Song of the Day: Don’t Get Around Much Anymore

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 4, 2014 is “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.”

About This Song

Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington wrote this tune in 1940; it was originally called “Never No Lament.” In 1942, Bob Russell wrote the lyric and the title became “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.”

The Ink Spots made a very successful recording of the song in 1943; Ellington recorded an instrumental version that same year. With vocalist Al Hibbler, Ellington recorded the song with vocals in 1947.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” in 1967 for his album Tony Makes It Happen! (The album title is the answer to the fourth song on the album: “What Makes It Happen?”). The album was arranged and conducted by Marion Evans and produced by Howard Roberts. He recorded a new version in 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool; he went on to record it with Michael Bublé on Duets II and Miguel Bose on Viva Duets. The documentary film The Zen of Bennett has a long scene on the recording of this song with Bublé for Duets II.

http://open.spotify.com/track/491ebIOXElVbEqQgzVILO2
“Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” as well as Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from iTunes.