The song of the day for Thursday, February 13, 2014 is “My Funny Valentine.”
About This Song
“My Funny Valentine” is one of the great songs by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. It was written for the 1937 Broadway musical Babes in Arms, where it was introduced by Mitzi Green. This ballad is one of the most-loved songs in the American songbook and has been sung by most jazz and cabaret artists. In addition to Tony Bennett’s excellent recordings of this song, others include those by Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra, and Miles Davis.
About This Version
Tony Bennett has recorded several versions of “My Funny Valentine.” Today’s version from the 1961 album Tony Sings For Two is my favorite of them all. This was a remarkable album for Mr. Bennett. Unlike the popular music of the time, this wonderful album is just Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon and no other musicians. Not only that, they just went into the studio with a lot of sheet music and chose, arranged and recorded sixteen songs in a single recording session, twelve of which appeared on the album. It’s a remarkably beautiful and sophisticated album and is one my favorites of his albums.
I would like to dedicate this song to my co-blogger Lesley, whose surname is Valentine. You are my funny Valentine.
http://open.spotify.com/track/1QTXexM8oX5Q6vZoV1d28G
“My Funny Valentine,” as well as the album Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.
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