The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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The Shadow of Your Smile

Carrying on the beach theme, the Song of the Day for August 15, 2012 is The Shadow of Your Smile.

About The Shadow of Your Smile

The Shadow of Your Smile, also known as the Love Theme from The Sandpiper (starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor) was written by Johnny Mandel (music) and Paul Francis Webster (lyrics) in 1965. It won the Grammy Award  for  Song Of the Year and the Academy Award for Best Original Song.  In addition to Tony’s recording, Barbra Streisand also recorded the song in the same time frame. It has been recorded by numerous popular and jazz singers and instrumentalists over the years.

About This Version

This song is from Tony’s The Movie Song Album from 1966.  Johnny Mandel both arranged and conducted the orchestra for this recording. There are some very nice songs on this album and the entire album is worth a listen, especially for Emily, Maybe September, and Charlie  Chaplin’s song Smile.

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Wave

The Song of the Day for August 14, 2012 is Wave.

About Wave

Wave, also known as Vou Te Contar, was written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and was first recorded by him as an instrumental in 1967. It’s a well-known bossa nova classic. It’s been widely recorded, from Frank Sinatra to Susannah McCorkle to Oscar Peterson.

About This Version

Tony first recorded this song in 1970 for the album Something, released at the end of his first contract with Columbia. The cover art is a joy: a loving photograph of Tony with his daughter Joanna.

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I Remember You

The Song of the Day for August 13, 2012 is I Remember You. Let’s see: Favorite album by favorite artist, singing a song by a favorite songwriter.

About I Remember You

I Remember You was written in 1941 by Victor L. Schertzinger (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics). It was introduced by Dorothy Lamour in The Fleet’s In, released in 1942, directed by Mr. Schertzinger.  It’s a jazz standard and has been recorded by many artists, including Chet Baker, Julie Christy, Jeri Southern, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

This version was recorded for The Art of Romance (which may be my favorite Tony Bennett studio album),  released in 2004. Accompanying Tony on this album was the quartet of Lee Musiker, Paul Langosch, Gray Sargent, and Clayton Cameron.  Johnny Mandel arranged the song and conducted the orchestra.

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Firefly

It’s a beautiful summer day and today is about joyful and happy songs. Thus, the Song of the Day for August 12, 2012 is Firefly.

About Firefly

Firefly was written by Cy Coleman (music) and Carolyn Leigh (lyrics) in 1958. Originally, it was written as an  audition piece for the planned musical Gypsy and was intended to be sung by Baby June in Act One.  Gypsy was given to Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim and was, and remains, one of the greatest American musicals ever written. Thankfully, the song Firefly survived and was recorded by Tony in 1959 for In Person! With Count Basie and His Orchestra. He also has a sweet and funny duet of this song with Kermit the Frog on The Playground, his children’s album from 1998. Kermit swings pretty good for a frog.

About This Version

Today’s version of Firefly is from Tony’s extraordinary 1962 Carnegie Hall concert.  You can hear the audience enjoying it as much I do.

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Penthouse Serenade

As Mr. Bennett returns home after his two month tour of Europe, our Song of the Day is Penthouse Serenade.

About Penthouse Serenade

The song was written in 1931 by Will Jason and Val Burton. The song quickly became a jazz standard and has been recorded many times — 216 different recordings according to AllMusic.com. In addition to Mr. Bennett’s recording, it has been recorded by Ruth Etting (1932), Bob Hope (1937), Nat King Cole (1952), Errol Garner (1949), and Marianne Faithful (1990), among many others.

About This Version

Tony first recorded this song for Hometown, My Town, his second major jazz album (after Cloud 7), released in 1959. With arrangements by Ralph Burns, I believe it stands as one of Tony Bennett’s finest albums (and it is a personal favorite of The Year of Tony Bennett).  This album, featuring extended orchestrations of just six songs, summons of the essence of New York. Welcome home, Mr. Bennett.

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