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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

May 17, 2017 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Speak Low

The song of the day for Thursday, May 18, 2017 is “Speak Low.”

About This Song

“Speak Low” was written for the 1943 musical One Touch of Venus, with music by Kurt Weill and lyrics by Ogden Nash. In addition to several very fine Tony Bennett recordings, “Speak Low” has been widely recorded by jazz and popular performers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Lena Horne.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Speak Low” in 1964 for his album When Lights Are Low. The album features the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Billy Exiner on drums and Hal Gaylord on bass.

I’ve always thought of When Lights Are Low as a kind of followup to what is probably my favorite Bennett album, Tony Sings For Two. It’s a return to the jazz standards with a solid jazz trio (instead of only Sharon on piano). It’s the Tony Bennett sound I love the most: a great jazz standard, a terrific arrangement, and a strong jazz combo.

Speak Low

Listen to Speak Low on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.


“Speak Low,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

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Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billy Exiner, Hal Gaylord, Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash, One Touch of Venus, Ralph Sharon, When Lights Are Low

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