The song of the day for Saturday, December 26, 2015 is “Are You Having’ Any Fun?”
About This Song
“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” was written by Jack Yellen and Sammy Fain for the 1939 George White’s Scandals. George White produced these Broadway revues from 1919 to 1939. Stars introduced in his Scandals include Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger and The Three Stooges.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded this song on January 5, 1959, the second of two sessions with The Count Basie Orchestra. The songs from these two sessions were released on the album Basie/Bennett. This particular number featured an arrangement by Ralph Sharon, who also played piano. Other musicians on the album included Freddie Green (guitar), Sonny Payne (drums) and Thad Jones (trumpet).
Tony Bennett tells this story in his autobiography The Good Life:
I didn’t meet Count Basie until our rehearsals began. It was an amazing experience, the fulfillment of a dream, and I’ll never forget it. We hit it off right away, as though we’d always knew and understood each other. At one point, Basie turned to his band, pointed at me, and said, ‘Anything this man wants, he gets!’ I was floored.
“Are You Having’ Any Fun?” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from iTunes.
Listen to more of Tony’s music at THE AMAZING TONY BENNETT on Facebook