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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

April 4, 2016 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Prelude To A Kiss

The song of the day for Monday, April 4, 2016 is “Prelude To A Kiss.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Prelude To A Kiss” in 1938, with lyrics by Irving Gordon and Irving Mills.

Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, notes that in the late 1930s, Ellington having practically invented swing music, “… at this juncture he does the exact opposite. The Duke uses his fame and great artistic freedom to become more ambitious, more experimental, less beholden to the formulas of swing music. … ‘Prelude To A Kiss’ from 1938 is a case in point.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Prelude To A Kiss” in 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The exquisite violin is from Joel Smirnoff.

Prelude To A Kiss

Listen to Prelude To A Kiss on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.


“Prelude To A Kiss,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

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Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Duke Ellington, Irving Gordon, Irving Mills, Joel Smirnoff

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