The most popular version of the song was recorded by Nat King Cole in 1951, with an arrangement written by Nelson Riddle. A non-orchestrated version of the song recorded in 1952 is featured as a bonus track on the CD reissue of 1955's completely instrumental (save the bonus material) Penthouse Serenade. Cole again recorded the tune in 1961, in a stereo version of the Riddle arrangement, for the album The Nat King Cole Story. His version of the song was included in its entirety in the 2009 film Watchmen during the Comedian's death scene.
In 1991, after Elvis Presley's legendary musical director Joe Guercio had the idea, Cole's 1961 recording of the song was edited and remixed to create a duet with his daughter, Natalie, which won three awards at the Grammy Awards of 1992: Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance .
Nat Cole's original recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000.
Notable cover versions
A partial list includes:
Semprini with Rhythm Acc. recorded it in London on March 26, 1952 as the third melody of the medley "Dancing to the piano (No. 14) - Part 1. Hit Medley of Foxtrots" along with "Slow Coach" and "Cry". It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10263.
Pepper Adams Quintet (1957)
Dinah Washington (1959) (was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001)
Earl Grant (1960)
Peggy Lee (1963)
Aretha Franklin for her album "Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington" (1964).
Sammy Davis, Jr. (1965)
Marvin Gaye (1965)
Oscar Peterson (1965)
Aretha Franklin (1976)
Esther Phillips (1976)
Lou Rawls (1977)
Engelbert Humperdinck (1980)
Johnny Mathis (1983)
Marlena Shaw (1986)
Nat "King" Cole & Natalie Cole (1991) (Grammy Award 1992)
Roberta Flack (1991)
Diane Schuur (1991)
Vikki Carr (1997)
Peter Nero (1997)
Acoustix (1998)
Kenny Rogers (1998)
Leo Masliah of the disc "Textualmente 1" (2001)
Captain & Tennille (2001)
Jackie Chan w/ Ani DiFranco (2002)
Charlie Sheen (2003)
Merle Haggard (2004)
Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes (2006) (Will & Grace finale as Jack McFarland and Karen Walker)
Bradley Joseph (2006)
Ricky Vallen (2009)
Andrea Bocelli and Lisa Kelly (2010)
The 469 CT Transit driver and Christina Aguilera (2011)
All about Unforgettable:
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