The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Tony Bennett on the Steve Allen Plymouth Show

This is a wonderful (and very rare) video clip from the Steve Allen Show from January, 1960, featuring Tony Bennett … he appears about 3:00 minutes in. But, whatever you do, don’t skip over the Plymouth commercial, featuring the optional 45 RPM record player. Tony is fantastic and looks like he’s having a great time! Les Brown and His Band of Renown are also terrific.

He sings Taking a Chance on Love, Solitude, and Sing You Sinners. This version of Solitude is as good as it gets.

This clip is in color … beautiful, exquisite color that probably only a handful of viewers would ever see.

This clip is a real treasure in several ways: Tony sounds beautiful and this show is variety television at its very best.

Did EVERYONE smoke in 1960? I know my parents both smoked then.

Many thanks to the wonderful Jeff Macauley  for bringing this video to my attention.

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New York State of Mind

When the leaves start to turn and I realize that autumn is really here at last, I find myself in a New York State of Mind. New York is always beautiful, but never more so than in the fall season.

I’m rather embarrassed to say that I had been listening to this song for years not knowing it was a Billy Joel song; I first heard it, and loved it, as sung by Carmen McRae and have loved the song for years.

Here’s the video, performed by the two masters: Billy Joel and Tony Bennett.

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O Sole Mio video

Tony Bennett, with the Quartet, appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday, September 27, 2012 and sang O Sole Mio. I did not expect a jazz version. Boy, I was surprised. And elated. This song swings. In Italian.