An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett
The song of the day for Tuesday, May 24, 2022, is “Blue Velvet.”
“Blue Velvet” was written in 1950 by Bernie Wayne and Lee Morris. Tony Bennett’s 1951 recording of “Blue Velvet” was the first recording of the song and was one of his early hits for Columbia.
Tony Bennett recorded “Blue Velvet” on July 17, 1951. Percy Faith wrote the arrangement.
“Blue Velvet,” as well as all of the singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1 is available on Apple Music.
The song of the day for Monday, May 23, 2022, is “Cold, Cold Heart.”
“Cold, Cold Heart” was written in 1950 by country/western singer-songwriter Hank Aaron.
Tony Bennett, at the insistence of his producer Mitch Miller, recorded “Cold, Cold Heart” on May 31, 1951, featuring an arrangement by Percy Faith. The recording was quite popular and was on the Billboard charts for 27 weeks, peaking at #1.
“Cold, Cold Heart,” as well as all the singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1 is available on Apple Music.
On Valentine’s Day in 2012, Google featured this charming Google Doodle with Bennett’s recording of “Cold, Cold Heart.”
The song of the day for Saturday, May 21, 2022, is “Because of You.”
“Because of You” was written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein and Dudley Wilkinson.
Tony Bennett recorded “Because of You” on April 4, 1951. It was arranged by Percy Faith.
“Because of You,” as well as all the singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.
The song of the day for Friday, May 20, 2022, is “Don’t Cry Baby.”
“Don’t Cry Baby” was written in 1929 by James P. Johnson, Saul Bernie, and Stella Unger. Jimmy Johnson was a composer and pianist who, along with Jelly Roll Morton, came into prominence in the era between ragtime and the stride piano techniques in early jazz. Saul Bernie and Stella Unger were both composers who were active in the 1920s. It was first sung by Bessie Smith in 1929. Erskine Hawkins recorded it in 1943; this version reached #1 on the Harlem Hit Parade in 1943 and #15 on the popular charts. Etta James recorded it in 1961 as well.
Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Cry Baby” on October 1, 1950, featuring an arrangement by Norman Leyden.
Your friendly author was 12 days old on the date of this recording, seen here with my mother:
“Don’t Cry Baby,” as well as the singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1 is available on Apple Music.
The song of the day for Thursday, May 19, 2022, is “Sing You Sinners.”
“Sing You Sinners” was written by W. Franke Harling and Sam Coslow for the 1930 movie Honey, starring Lillian Roth.
Tony Bennett recorded “Sing You Sinners” on July 20, 1950, featuring an arrangement by Marty Manning.
“Sing You Sinners,” as well as all of the singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.