The song of the day for Friday, October 13, 2023, is “Stranger in Paradise.”
About Today
Tony Bennett recorded “Stranger in Paradise” 70 years ago today: October 13, 1953.
About This Song
“Stranger in Paradise” was written in 1953 by Robert Wright and George Forrest for the Broadway musical Kismet. The song was based on “Gliding Dance of the Maidens” from the opera Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin, written in 1890.
“Stranger in Paradise” was the hugely popular song from Kismet. The popularity of Kismet is due in large part to Tony Bennett. At the time Kismet was preparing to open, New York City was having a massive newspaper strike and publicizing the opening of the musical was nearly impossible. The producers asked Tony Bennett to record “Stranger in Paradise” to help promote the production. His version was a hit and so was Kismet.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “Stranger in Paradise” on October 13, 1953, and released that same year as a single; the same recording was used on the 1962 album Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits. “Stranger In Paradise” was arranged by Percy Faith.
“Stranger in Paradise,” as well as Mr. Broadway” Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits, is available on Apple Music.
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