Tag Archives: Harold Arlen

Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

22 May

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 22, 2013, is That Old Black Magic.

About This Song

Written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, That Old Black Magic was written in 1942 and used in the 1943 film Star Spangled Rhythm, where it was introduced by Vera Zorina and Johnnie Johnston.

This song has been very popular since it was first written, starting with the 1942 version by the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Other significant recordings are by Margaret Whiting, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. Marilyn Monroe sang the song in the 1956 Bus Stop.

About This Version

Bennett:Brubeck

Today’s version is from upcoming release of em>Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, which will be available on May 28, 2013. The concert began with a set by the Dave Brubeck Quartet (Brubeck, Paul Desmond on alto sax, Joe Morello on drums and Eugene Wright on bass), followed by a set of Tony Bennett with the Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon, Billy Exiner on drums and Hal Gaylord on bass). The last part of the concert featured the Dave Brubeck Trio (minus Desmond) and Tony Bennett in a unrehearsed set of improvisations, including this great recording of That Old Black Magic.

That Old Black Magic, as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 is available for pre-ordering from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Song of the Day: So Long, Big Time!

26 Apr

The song of the day for Friday, April 26, 2013 is So Long, Big Time!

About This Song

So Long, Big Time! was written in 1963 by Harold Arlen and Dory Langdon, who may be better known by her married name Dory Langdon Previn.

About This Version

While researching information about the late Frank Laico this week, I came across a marvelous video of Tony Bennett’s recording session on September 17, 1963 of So Long, Big Time! at the CBS 30th Street Studio, with Harold Arlen himself conducting the orchestra. I was completely captivated and knew I had to feature this Arlen song as the song of the day. It’s one of Arlen’s later songs and it’s a darn good one. To the best of my knowledge, Bennett’s is the first recording of this song.

So Long, Big Time!, as well as the full remastered The Many Moods of Tony album, is available from iTunes.

And, as promised, here’s the video of Tony Bennett recording this cut at the famed CBS 30th Street Studio, with Harold Arlen conducting the orchestra. The smile on Harold Arlen’s face is beautiful. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Song of the Day: Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe

21 Apr

The song of the day for Sunday, April 21, 2013 is Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe.

About This Song

This song, written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, was included in the film version of Cabin In The Sky, starring Ethel Waters, Eddie Anderson and a very young and very lovely Lena Horne. The Broadway production of Cabin In The Sky opened in 1940 starring Miss Waters and Dooley Wilson, and had a spectacular score by Vernon Duke and John LaTouche, which included a Tony Bennett favorite Taking A Chance on Love.

The film version was released in 1943. In addition to the Duke-LaTouche score, additional songs were added, including the Arlen-Harburg masterpiece, Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe, which was nominated for an Academy award for the Best Original Song, losing to the Harry Warren-Mack Gordon song You’ll Never Know from Hello Frisco, Hello.  Arlen was nominated for two songs that year; the other was That Old Black Magic written with Johnny Mercer. Also nominated were songs by Cole Porter, Jule Styne, Jimmy McHugh and Arthur Schwartz. Pretty tough company. The film, directed by Vincent Minnelli (his first solo film directing credit), included a brief scene with Louis Armstrong as The Trumpeter (complete with little devil horns) and the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

About This Version

I had never seen this film until this weekend; I recorded it just to check it out (thanks Turner Classic Movies) and found it delightful. Great performances, Ethel Waters, and a production number by Busby Berkeley. What more do you want in a movie? It was pure joy and the music was wonderful. The full score is available from iTunes.

Tony Bennett recorded this song only once, to the best of my knowledge, for his 1962 album with Ralph Sharon, Tony Sings For Two.

Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe, as well as the remastered Tony Sings For Two album, is available from iTunes.

And here’s Ethel Waters singing our song of the day from the film Cabin in the Sky:

 

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