The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Friday, January 21, 2022, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 movie Swing Times, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the year. Dorothy Fields remarked:

The first time Jerry played that melody for me I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.

Dorothy Fields was the first woman to win an Oscar for songwriting. It’s a magnificent love song that has found a strong position as a jazz standard, with recordings by Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Mel Tormé, and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with the Ralph Sharon Trio, recorded “The Way You Look Tonight” for the 1997 movie My Best Friend’s Wedding. The recording was collected on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2.

“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as other recordings collected on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Baby, Dream Your Dream

The song of the day for Thursday, January 20, 2022, is “Baby, Dream Your Dream.”

About This Song

“Baby, Dream Your Dream” was written by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields for the 1966 musical Sweet Charity. The show was directed by Bob Fosse and starred Gwen Verdon. “Baby, Dream Your Dream” was introduced by Helen Gallagher and Thelma Oliver.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Baby, Dream Your Dream” in December 1965, featuring an arrangement by Johnny Mandel. It was released in 1966 as a single and also appeared on Bennett’s 1967 album For Once In My Life.

“Baby, Dream Your Dream,” as well as is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 19, 2022, is “Pick Yourself Up.”

About This Song

This song was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1939 film Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It was used in the early part of the film where Astaire pretends to not be able to dance and asks for Ginger Rogers as his dance instructor just so he could dance with her. This song has been widely recorded, including those by Nat King Cole, Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Pick Yourself Up” with The Bill Charlap Trio for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Peter Washington (bass) and Kenny Washington (drums) join Bill Charlap on piano.

“Pick Yourself Up,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern is available on Apple Music.

In the first year of the COVID pandemic, the Actor’s Fund got a lot of jazz musicians together, under the direction of Tony DeSare, to create a video of this song as a fundraiser. It’s a joyous version and did raise a lot of money for out-of-work actors. Enjoy!

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 17, 2022, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

“Mood Indigo” was written in 1930 by Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard, and Irving Mills. Originally titled “Dreamy Blues,” Ellington wrote this song, which is based on a theme by Barney Bigard, who is said to have learned it from his New Orleans clarinet teacher, Lorenzo Tio. Ellington wrote the song specifically for “microphone transmission” and it was first played on a 1930 radio broadcast. Audiences loved the song, and so Irving Mills wrote the lyric, changing the name of the song to “Mood Indigo.” The song has been widely recorded by instrumental and vocal artists, including Tony Bennett, Charles Mingus, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Mood Indigo” in 1999 for the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The album, a tribute to Duke Ellington, was released in 1999, one hundred years after Ellington was born. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Mood Indigo,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool is available on Apple Music.

I found this 1931 version of “Mood Indigo” with Ellington and The Cotton Club Orchestra:

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Song of the Day: You Must Believe In Spring

The song of the day for Monday, January 17, 2022, is “You Must Believe In Spring.”

About This Song

“You Must Believe In Spring” was written by Michel Legrand for the 1967 French film Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, which starred Catherine Deneuve. Jacques Demy wrote the original French lyrics; Alan and Marilyn Bergman wrote the English lyrics. “You Must Believe In Spring” has been widely recorded by artists including Sylvia Syms, Barbra Streisand, and Bill Evans, in a posthumous release of an album with the same name, featuring sessions with Eddie Gomez and Eliot Zigmund.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You Must Believe In Spring” in 1976 for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977.

John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey played this recording on their program Radio Deluxe this weekend in a program dedicated to lyricist Marilyn Bergman, who died last week. They reminded me just how perfect Tony sings on this record, and so I’m happy to present it as the song of the day.

“You Must Believe In Spring,” as well as Together Again is available on Apple Music.

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