Song of the Day: How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

The song of the day for Monday, June 15, 2015 is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” was written in 1982 with music by Michel Legrand and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It was written for the 1982 movie Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” in 1986 for The Art Of Excellence, his first album upon his return to Columbia. The album was produced by Danny Bennett and Ettore Stratta; the orchestration is by Jorge Calandrelli, with whom Bennett continues to work. This album is appropriately named–it really is excellent.

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” as well as , is available from iTunes.