Next up in the Tony Bennett 1950s Hit Parade is the song of the day for Tuesday, January 8, 2013: Cold, Cold Heart.
About Cold, Cold Heart
This song was written in 1951 by the great Hank Williams. Hank Williams recorded the song, on the B-side of a single, in 1951, but Cold, Cold Heart won the country music chart’s Number One ranking. It is the first country “cross-over” song, due to the recording made in the same year by Tony Bennett. Since 1951, this song has been a favorite of both popular and country singers including Louis Armstrong, Johnny Cash, Nat King Cole and Jerry Lee Lewis.
About This Version
Tony Bennett tells wonderful stories about Cold, Cold Heart in his concerts. He often relates that he liked the song when Mitch Miller played it for him, but couldn’t imagine himself singing a country song. He says that Mitch told him that if he had to tie him to a tree, Tony would record that song. So, as Tony relates “…so he tied me to a tree … ”
They recorded the song on May 31, 1951; by July it reached the Billboard charts and stayed there for 27 weeks, peaking at #1 on the popular charts. Mr. Bennett sings the song today at most of his concerts.
The very effective arrangement is by Percy Faith.
Cold, Cold Heart, as well as Columbia Singles: Volume 1, is available from iTunes.
Vintage Benedetto. none better!