The song of the day for Saturday, March 16, 2013 is The Best Is Yet To Come.
About This Song
Another great Tony Bennett song written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, The Best Is Yet To Come was written in 1959. Some people say that the song was written for Tony Bennett, though I’ve found no evidence of that. While the song is associated with Frank Sinatra, it’s also been recorded by Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan (both in 1962), Blossom Dearie, and Ella Fitzgerald.
About This Version
If I had to pick the music from one year of Tony Bennett’s career to take with me to a desert island, it would have to be the music he recorded in 1962. In addition to the magnificent concert at Carnegie Hall, he also released his Mr. Broadway album and I Left My Heart in San Francisco. He also recorded I Wanna Be Around that same year, so I’m taking that album with me too, even though it was released in 1963. I’ve always felt that in that year it all came together: the perfection of his vocal powers; his ability and willingness to show us the emotional context of the songs he’s singing; the pure joy he seems to feel in everything he recorded that year; and the recording of some his finest material: songs that are forever associated with him and that he still sings today. Not just I Left My Heart in San Francisco, but Smile, The Rules of the Road, The Good Life and today’s song The Best Is Yet To Come and many more. Tony Bennett owned 1962. I often find myself gravitating to the songs from these albums and for good reason: they are an amazing set of songs by the greatest popular singer in the world. Then and today. And forever. Upon the release of his Complete Collection in 2011, the New York Times said: “We aren’t likely to see a recording career like this again.” I’m certain we won’t, but we can certainly glory in all of it.
http://open.spotify.com/track/463wvwQJ7DJCvBvbvD55xz
The Best Is Yet To Come, as well as the full (and glorious) I Left My Heart in San Francisco album, is available from iTunes.