The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: It’s So Peaceful In The Country

The song of the day for Sunday, March 17, 2013 is It’s So Peaceful In The Country.

About This Song

It’s So Peaceful In The Country was written by Alec Wilder for the singer Mildred Bailey, who recorded it in 1941. It’s charming art song that I find typical of Wilder, and enjoy very much.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Bennett’s re-release of The Beat of My Heart. Originally recorded in 1957, It’s So Peaceful In The Country was not included in the original release, but was added to the 1997 re-release on CD, along with five other numbers.

As Spring slowly but surely finds its way to us, it’s a lovely Alec Wilder art song to think about on a Sunday.

http://open.spotify.com/track/5AgJDo5WDRs9F4axve1UHD
It’s So Peaceful in the Country, as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available from iTunes.

We also are happy to present a recorded of Mildred Bailey’s 1941 recording with the Delta Rhythm Boys.

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Song of the Day: The Best Is Yet To Come

The song of the day for Saturday, March 16, 2013 is The Best Is Yet To Come.

About This Song

Another great Tony Bennett song written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, The Best Is Yet To Come was written in 1959. Some people say that the song was written for Tony Bennett, though I’ve found no evidence of that. While the song is associated with Frank Sinatra, it’s also been recorded by Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan (both in 1962), Blossom Dearie, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

If I had to pick the music from one year of Tony Bennett’s career to take with me to a desert island, it would have to be the music he recorded in 1962. In addition to the magnificent concert at Carnegie Hall, he also released his Mr. Broadway album and I Left My Heart in San Francisco. He also recorded I Wanna Be Around that same year, so I’m taking that album with me too, even though it was released in 1963. I’ve always felt that in that year it all came together: the perfection of his vocal powers; his ability and willingness to show us the emotional context of the songs he’s singing; the pure joy he seems to feel in everything he recorded that year; and the recording of some his finest material: songs that are forever associated with him and that he still sings today. Not just I Left My Heart in San Francisco, but Smile, The Rules of the Road, The Good Life and today’s song The Best Is Yet To Come and many more. Tony Bennett owned 1962. I often find myself gravitating to the songs from these albums and for good reason: they are an amazing set of songs by the greatest popular singer in the world. Then and today. And forever. Upon the release of his Complete Collection in  2011, the New York Times said: “We aren’t likely to see a recording career like this again.”  I’m certain we won’t, but we can certainly glory in all of it.

http://open.spotify.com/track/463wvwQJ7DJCvBvbvD55xz
The Best Is Yet To Come, as well as the full (and glorious) I Left My Heart in San Francisco album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Rules of The Road

The song of the day for Friday, March 15, 2013 is The Rules Of The Road.

About This Song

While this song is not from a musical, it was written by great Broadway and songwriting team of Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh in 1961.

About This Version

This version of Rules Of The Road is from Bennett’s wonderful 1962 Carnegie Hall concert. I am also a fan of the version from the 1964 Live At The Sahara show; while available on iTunes, this recording is not available on Spotify.

Mr. Bennett has recorded many of Cy Coleman’s songs. As Coleman was a jazz performer as well as a composer, I think his music speaks well to Bennett’s musical tastes.

The Rules Of The Road - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to The Rules Of The Road - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962

Rules Of The Road, as well as the full 1962 Carnegie Hall Concert album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: In The Wee Small Hours

The song of the day for Thursday, March 14, 2013 is In The Wee Small Hours.

About This Song

In The Wee Small Hours was written in 1955 by David Mann, with lyrics by Bob Hilliard. Appropriately, the song was written post-midnight in a songwriting session. This song served as the anchor for Frank Sinatra’s 1955 album of the same name; Sinatra’s recording is probably the best known of them all, but the song has been widely recorded by artists including Johnny Mathis, Johnny Hartman, Rosemary Clooney and Andy Williams.

About This Version

Up until today, I was most familiar with Tony Bennett’s version of In The Wee Small Hours from his 1992 tribute album to Frank Sinatra, Perfectly Frank. But I have been spending a lot of my listening time this week to Bennett’s work from the 1950s and 1960s and this version is from his 1966 album A Time For Love. With the accompaniment of the Ralph Sharon Trio, this recording is a true gem from this decade. In fact, the entire album is a true joy. If you have time, I recommend you pull it off the shelf, mix yourself a beverage, sit down and listen. Every song, and every recording, on this album is terrific.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1zE85y6BrBXDhmyCxmnPCq
In The Wee Small Hours, as well as the full A Time For Love album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Taking a Chance on Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 13, 2013 is Taking a Chance on Love.

About This Song

Taking a Chance on Love was written by Vernon Duke, with lyrics by John LaTouche and Ted Fetter. It was introduced in the 1940 Broadway show Cabin in the Sky and was sung by Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song was recorded by Benny Goodman with vocals by Helen Forrest and reached #1 on the charts in 1943. The song has remained popular and has been performed by many jazz and popular singers, ranging from Ruby Braff to Dave Brubeck to Nat King Cole and many, many more singers and instrumentalists.

About This Version

Today’s version comes from Tony Bennett’s second album, Tony, released in 1957. This version was arranged and conducted by Ray Conniff. I’ve been listening to Tony Bennett’s albums recorded in the 1950s this week. There are some wonderful recordings there and this number is definitely one of my favorites.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4mXklW7Ibzp1qetGMq1Uw3
Taking a Chance on Love, as well as the full Tony album, is available from iTunes.