The song of the day for Monday, March 19, 2018 is “This Could Be The Start of Something Big.”
About This Song
“This Could Be the Start of Something Big” was written in 1956 by multi-talented Steve Allen. Allen was the first host of The Tonight Show in 1953; he was also an accomplished pianist and singer and, as evidenced by this song, a fine songwriter as well.
About This Version
Tony Bennett sang “This Could Be the Start of Something Big” at the start of his 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall. You can hear the applause as he, presumably, walks out on stage and begins singing this song. Bennett sang 43 songs that June evening at Carnegie Hall–all of them quite wonderful. This song was a terrific choice to start Act II of this legendary concert.
https://open.spotify.com/track/1giBoroq4IpDaE45NQBsUL
“This Could Be the Start of Something Big,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.
An interesting sub-genre of songs: This Could Be the Start, Hey, Look Me Over, Don”t Rain On My Parade, You’re Gonna Hear From Me, I’ve Got a Lot of Living To Do, Pick Yourself Up, I’ve Got the World on a String, Everything’s Coming Up Roses, That’s Life, . . . Similar theme. Upbeat. Many of them from Broadway, I’d guess. I don’t think Bennett recorded many of this type.
I loved your post, William! Tony has recorded quite a few up-tempo songs, but it’s the ballads that people tend to respond too–human nature being what it is. His recording of “Firefly” on one of the albums he did with Count Basie is a great example. Thanks for writing.