The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I’m Just A Lucky So And So

The song of the day for Saturday, January 5, 2013 is I’m Just A Lucky So and So.

Tony Bennett and Duke Ellington
Tony Bennett and Duke Ellington

About I’m Just A Lucky So and So

This song was written in 1945 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Mack David.  While not one of Ellington’s most often played songs, it’s had recordings by many great artists, including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. It’s a great, fun song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song several times: in 1956 on his album Tony and in 1962 for the Carnegie Hall concert. Today’s version is from Bennett’s 1999 Ellington album: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, with the Ralph Sharon Quartet (Ralph Sharon (piano), Paul Langosch (bass), Gray Sargent (guitar) and Clayton Cameron (drums).

I"m Just A Lucky So And So

Listen to I"m Just A Lucky So And So on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1999

I’m Just A Lucky So and So, as well as the full Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Honeysuckle Rose

The song of the day for Friday, January 4, 2013 is Honeysuckle Rose.

Waller and Razaf

About Honeysuckle Rose

This song was written in 1929 by Fats Waller (music) and Andy Razaf (lyrics). It was introduced in the 1929 revue Load of Coal. It came to be one of Waller’s and Razaf’s most beloved songs. It took the song a few years to take off, but the Fletcher Henderson recording of 1933 was a hit and the song became a standard for jazz and popular singers. Waller’s 1934 recording was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

About This Version

In his tribute to the great American female singers, Here’s To the Ladies (1995), Tony Bennett chose this song to pay tribute to Lena Horne, who sang this song regularly in her concerts. Honeysuckle Rose was arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli. The Ralph Sharon Trio with Mr. Sharon on piano, Doug Richeson on bass and Clayton Cameron on drums was featured on the album.

Honeysuckle Rose

Listen to Honeysuckle Rose on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1995

Honeysuckle Rose, as well as the full Here’s To The Ladies album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Someone To Love

The song of the day for Thursday, January 3, 2012 is Someone To Love.

tony-bennett-4

About Someone To Love

Someone To Love was written by song writer and arranger Bobby Warren in 1943.

About This Version

This version is from Tony Bennett’s 1963 album I Wanna Be Around. The album is best known for the first recordings of two of Mr. Bennett’s most popular songs: The Good Life and I Wanna Be Around. There are many other fine songs on the album, though, including this one. Someone To Love was arranged and conducted by Marty Manning and produced by Ernie Altschuler.

Someone To Love

Listen to Someone To Love on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1963

Someone To Love, as well as the full I Wanna Be Around album, is available from iTunes.

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Yesterday I Heard The Rain and People

Yesterday I Heard The Rain is one of my favorite Tony Bennett songs, even though it’s not one of his most popular songs. This lovely version is from a 1969 television broadcast in England with Count Basie. Also in this segment is People, from Funny Girl.