smile before, (never seen a smile before as beautiful)
As beautiful as yours.

“That Sunday, That Summer” is a beautiful song that belongs in the classic American songbook. It was first popularized in 1963 by the late, great Nat “King” Cole who brought this gem to the top 15 of Billboard’s Hot 100. Co-written by George David Weiss and Joe Sherman, “That Sunday, That Summer” has been covered by a who’s who of pop and jazz music legends including Dinah Washington, Johnny Mathis, Betty Carter and Julie London.

In 1991, this gorgeous melody was recorded by Cole’s daughter Natalie for her sumptuous, seven time certified platinum album Unforgettable With Love. Showing the excellence of their collaboration on the multiple Grammy-winning title track, the updated version of “That Sunday, That Summer” was produced by David Foster and stands as one of the many highlights on this memorable project. The collective work of Foster with arranger-extraordinaire Johnny Mandel and Ms. Cole’s silky vocals resulted in a sublime musical affair. The iconic producer’s expert ear guided Ms. Cole to deliver a performance at the top of her vocal bravura. Foster put the lush, refined orchestration in the hands of world-class specialists including Mike Melvoin and Mike Lang on piano, Ray Brown on bass, Sol Gubin on drums, John Chiodini on guitar and a warm saxophone solo by the superb Pete Christlieb.

“That Sunday, That Summer” is a listening joy for the most refined music lovers and the entireUnforgettable With Love project was a turning point in Foster’s career. Here, together with fellow producers Tommy Lipuma and Andre Fisher, the Canadian super-producer crafted a masterpiece record that quickly became a trendsetter for years to come and one of the pinnacles of his amazing career.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/that_sunday_that_summer.mp3|titles=That Sunday That Summer|artists=Natalie Cole]

Lead vocals : Natalie Cole
Bass: Ray Brown
Drums: Sol Gubin
Guitar: John Chiodini
Piano: Mike Lang and Michael Melvoin
Saxophone: Pete Christlieb
Backing Vocals: Debbie Hall, Don Shelton, Donna Davidson, Gene Merlino, Kerry Katz, Rick Logan, Sally Stevens & Susan Stevens

Arranged by Johnny Mandel
Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

(If I had to choose just one day)
If I had to choose just one day to last my whole life through
It would surely be that Sunday; the day that I met you
Newborn whippoorwills were calling from the hills
Summer was a coming in but fast
Lots of daffodils were showing off their skills
Nodding all together, I can almost hear them whisper
Go on kiss him; go on and kiss him
If I had to choose one moment to live within my heart
It would be that tender moment recalling how we started
Darling it would be when you smiled at me
That way, that Sunday, that Summer

[Musical Interlude]

Go on kiss him; go on and kiss him
And if I had to choose just one moment
To live within my heart it would surely be that moment
Recalling how we started
Darling it would be when you smiled at me
That way, that Sunday, that summer
(If I had to choose just one day)