The 1991 pressing features a low-end authority that vanished in subsequent reissues. The acoustic bass is round, woody, and present without booming. This is a hallmark of the "Top" rating—where the EQ curve was set for high-end home stereos (Think Nakamichi or Denon systems of the era), not for earbuds.
You can find a standard Unforgettable... with Love LP for $20-$40. The Elektrarar "Top" pressing, however, regularly fetches $400 to $800 at auction. Why?
It’s the sound. On standard pressings, the title track "Unforgettable"—where Natalie’s modern vocal is woven together with Nat’s 1961 recording—can sound slightly compressed. On the Elektrarar, the soundstage is breathtaking. Nat’s voice comes from the center-left with a warm tube echo; Natalie’s response sits in the right channel with airy, live-room reverb. You hear the tape hiss of the original 1961 session underneath the 1991 digital overlay. It’s a ghostly, gorgeous artifact.
Furthermore, tracks like "The Very Thought of You" and "Mona Lisa" reveal the work of arranger Nelson Riddle’s orchestra in stunning relief. The brass has bite without harshness; the bass clarinet on "L-O-V-E" purrs with analog warmth.
If you are digging through crates or eBay listings, here is the checklist for the authentic Natalie Cole Unforgettable with Love 1991 Elektrarar Top:
The phrase “Natalie Cole Unforgettable with Love 1991 Elektra Rar Top” is not random gibberish. It’s a collector’s shorthand for:
The 1991 original pressing of Natalie Cole’s Grammy-winning tribute album on Elektra Records, specifically a rare (likely Japanese or German) pressing, in top-tier near-mint condition, prized for its sonic warmth and complete track listing.
If you find one in the wild for under $50, buy it immediately. Then play side three, track one — “Unforgettable” — and listen to a daughter sing with her dead father. That’s not just a rare record. That’s magic pressed into vinyl.
By 1991, Elektra Records was a powerhouse under Warner Bros. distribution. The original pressing of Unforgettable… with Love was a high-budget affair. Elektra pulled no stops:
The standard US pressings are common. But the non-US pressings? That’s where the “RAR” factor enters.
In the pantheon of vocal jazz and traditional pop, few albums have achieved the dual status of commercial juggernaut and technical masterpiece quite like Natalie Cole’s 1991 opus, Unforgettable... With Love. However, for the discerning audiophile and the dedicated record collector, there is a specific holy grail that transcends the standard CD or streaming version: the Natalie Cole Unforgettable with Love 1991 Elektrarar Top pressing.
If you are searching for that exact string of words—Elektrarar top—you likely already know that you aren’t looking for a standard reissue. You are hunting for the pinnacle of early 1990s digital audio production. Let’s dive deep into why this specific album, this specific year, and this specific pressing represent a high-water mark for recorded music.
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