The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Saturday, October 5, 2013 is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About This Song

Today’s song is from two of America’s greatest songwriters: Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields. “The Way You Look Tonight” was written for the 1936 film Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The lyricist Dorothy Fields said that “the first time Jerry played that melody for me I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.” I agree with Ms. Fields: it’s one of the most beautiful songs in the American Songbook.

“The Way You Look Tonight” has been widely recorded since its release by both jazz and popular performers. Tony Bennett first recorded this song for his 1958 album Long Ago and Far Away.

About This Version

For today’s version, we are returning to Rarities discs from the Complete Collection, this time volume 2. Bennett recorded this version with the Ralph Sharon Trio for the film My Best Friend’s Wedding, which was released in 1997. I love this arrangement and hope you do as well.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7yED4n2U8RR5LKZVmisiev
“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as all of the songs on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Volume 2, is available from iTunes.

As today is Saturday and we hope you have a little more spare time than usual, here’s a video of Tony Bennett singing this song accompanied by his wonderful guitarist Gray Sargent:

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Song of the Day: Something’s Gotta Give

The song of the day for Friday, October 4, 2013 is “Something’s Gotta Give.”

About This Song

With both music and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, “Something’s Gotta Give” was written for the 1955 film Daddy Long Legs, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. The lyrics are pure Mercer:

When an irresistible force such as you
Meets an old immovable object like me
You can bet just as sure as you live
Somethin’s gotta give

The song is full of those paradoxes and it’s a real treat.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song in 1955; it was arranged by Sid Feller. However, the recording was not released until 2011 on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Volume 1, with the Tony Bennett Complete Collection. There are two volumes and they are both full of delights, from Tony’s first-ever recording of “St. James Infirmary” with the 314th Army Special Services Band in Germany to some great jazz sets with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Elvin Jones and Stan Getz to a few early live performances by Mr. Bennett in a smoky nightclub.
http://open.spotify.com/track/6pew3Sff2WTusydMb9epXi
“Something’s Gotta Give,” as well as all of the songs on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Volume 1, is available from iTunes.

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October 8 2013 is Tony Bennett Digital Day!

In conjunction with the release of Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964, the release date of October 8 is Tony Bennett Digital Day.

liveathesahara

With this release, Tony’s entire catalog will be available on iTunes! (I am not going to bring up the three Verve/MGM albums). Tony will be online Tuesday to answer questions from his fans.

11:45 – 12:15 PM ET: HuffPost Live Chat. This will be a live, streaming interview with Tony conducted by Marc Lamont Hill. Click here to go the HuffPost Live page.

12:30 – 12:45 PM ET: Twitter Chat hosted by iTunes. Use the hashtag #asktony or #tonydigitalday to ask questions now.

1:00 – 2:00 PM ET: Mystery Event! (I love surprises!)

2:15 – 3:00 PM ET: Facebook Chat. Sorry, no connect information yet, but I’ll update as soon as I know anything. Click here to view Tony’s page on Facebook and add questions now for the chat.

There’s a special section set up on Tony Bennett’s website with information about Tony Bennett Digital Day at digital.tonybennett.com. You can find up-to-date information about Tuesday’s events and even submit questions for the Facebook and Twitter chats from this page. Use the hashtag #tonydigitalday

You can read more about the release of Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas 1964 and Tuesday’s special activities in this press release.

Your opinionated author will be working on Tuesday, but will post transcripts as soon as possible. Now to adjust my meeting schedule for next Tuesday from 11:45 – 3:00 ET. 🙂

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Song of the Day: Solitude

The song of the day for Thursday, October 3, 2013 is “Solitude.”

About This Song

“Solitude” was written by Duke Ellington in 1934, with lyrics by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills. One of his masterpieces, Ellington is said to have written this song in twenty minutes at the recording session, as they were on number short (Ted Gioia in Jazz Standards). It’s a very strong song for both vocalists and instrumentalists. Ellington made over a hundred recordings of this song. Other great recordings include those by Paul Robeson, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Billy Eckstine.

About This Version

Today’s version is Tony Bennett’s first recording of “Solitude” and is from the 1950 album In Person! with Count Basie and His Orchestra. Other Bennett recordings of today’s song include the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert and the 1997 recording from On Holiday.

Tony Bennett has said that he probably has sung this song more often than other, even “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” It was a popular request from his early (even pre-World War II) days as a singing waiter.

http://open.spotify.com/track/29vIfak1UHQzo5VUA1GaEZ
“Solitude,” as well as the album In Person!, is available from iTunes and Amazon.