The Year of Tony Bennett remembers Lorenz Hart, who was born on this day in New York in 1895. In honor of Mr. Hart, the song of the day for Friday, May 2, 2014 is “Thou Swell.”
About This Song
“Thou Swell” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1927 Broadway musical A Connecticut Yankee, based on the Mark Twain novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. I’ve always loved “Thou Swell” because of the lyric — the delightful play of modern and medieval terminology: ‘thou swell,’ ‘a hut for two’ and my favorite ‘thine eyes are cute too.’
About This Version
Today’s recording is from Bennett’s Improv album Tony Bennett Sings… More Great Rodgers & Hart, released in 1973. It features the Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on cornet, Barnes on guitar, Wayne Wright on guitar and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a wonderful sound for the Rodgers and Hart songs that I never tire of.
http://open.spotify.com/track/3QNOMECmFdjw2MeT8AXdKW
“Thou Swell,” as well as all of the songs recorded by Tony Bennett’s Improv label, is available from iTunes.
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