Tony Bennett’s 85th birthday concert at the London Palladium is available to view in its entirety on YouTube.
It’s been four months since I’ve seen Mr. Bennett in concert. This YouTube video hits the spot!
Song of the Day: Stranger In Paradise
Continuing the Tony Bennett 1950s Hit Parade, the song of the day for Thursday, January 10, 2013 is Stranger In Paradise.
About Stranger In Paradise
This song is from the 1953 Broadway musical Kismet, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical. Like much of the music used in Kismet, the music was adapted from the music of classical composer Alexander Borodin. Lyrics for this song, as well for additional music in Kismet, are from Robert Wright and George Forrest.
About This Version
As Kismet was preparing to open on Broadway, New York City was suffering from a massive newspaper strike, thus depriving any new show from getting the publicity and reviews it needed to survive and thrive in a busy Broadway season. The Kismet producer contacted Columbia Records and asked to have Tony Bennett record the big song from the production, Stranger In Paradise, in advance of the show’s December 1953 opening. By November 1953, Bennett’s single of Stranger In Paradise was the number two song in the country and received heavy radio play, generating interest in the new musical. The song was sung in the production by Richard Kiley (who later starred in the 1965 Broadway musical Man Of La Mancha) and Doretta Morrow.
Tony Bennett recorded the song in October 1953; it was arranged and conducted by Percy Faith. The recording was included on Mr. Bennett’s very popular 1962 album, Mr. Broadway.
Strangers In Paradise, as well as the full Mr. Broadway album, is available at iTunes.
Song of the Day: Rags To Riches
It’s Tony Bennett 1950s Hit Parade Week! And the song of the day for Wednesday, January 9, 2013 is Rags to Riches.
About Rags to Riches
Many readers will remember this song from the opening credits of Martin Scorcese’s Goodfellas, just after Ray Liotta says “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.”
The song was written in 1953 by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. Alder and Ross first teamed up in 1950. They had the great fortune to be protégés of noted Broadway composer Frank Loesser. The pair wrote Broadway shows (Pajama Game and Damn Yankees) as well as popular songs during their time together.
Mr. Ross died at the young age of 29 in 1955, ending a partnership that was destined for many more great works. Mr. Adler passed away in June 2012.His obituary can be read at the New York Times.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded Rags to Riches in March 1953; it reached Number One on the Billboard charts that same year. The song has remained a part of Mr. Bennett’s repertoire to this day. It was arranged and conducted by Percy Faith.
Rags to Riches, as well as the full Columbia Singles: Volume 2, is available from iTunes.
Song of the Day: Cold, Cold Heart
Next up in the Tony Bennett 1950s Hit Parade is the song of the day for Tuesday, January 8, 2013: Cold, Cold Heart.
About Cold, Cold Heart
This song was written in 1951 by the great Hank Williams. Hank Williams recorded the song, on the B-side of a single, in 1951, but Cold, Cold Heart won the country music chart’s Number One ranking. It is the first country “cross-over” song, due to the recording made in the same year by Tony Bennett. Since 1951, this song has been a favorite of both popular and country singers including Louis Armstrong, Johnny Cash, Nat King Cole and Jerry Lee Lewis.
About This Version
Tony Bennett tells wonderful stories about Cold, Cold Heart in his concerts. He often relates that he liked the song when Mitch Miller played it for him, but couldn’t imagine himself singing a country song. He says that Mitch told him that if he had to tie him to a tree, Tony would record that song. So, as Tony relates “…so he tied me to a tree … ”
They recorded the song on May 31, 1951; by July it reached the Billboard charts and stayed there for 27 weeks, peaking at #1 on the popular charts. Mr. Bennett sings the song today at most of his concerts.
The very effective arrangement is by Percy Faith.
Cold, Cold Heart, as well as Columbia Singles: Volume 1, is available from iTunes.
Antonia Bennett (video)
We are big fans of Antonia Bennett and enjoy hearing her sing with her Dad at concerts.
Miss Bennett also has her own solo recording career. Here she is singing “Always Here,” courtesy of SXSW (South By Southwest) 2011.
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