The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Tony Live! Where Do I Begin

The song of the day for Sunday, June 14, 2020, is “Where Do I Begin.”

About This Song

“Where Do I Begin,” also known as the theme for the movie Love Story, was written in 1970 by Francis Lai and Carl Sigman.

The movie Love Story, released in 1970, was the ultimate romantic weepie for an entire generation. Love Story was about the young Harvard student from a very good (and wealthy) family (Ryan O’Neal) falling in love with a Radcliffe student from a working class family (Ali MacGraw). When Ryan O’Neal marries Ali MacGraw, his father cuts off all financial support and they live the blissful life of a poor young married couple living above the laundromat. (Spoiler alert) Ali MacGraw becomes terminally ill; the movie ends with the deathbed scene of Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal telling his father that “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” I guess you had to be there.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Where Do I Begin” at his 1971 concert in London with the London Philharmonic Orchestra; the concert was released on the album Get Happy. Marty Manning did the arrangement.

“Where Do I Begin,” as well as Get Happy, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! Fly Me To The Moon

The song of the day for Saturday, June 13, 2020, is “Fly Me To The Moon.”

About This Song

“Fly Me To The Moon” was written in 1954 by Bart Howard. It was originally titled “In Other Words,” but the song was not doing that well, in spite of several recordings. In 1962, Howard renamed the song to “Fly Me To The Moon,” and the song began to catch on. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording for If I Ruled The World was a big hit for Bennett. There have been many recordings of the song, including those by Frank Sinatra, Kaye Ballard, and many more. However, Bart Howard told Bennett that his 1965 recording was “the definitive performance of this song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett released today this wonderful video, made at home in his living room, accompanied by Lee Musiker.

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Tony Live! Let There Be Love

The song of the day for Sunday, June 7, 2020, is “Let There Be Love.

About This Song

“Let There Be Love” was written in 1939 by Lionel Rand and Ian Grant. The song is a popular standard, with recordings by Pearl Bailey, George Shearing, Annie Ross, Nat King Cole, and the Andrews Sisters.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Let There Be Love” is Tony’s second recording; the first was for his 1957 album The Beat of My Heart. Today we are featuring his live performance with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at The Royal Albert Hall in London. The concert was recorded and released on the album Get Happy. The arrangement was written by Dick Cone.

“Let There Be Love,” as well as Get Happy, is available from iTunes.

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Tony Live! Tea For Two

The song of the day for Saturday, June 6, 2020, is “Tea For Two.”

About This Song

“Tea For Two” was written by Vincent Youmans and Irving Caesar for the very popular 1925 musical No, No Nanette. The musical had a very successful revival on Broadway in 1971, which helped to make “Tea For Two” even more popular with the public.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Tea For Two” with The London Philharmonic Orchestra in concert at The Royal Albert Hall in London. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement; Robert Farnon was the conductor. The recorded concert was released on the album Get Happy.

“Tea For Two,” as well as Get Happy, is available from iTunes.

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Tony Live! Get Happy

The song of the day for Sunday, May 31, 2020, is “Get Happy.”

About This Song

“Get Happy” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the 1930 The Nine-Fifteen Revue, where it was introduced by Ruth Etting. Most people today are more familiar with Judy Garland’s wonderful song and dance performance in the 1950 movie Summer Stock.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Get Happy” at his 1971 concert at The Royal Albert Hall in London, recorded and released on the album Get Happy. Robert Farnon conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra for this concert.

“Get Happy,” as well as Get Happy, is available from iTunes.

If you’re in the mood, here’s the Judy Garland performance from the 1950 movie Summer Stock:

Get Happy - Judy Garland | Summer Stock | Warner Archive

Get Happy - Judy Garland | Summer Stock (1950) #WarnerArchive #WarnerBros #SummerStock To save Jane Falbury"s (Judy Garland) Connecticut farm, Jane"s sister, Abigail (Gloria DeHaven), convinces Herb Blake (Phil Silvers), the producer of a new Broadway show to rehearse on her farm.