Song of the Day: Rags To Riches

The song of the day for Saturday, February 8, 2014 is “Rags To Riches.”

About This Song

“Rags To Riches” was composed in 1953 by Richard Adler with lyrics by Jerry Ross. Tony Bennett recorded the song first in 1953; it was also recorded that same year by David Whitefield and Lee Howard. Elvis Presley recorded it 1971; he sang live in concert in 1977 accompanying himself on piano. The song found new fans when Martin Scorsese used the song at the opening of his 1990 film Goodfellas.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded and released “Rags To Riches” as a single in 1953. It was #1 for eight weeks on the Billboard charts and became a gold record. Bennett’s was the first recording of “Rags To Riches.”

http://open.spotify.com/track/4BH8EuPAxeFAh1rSWtnGdD
“Rags To Riches,” as well as the collected songs on The Columbia Singles, Volume 2, is available from iTunes.

Here’s Tony Bennett singing “Rags To Riches” in concert. The date is unknown, but I suspect it’s from the early 1980s, as Ralph Sharon is on piano and Joe LaBarbera is on drums.