Search - Natalie Cole :: Love Songs

Love From Her Mind

Michael Kerner | Brooklyn, New York U.S.A. | 01/30/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These past several years, there really hasn't been all that much when it comes to good greatest hits records. Although many have been fairly adjusted, there are others that just should've brought in more for die hard fans. That has been the case with performers like U2 with last year's U218 Singles, and R&B singers like Luther Vandross and Patti LaBelle, who have had greatest hits records that simply could've been a lot more definitive to fans all over. That has also been said with Natalie Cole as well. Although she hasn't had a major hit in yeras on the Billboard charts within the past several years, she continues to stretch herself as a soulful R&B singer. Now, another hits album his shown itself to die hard Natalie fans, but does it delievr in love?



Love Songs, Natalie Cole's collection of her enchanted ballads, which was released overseas six years ago, has finally made its way onto the U.S. markets. The collection consists of 19 tracks from her career, reflecting her at her ballad best. The songs have all been remastered well, but the feeling from this record doesn't actually feel as different as her other hits records, including 2000's Greatest Hits Volume 1. The collection still includes a lot of great tracks including I Live For Your Love, Miss You Like Crazy, the soulful and romantic Unforgettable with her father Nat King Cole, and her R&B breakout This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) which has been used as the spokesong in ads for commercials. The album does try to stand out though, by including tracks that haven't been highlighted in other hits packages like As Time Goes By from the overlooked Take A Look, and When I Fall In Love, another collaboration with Nat.



All in all, Natalie Cole's Love Songs still isn't a bad hits record for die hard fans, as well as a simple glimpse of soul from one of the most soulful singers in R&B. While we often seem to be more interested in acts these days that are more about image like Fantasia and Beyonce', it is simply nice to get away from those acts and try something different, which Natlie tries to deliver. Although newcomers might not be interested in this, as they might be with the 2000 hits package, I still recommend her music a whole lot, because it still is Unforgettable.







Album Cover: B



Songs: B-



Price: C+



Remastering: C+



Overall: B-"

Mostly Excellent

Stevan R. Clements | Atlanta | 04/06/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There are mostly beautiful tracks on this album, which contains a generous number of songs--about 20. Two are duets with her father, touching in their digital arrangement, and amazing that they were done decades apart. One is a repeat of "Unforgettable," while the new one is "When I Fall in Love"--outstanding. This is a love album and should be soothing. However, about five tracks are shrill, reducing the overall experience. It's worth it though, to experience the rest of the album. Just press "skip" on your CD player."