“Unforgettable” may well be Nat King Cole’s signature song, thanks in large part to Natalie Cole’s magnificent virtual duet with her father in 1991. The duet won three Grammy awards in 1992 and helped solidify the classic song as one of the most famous melodies of all time. Ironically, when the single first came out in 1951, it didn’t reach the top ten.

Unforgettable is the first Nat King Cole compilation released by Capitol records (1954). In the early days of vinyl, LPs were used to gather a group of an artist’s singles and release them in one handy package. Unforgettable was one such release. Packed with hits, the record proved to be one of Cole’s most resilient.

The original release featured eight songs, almost all of which were bona fide hits. The tunes resembled a period of transition for Nat King Cole, as he was moving from the Nat Cole Trio into solo territory. The songs reflect this transition well and serve as one of the essential recordings of the soulfully smooth baritone.

Headed off by “Unforgettable,” this compilation is filled with memories. “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons” is a familiar track to anyone who’s ever been within earshot of my wife’s cell phone. Perhaps more importantly, the tune was Nat’s first number one single and marks the earliest track on the record, dating back to 1946.

Cole sings the great Irving Berlin standard “What’ll I Do?” with such stability that his recording, complete with guitar from Oscar Moore, managed to beat out Sinatra’s string-based version of the same song when the two were released at almost the exact same time. Other recordings include strings, like “Lost April” or “Portrait of Jennie.”

“Mona Lisa” has long been a favourite of mine, if only for the magnificent visual of Nat King Cole crooning to the famed painting and asking about the expression on her face. What is that smile all about, anyway? And when he says, “If you’re happier without me, I’ll try not to care” on “Answer Me, My Love,” it’s hard not admire his get-up-and-go.

“Hajji Baba (Persian Lament)” gives us a colourful side of Nat King Cole and shows his bravery. The song would seem trite and tacky in the wrong hands, but Cole gives it an air of cleverness and rescues it from cheeseball hell.

Collector’s Choice added four bonus tracks, too, including “You Weren’t There” and “The Magic Tree.” As with the other recordings in the collection, Collector’s Choice has knowledgeably paired the bonus songs with the time period and mood of the original LP, creating a complete release worthy of the attention of any music collector.

Unforgettable is yet another essential recording from Nat King Cole that belongs on every shelf. Framed by stellar singing and a great combination of songs, this compilation is a robust reminder of Cole’s reliability as a performer and his fluency as a vocalist.