The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Just In Time

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 29, 2013 is “Just In Time”.

About This Song

“Just In Time” is from the hit 1956 musical Bells Are Ringing, with music by Jule Styne with book and lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden. Starring Judy Holliday, Bells Are Ringing is about a woman who works at an answering service (for those of you younger than this author, answering services are how people got their messages before they invented answering machines, much less voice mail) and the clients she worked with, one of whom she becomes involved with. “The Party’s Over” is another of the great hits from Bells Are Ringing.

BellsAreRinging

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Just In Time” as a single in 1956. He tells this story in his autobiography, The Good Life:

In 1956, Jule Styne came to me with “Just In Time,” the big song from his forthcoming show, Bells Are Ringing. The Columbia people told him, “If you want Tony to record a single of ‘Just In Time.’ you’ll have to let Columbia Records have the cast album.” That was standard policy for Columbia. Jule said, “I want Tony. No one else!” So that was that. I recorded “Just In Time” in September. I had a hit with the song and the show opened at the Shubert Theater on November 29.

Jule Styne was wise to insist on Tony Bennett; the recording is really wonderful.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4TrCjcnFY7Es28IBHcTkE4
“Just In Time,” as well as Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Until I Met You

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 28, 2013 is Until I Met You.

About This Song

Until I Met You was written in 1956 by Freddie Green and Donald E. Wolf. This song is also known as Corner Pocket. Freddie Green played rhythm guitar for the Count Basie Orchestra for fifty years. This song has also been recorded by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Sarah Vaughan, among others.

About This Version

This song was recorded for Tony Bennett’s 1962 album On The Glory Road. In spite of being packaged up and ready to go, the album release was cancelled. Thankfully, this album was released until 2011, when it was included in the Tony Bennett Complete Collection. It has a wonderful arrangement by Ralph Sharon and features Chico Hamilton on drums.

Until I Met You

Listen to Until I Met You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1962

Until I Met You, as well as the full On The Glory Road album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Army Air Corps Song

In honor of Memorial Day and as a tribute to all who have served in the armed forces, including Mr. Tony Bennett, the song of the day for Monday, May 27, 2013 is the Army Air Corps Song.

About This Song

This song was written in 1938 when the Army Air Corps decided that it needed a song. A contest was created with a $1000 prize, donated by Liberty Magazine. Over 700 compositions were submitted. In addition, Meredith Willson and Irving Berlin were asked to write entries as well. In the end, the prize went to Robert MacArthur Crawford, a music teacher, who had attempted to serve in World War I, but was kicked out after it was discovered he was underage. He enlisted again for World War II and flew for the Air Transport Command of the U.S. Army Air Forces. After the war, he joined the music faculty at the University of Miami.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded the Army Air Corps Song for his 1957 album The Beat of My Heart, though it was dropped for subsequent releases. It does appear on the 2011 version from the Tony Bennett Complete Collection. It features drummer Jo Jones.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4I3pjJXvYkJp0DOHdymAX3
Army Air Corps Song is available as a single from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Being Alive

The song of the day for Sunday, May 26, 2013 is Being Alive.

About This Song

Being Alive is from Stephen Sondheim’s 1970 musical, Company. This production of Company has always been very special to your author. It was my first Broadway musical, my first trip to New York and my introduction to Elaine Stritch.

Robert, the only single man in a group of married couples, sings Being Alive at the end of show as he finally realizes that in order to really be alive, he must share that life with someone.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded Being Alive in 2004 for his wonderful album The Art of Romance.

The song was arranged by Lee Musiker, Tony Bennett’s musical director and pianist. We chose this song today as May 26 is Lee’s birthday.

Happy Birthday, Lee, from The Year of Tony Bennett.

Being Alive

Listen to Being Alive on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

Being Alive, as well as The Art of Romance, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: House of Flowers

The song of the day for Saturday, May 25, 2013 is “House of Flowers.”

About This Song

From the musical of the same name, “House of Flowers” was written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Truman Capote. House of Flowers opened on Broadway in 1954. Itl was based on the short story by Truman Capote, who also wrote the book and lyrics.

House of Flowers is set in Haiti in a brothel. A wealthy man has taken a fancy to one of young women who works there. She, however, loves a young man from her village. The song “House of Flowers” is sung by the young man to ask her to come and live with him, even though he is poor.

About This Version

Today’s song comes from Tony Bennett’s composer songbook album: Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, released in 1960. The album was orchestrated by Glenn Osser and featured a lush string orchestra. Bennett notes in The Good Life that the orchestra consisted of mainly classical musicians and that they enjoyed the recording session for this album. He said “That’s the only album I ever made where the musicians actually applauded after each take.”

http://open.spotify.com/track/3gWTyg0n84yQRWrECxqJBG
“House of Flowers,” as well as the remastered Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available from iTunes.