The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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On the Sixth Day of a Tony Bennett Christmas

On the sixth day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Tony sings us a great, jazzy version of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.”

Written by the songwriting team of J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, “Santa Claus is Coming To Town” had a spectacular debut. The song was first sung on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November, 1934. On the day after the broadcast, there were 100,000 orders for the sheet music; by Christmas, over 400,000 copies of the sheet music had been sold.

Tony Bennett has recorded this song twice: first for the 1968 album Snowfall and again in 2004 for A Swingin’ Christmas. The arrangement is by Bill Holman and features Andy Snitzer on tenor sax.

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (feat. Count Basie Big Band)

Listen to Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (feat. Count Basie Big Band) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Count Basie Big Band · 2008


“Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” as well as A Swinging’ Christmas is available from iTunes.

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On the Fifth Day of a Tony Bennett Christmas

On the fifth day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Thursday, December 18, 2014, Tony Bennett sings “Deck The Halls.”

“Deck The Halls” is a traditional Christmas song. The tune is Welsh and dates back to the sixteenth century and is from a winter song called “Nos Galan.” The English lyrics were written in 1862 by a Scottish musician names Thomas Oliphant. The “fa-la-la-la” comes from the original Welsh song, however.

Tony Bennett recorded “Deck The Halls” with The London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2orCRTEroDiBAd0Hmpfm7q
“Deck The Halls,” as well as The Classic Christmas Album, is available from iTunes.

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On the Fourth Day of a Tony Bennett Christmas

On the fourth day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Wednesday, December 17, 2014, Tony sings for us “The Christmas Song.”

“The Christmas Song” was written in 1944 by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells. Sometimes known by its first line ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” this song was written on a very hot summer day and Tormé and Wells were trying to think cold Christmasy thoughts in an effort to cool off. The entire song was written forty minutes and is one of America’s most classic Christmas songs. The first recording was by Nat King Cole in 1946.

Tony Bennett recorded “The Christmas Song” in 1967 and released it on his 1968 album of Christmas music, Snowfall. This song, as well as all of the Christmas songs on this very fine album, was arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2IncC8fMEs7tY4pFIrS32u
“The Christmas Song,” as well as Snowfall, is available from iTunes.

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On the Third Day of Tony Bennett Christmas

On the third day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Tuesday, December 16, 2014, Tony Bennett and Antonia Bennett sing “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm.”

“I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” was written in 1937 by Irving Berlin for the movie On The Avenue, starring Dick Powell and Alice Faye, who introduced the song in the movie. Billie Holiday recorded it 1937 as did Mildred Bailey. Other notable recordings include those by Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald and Doris Day.

Tony Bennett first recorded “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” in 1968 for his album Snowfall. Today’s version is from A Swingin’ Christmas, a duet by Tony Bennett and his daughter Antonia, recorded in 2004.

I"ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (feat. Count Basie Big Band)

Listen to I"ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (feat. Count Basie Big Band) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Count Basie Big Band · 2008


“I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” as well as A Swinging’ Christmas is available from iTunes.

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On the Second Day of a Tony Bennett Christmas

On the second day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Monday, December 15, 2014, Tony Bennett sings “Christmas in Herald Square.”

“Christmas in Herald Square” was composed in 1985 by Tony Tamburello, with lyrics by Joyce Vintaloro. Mr. Tamburello was a long-time friend of and vocal coach for Tony Bennett.

Tony Bennett recorded “Christmas in Herald Square” in 1998; it was first released on The Playground, an album for children. This recording was used on The Classic Christmas Album, released in 2011.

Christmas In Herald Square

Listen to Christmas In Herald Square on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2011


“Christmas Time in Herald Square,” as well as The Classic Christmas Album, is available from iTunes.