Search - Natalie Cole :: "Natalie Cole - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1"

Very Limited

Dana C. Steinman | SyracuseNY | 12/02/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Since Natalie Cole has a television film in which she stars as herself airing any day now, an autobiography on the way, and this Best Of collection, I have no reservation in believing that things may have been rushed--as this hits package suggests. Also suggested are record label politics as a few of her signature tunes are represented here via live versions (from Natalie Live, which is still in print on One Way Records, as is much of her earlier catalog) or not at all. Included are Natalie's masterpiece "This Will Be" (in its original studio version) and her postumous duet with her father "Unforgettable". Excluded, however, are key songs that placed Natalie consistantly back on the pop charts: the 7" hit version of "Pink Cadillac" (included in its less vibrant LP version), "Wild Women Do" (which demonstrated Natalie as a good a rock vocalist as any other), and "Jump Start" (one of her absolute best, and really the song that first had everyone talking of a genuine creative and commercial comeback). In the places of these are tracks from her last studio album--a highly underrated effort that should be investigated on its own terms. One ballad written and produced with Richard Marx ("Angel On My Should") and one dance number provided by the so-far undefeated Metro team ("Livin' For Love") make up the rest of this disc and are fine selections to be included among some of her best. On both Natalie exudes conviction and experience from having been around long enough to put together a hits package. With just a little more attention to detail (label legalities aside) this collection could have been a very comprehensive collection, perhaps two discs worth. Instead, it is a competent but limited gathering of hits that merely suggests that Natalie Cole had a few great records."

This Will Be (An Everlasting String Of Hits)!

Dan Pine | Pompano Beach, FL United States | 01/07/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Over a span of twenty five years, Natalie Cole has recorded some of R@B greatest grooves that placed her in the upper ranges of the charts. This collection spans the magic of her initial breakthough "This Will Be" in 1975 to her beautiful, but overlooked 1999 recording, "Snowfall In The Sahara." These tracks speak to her longevity and resiliency as a musical performer and artist.The new millenium finds Ms Cole reflecting on the highlights and low points of her personal and professional career in her current biography "Angel On My Shoulder," an upcoming television movie, a well received, revealing episode on VH-1's Behind The Music, and now this retrospective of hits.The collection contains many of the chart-toppers that ignited her career in the mid 1970's: "This Will Be," "I've Got Love On My Mind" and "Inseparable." Also included are several choice live performances of the era represented by "Mr Melody," the top 5 "Our Love," and a stirring rendition of the Beatles "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," which finally makes its first appearance on CD (originally on "Natalie Live" from 1977).It was during that period that she flirted with many different genres and musical landscapes. "I Can't Say No," and "I'm Catching Hell" are selections that highlight her a gospel flavor. Natalie was cited by many critics to be the next Aretha Franklin when she came on the scene in 1975. Incidentally, Cole actually broke Aretha's incredible 8 year run as the best female r@b performer at the 1975 grammy awards!On the upbeat and relentless,"La Costa," Natalie experiments with jazz and salsa stylings that would serve as a foreshadowing of her experimental transition to cover her legendary father's songs in the early 1990's. Natalie hesitated to do so earlier in her career because she wanted to be recognized on her own merits and not solely as the daughter of the legendary Nat King Cole. Through the years whatever Natalie choose to sing, she did with elegance and style.The 1980's were a decade in which Natalie recorded sporadically, but didn't achieve the level of superstardom that she achieved most notably with her earliest recordings. The highlights of that time included here is a highly energized version of Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac" which brought her back to the top 5 on the pop charts in over a decade, and the engaging ballad "I Live For Your Love" from her "Everlasting" disc. Also included is "Miss You Like Crazy" which returned Natalie (righteously so) to the apex on the R@B charts by the end of the decade.Natalie's sentimental, computer-generated duet with her father, "Unforgettable" is included on the collection. This was the title track to her multi-platinum collection of 22 standards she recorded in tribute to her father, Nat King Cole. 1991 was the year that she dominated the Grammy awards and consistently received regular airplay on contemporary radio and whose breakthough video was consistently aired on most video music stations. That was the year that everyone realized, recognized, and remembered her for the talented performer that she was. On a VH-1 special, record producer, David Foster, cited Natalie as an overlooked diva who deserves all the recognition of the best of her contemporaries.One of the highlights for me on this collection involved the inclusion of her revival of Leon Russell's poignant and moving "A Song For You." This classic song has been recorded from the ranks of Karen Carpenter to the legendary Ray Charles. Natalie's version ranks with the best of them as she makes the performance, truly one of her own. Other new songs on this collection includes the Diane Warren penned "A Smile Like Yours," the auto-biographical self penned collaboration with Richard Marx, "Angel On My Shoulder," and the techno and highly danceable "Livin' For Love" (which should become a club favorite) which ends the collection. Although I give Natalie's delivery and recording production 5 stars, this collection gets only four for several reasons. This clearly could have been a 2 CD retrospective (as the title/Volume 1 speaks to...) It would have been refreshing to have all the hits and the notable album tracks in one place, without having to wait for a Volume 2 to be released.The most notable omissions are the grammy award winning "Sophisticated Lady (She's A Different Lady)," "Someone That I Used To Love," "Jump Start," "Take A Look," "When I Fall In Love" (her 1987 solo version and the 1990's duet with Nat King Cole on her "Stardust" CD), "Wild Women Do"(from the "Pretty Woman" soundtrack), and the original versions of "Mr. Melody" and "Our Love," which clearly outshines the live performances on this CD.I also was hoping for comprehensive linear notes. There is a brief blurb written by Natalie herself and the production credits for all songs are listed on the inner contents. I would also prefer a more comprehensive view of Natalie's albums and work with more photos and information. I believed this was omitted to leave the consumer to seek out the auto-biographical book "Angel On My Shoulder."Nonetheless, the music clearly stands on its own. It's been long overdue for a more comprehensive Natalie Cole retrospective of her 1970's/1980's/1990's output. For those seeking the most viable period of Natalie's recording career, I recommend "The Natalie Cole Collection," which was released in the mid 1980's. For those of you seeking the torch song collections reminiscent of the Nat King Cole era, the most notable choices are "Unforgetable With Love," "Take A Look," and "Stardust." This collection should appeal to any novice of Cole's music because it draws upon an eclectic mixture of styles; rhythm and blues, torch, adult contemporary, and dance."

The Diva Who Wouldn't Rest Again

Michael Kerner | Brooklyn, New York U.S.A. | 06/08/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Throughout her career, Natalie Cole was only reflected on as being daddy's little girl, because of her father Nat King Cole. When she finally made a name for herself, it was anything but that feel of heartache. It would lead Natalie in her life, as her music would still survive strong.The 2000 Greatest Hits Volume 1, showcases one of the most underrated diva's of our time. While many people think of diva's like Whitney Houston, the burned out and oversaturated, "Corporate teen idol" Britney Spears, and Vanessa Williams, many people have forgotten about the style and sonnets of a diva worthy of her many years of storytelling. There are so many good songs on this album prove that Natalie Cole is anything but being ignored in the industry. Songs like Unforgettable, her acclaimed duet with her father, Nat King Cole, A Smile Like Yours, and This Will Be, still are being heavily played on the radio, in a world where 13 year old girls have to hit #1 on the billboard charts. Other anthems like Pink Cadillac, and Live For Your Love, are also signature songs from the multi-grammy award winning diva, that still gives down respect into the world, in a music industry that uses ageism to sell records.While Natalie Cole has been in the business for more than four decades, she still can pound out a good tune anyday, that is truly unforgettable."