The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

Search Results for: the complete collection

By 2 Comments

Song of the Day: Something’s Gotta Give

The song of the day for Friday, October 4, 2013 is “Something’s Gotta Give.”

About This Song

With both music and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, “Something’s Gotta Give” was written for the 1955 film Daddy Long Legs, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. The lyrics are pure Mercer:

When an irresistible force such as you
Meets an old immovable object like me
You can bet just as sure as you live
Somethin’s gotta give

The song is full of those paradoxes and it’s a real treat.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song in 1955; it was arranged by Sid Feller. However, the recording was not released until 2011 on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Volume 1, with the Tony Bennett Complete Collection. There are two volumes and they are both full of delights, from Tony’s first-ever recording of “St. James Infirmary” with the 314th Army Special Services Band in Germany to some great jazz sets with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Elvin Jones and Stan Getz to a few early live performances by Mr. Bennett in a smoky nightclub.
http://open.spotify.com/track/6pew3Sff2WTusydMb9epXi
“Something’s Gotta Give,” as well as all of the songs on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Volume 1, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Revolvin’ Jones

The song of the day for Monday, March 16, 2015 is “Revolvin’ Jones.”

About This Song

“Revolvin’ Jones” was written in 1940 by Willard Robison , who met and collaborated with Jack Teagarden. Other well-known Robison songs include “A Cottage For Sale” and “Don’t Smoke in Bed”. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder wrote that

Everybody loved him and many tried to help him, among them John Mercer. Mildred Bailey revered him and sang every song of his she could lay her hands on. I became aware of him in the late twenties when he recorded for Perfect Records. … He did manage, during his almost euphoric life, to write a few successful songs … but generally his songs were known only to a few singers and lovers of the off-beat and the non-urban song. He had a special flair for gentleness and childhood, the lost and the religious. I suppose it’s not part of the growth of popular music, nor perhaps were any of Robison’s songs. But if they could so much bolster John Mercer’s conviction that there was more to write lyrics about than city life, that the world of memory, of remembered sayings and scenes, was as evocative as the whispered words of lovers, then he did make a contribution.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this charming song for his album The Glory Road, recorded in 1962 and due to be released on June 18, 1962. At the last minute, the release was canceled. The album was finally released in 2011 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection and now, thankfully, available on iTunes.

About Today

Tony Bennett recorded this song 53 years ago today, March 16, 1962, at the CBS 30th Street Studio in New York, alone with four other songs from On The Glory Road.

Revolvin" Jones

Listen to Revolvin" Jones on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1962


“Revolvin’ Jones,” as well as On The Glory Road, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: These Foolish Things

The song of the day for Saturday, April 25, 2015 is “These Foolish Things.”

About This Song

“These Foolish Things” was written in 1936 by Jack Strachey (music) and Eric Maschwitz, writing as Holt Marvell, (lyrics). Although written and first performed in 1936, it was not an immediate hit. In fact, Maschwitz’ agent refused to publish the song and so Maschwitz himself did. There were several fine recordings in the 1930s, including one by Billie Holiday with the Teddy Wilson Orchestra in 1936. In the 1950s, the song became even more popular, with recordings by Artie Shaw, Nat King Cole, Art Pepper and Johnny Hartman. “These Foolish Things” ranks #28 on jazzstandards.org and is still widely played and recorded.

About This Version

Tony Bennett’s version of “These Foolish Things” is touching and sad, just as this song should always be. Sharon’s piano and the strings arranged by Jorge Calandrelli are perfect. Well, the entire album is pretty much perfect as far as I’m concerned.

These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)

Listen to These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1997

“These Foolish Things,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from iTunes.

About Billie Holiday’s Version

Billie Holiday first recorded “These Foolish Things” (MX B19496-2) on June 30, 1936 with the Teddy Wilson Orchestra. It was released on Brunswick 7699. The musicians on this session were Teddy Wilson (piano), Johnny Hodges (alto sax), Harry Carney (baritone sax), Lawrence Lucie (guitar), John Kirby (bass) and Cozy Cole (drums).

These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You) (with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra)

Listen to These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You) (with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra) on Spotify. Song · Billie Holiday, Teddy Wilson · 2015


“These Foolish Things,” as well as The Centennial Collection, is available from iTunes.

She recorded the song again on March 26, 1952 (MX YBC69-3), which was released as single on Clef 89002, with “I Only Have Eyes For You” and also on Verve MGC 690. The musicians for this session were Oscar Peterson (piano), Flip Phillips (tenor sax), Charlie Shavers (trumpet), Barney Kessel (guitar), Ray Brown (bass) and Alvin Stoller (drums).

I love both of her recordings and hope you’ll find time to listen to them both.

These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)

Listen to These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You) on Spotify. Song · Billie Holiday · 2005


“These Foolish Things,” as well as The Complete Verve Studio Master Takes, is available from iTunes.

About Today

It’s YouTube Saturday. I’d like to share some more of Billie Holiday’s live television appearance on CBS This Is Jazz from 1957. Here she is singing “Fine and Mellow.”

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Sing You Sinners

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 3, 2015 is “Sing You Sinners.”

About This Song

“Sing You Sinners” was written by W. Franke Harling (music) and Sam Coslow (lyrics) for the 1930 film Honey, starring Lillian Roth. The song was an early hit in 1950 for Tony Bennett. He sings the song regularly in concerts today.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song several times: in 1950 and 1955 as a single; live in 1962 and 1964; and as duet with John Legend in 2006. Today I’ve chosen his 1950 version, which was recorded on July 20, 1950 at his second session with Columbia Records (the first was on April 17). It was arranged by Marty Manning and the arrangement is quite effective and swings nicely. One reason I like this recording is that it feels to me like he relaxed in the studio and just sang all out.

About Today

I am writing today from my home office … so far, only the necessities unpacked: keyboard, computer and the booklet from the The Complete Collection box set. It was a smooth move!

Sing You Sinners

No Description


“Sing You Sinners,” as well as all of the songs collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Sunday, September 20, 2015 is “The Rules of the Road.”

About Today

Today is Sunday, which means that we take a look at one of Tony Bennett’s songs that he’s recorded several times and listen to and examine them all. And, as it’s my birthday, we are looking at what is probably my favorite Tony Bennett song: “The Rules of the Road.” And yes, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve featured it here.

About This Song

“The Rules of the Road” was written in 1960 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. Andy Propst, in his recent biography of Coleman, You Fascinate Me So, writes that Coleman was suffering from writer’s block during that period, when Carolyn Leigh was wanting to work on “The Rules of the Road.” When he did find his away around that block, the result was “The Rules of the Road.”

About These Versions

Today we have four recordings of our song. The first is a studio recording from 1961, followed by a live recording from 1962. Then we have two recordings from 1964, one studio and one live, recorded just a month apart. The contrast between the earlier versions and the 1964 versions have always fascinated me.

The first recording was made on April 6, 1961 and was arranged by Ralph Burns. It has the distinctive big band opening that Burns did so well. There are some great musicians from this session: Milt Hinton, Bernie Glow, Urbie Green, and Eddie Costa. Bennett’s voice is big and solid and the song swings nicely. This recording was released on the 1962 Grammy Award winning album I Left My Heart In San Francisco.

The next recording is from his show at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962 and was arranged by Ralph Sharon. It has a big, brassy opening that I love. Bennett is just a bit more reserved than the first version, but only a little bit. It was released on Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, also in 1962.

In March and April 1964, Bennett and Ralph Sharon were in Las Vegas, preparing for a big live show at The Sahara. While there, Tony Bennett recorded When Lights Are Low with the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums. “The Rules of the Road” was recorded on March 26, 1964 and could not be more different from the versions from 1961 and 1962. From the opening bar, we hear a man who knows full well what those rules are and not just from being told–you can hear the emotion and some regret … just in the opening with “… and suddenly this.” One can almost detect a broken heart in there somewhere. This is, far and way, my favorite recording of this song.

Our final recording is the live performance on April 8, 1964, just a couple of weeks after the recording session for When Lights Are Low, at The Sahara. In spite of the bigger orchestra and the Vegas aspect, this version is also introspective as well. At the very end when Bennett sings “… you live and you learn,” I take the singer at his word. The rules of the road. Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On was not released until 2011 in the Complete Collection and is now available for download from iTunes.

1961

Rules of the Road

Tony Bennett · I Left My Heart In San Francisco · Song · 1962


“The Rules of the Road,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available from iTunes.

1962

The Rules Of The Road - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to The Rules Of The Road - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


“The Rules of the Road,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

1964-1

The Rules Of The Road

Listen to The Rules Of The Road on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“The Rules of the Road,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

1964-2

The Rules Of The Road - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964

Listen to The Rules Of The Road - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“The Rules of the Road,” as well as Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On, is available from iTunes.

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites