Natalie Cole didn't just walk into a recording studio; she carried a legacy that could have easily crushed anyone else. Most people, if they know her at all today, think of the 1991 virtual duet with her father. It was a massive moment. But honestly, if you only look at that one record, you’re missing the gritty, soulful, and sometimes experimental journey of a woman who had to fight her way out of a very long shadow. Natalie’s discography is a wild ride. It’s got high-octane R&B, heartbreaking jazz standards, and some 80s synth-pop that sounds exactly like 1983 felt.
She was a powerhouse.
When we talk about albums by Natalie Cole, we’re talking about a career that spanned four decades and earned nine Grammys. It wasn't always smooth. There were periods where she was the "New Aretha," and periods where she was struggling with addiction, and periods where she was the undisputed queen of the Great American Songbook.
The Inseparable Era and the R&B Explosion
In 1975, nobody knew if the daughter of Nat "King" Cole could actually sing. She proved it immediately. Her debut, Inseparable, wasn't just a hit; it was a statement. The lead single "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" is basically the gold standard for upbeat wedding songs now, but back then, it was a gospel-infused R&B wrecking ball.
Produced by Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy, that first run of albums was legendary. Natalie (1976) and Unpredictable (1977) kept the momentum going. You can hear the influence of the Chicago soul scene all over these tracks. In Unpredictable, she gave us "I've Got Love on My Mind," which is arguably one of the smoothest slow burns in soul history. She had this way of phrasing things—a little bit of grit behind a lot of polish.
Then came Thankful. Released in late '77, it featured "Our Love." If you haven't heard the live versions of these early tracks, you're missing out on how much she could improvise. She wasn't just a studio singer. She was a performer who could out-sing almost anyone on the soul charts at the time.
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The 80s Identity Crisis and the Comeback
The early 80s were tough. The industry was changing, disco was dying, and Natalie was dealing with significant personal demons. Albums like Don't Look Back and I'm Ready didn't catch fire the way her 70s work did. It’s a bit sad to listen back to some of these now because you can hear the talent, but the production feels like it’s trying too hard to fit a mold that didn't suit her.
Everything changed with Everlasting in 1987.
This album is a fascinatng pivot. She covered Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac." Think about that for a second. The daughter of a jazz legend singing a Boss song over a dance beat. It worked. It went Top 10. The album also had "Paper Moon," which was a subtle hint at where she was headed next. She was testing the waters. She was seeing if people would let her be a pop star and a legacy artist at the same time.
Good to Be Back followed in 1989, giving us "Miss You Like Crazy." It was a massive adult contemporary hit. She was back on top, but she was still playing the pop game.
The Unforgettable Shift
In 1991, Natalie Cole did the one thing she had spent her entire career avoiding. She leaned into her father's repertoire. Unforgettable... with Love is one of those rare albums that shifts the entire culture. It sold over seven million copies in the US alone.
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It was a massive risk.
If it had been cheesy, it would have ruined her credibility. Instead, it was elegant. The technology used to create the title track duet was groundbreaking at the time, but the real soul of the record was her vocal performance on tracks like "The Very Thought of You" and "Mona Lisa." She wasn't imitating Nat; she was interpreting him.
The success of this album created a bit of a "jazz box" for her. For the next decade, the public mostly wanted to hear her sing standards. Albums like Take a Look (1993) and Stardust (1996) followed this blueprint. They are technically flawless. Take a Look actually won her another Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, proving she wasn't just riding her father's coattails—she was a master of the genre in her own right.
Looking for the "Hidden" Gems
If you want to understand the depth of her catalog, you have to look at the stuff that didn't go multi-platinum.
- Snowfall on the Sahara (1999): This is a weird, beautiful mix. It’s got some world music influences, some soul, and some pop. It shows a woman who was bored with being "just" a jazz singer.
- Ask a Woman Who Knows (2002): This is arguably her best pure jazz album. It’s gritty, bluesy, and features Diana Krall on one track. It feels like a late-night club set.
- Leavin' (2006): She covers Fiona Apple and Neil Young. It’s stripped back and soulful. It’s the sound of an artist who no longer cares about chart positions and just wants to sing songs she likes.
Her final studio album, Natalie Cole en Español (2013), was a beautiful full-circle moment. Her father had recorded Spanish-language albums decades earlier, and she stepped into that world with incredible grace, despite not being a native speaker. It’s a lush, romantic record that doesn't get enough credit.
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Why the Catalog Still Matters
The evolution of albums by Natalie Cole tells the story of the music industry itself. You see the transition from 70s soul to 80s synthesized pop, the 90s obsession with "unplugged" and classic standards, and the 2000s shift toward independent-feeling artistic choices.
She fought for her voice.
Early on, critics compared her to Aretha Franklin so much it almost became a burden. By the end, she was just Natalie. Her voice had changed—it got deeper, a bit more lived-in—but the phrasing was always impeccable. She knew when to hold a note and, more importantly, when to let it go.
Tips for Building Your Collection
If you're looking to dive into her work, don't just buy a "Greatest Hits" CD and call it a day. You miss the textures of the individual eras.
- Start with Inseparable. You need to hear the raw energy of her early career.
- Get Unforgettable... with Love for the historical significance, but play it on a good sound system to hear the orchestral arrangements.
- Find a copy of Everlasting. It’s a time capsule of 1987 in the best way possible.
- Listen to Ask a Woman Who Knows for the pure vocal craft.
Natalie Cole’s discography is a masterclass in resilience. She survived being a "legacy act," she survived the changing whims of radio, and she left behind a body of work that is surprisingly diverse if you take the time to look past the hits.
To really appreciate her, you have to listen to the transitions. Listen to how she moves from a belt in the 70s to a sophisticated whisper in the 90s. That’s where the real magic is.
Actionable Insights for Music Fans
- Explore the B-Sides: Natalie's most interesting work often happens on the non-singles of her 70s albums. Check out "I Can't Say No" from Unpredictable.
- Watch Live Performances: To see the technical skill behind the albums, watch her 1977 BBC special or her Live at the North Sea Jazz Festival footage.
- Check Credit Lists: Notice the shift in producers from the Yancy/Jackson era to the David Foster era; it explains the massive sonic shift in her career.
- Vinyl vs. Digital: For the 70s soul albums, vinyl provides a warmth that digital remasters often clip. For the 90s jazz work, high-fidelity digital files capture the orchestral detail better.