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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

January 17, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Just In Time

The song of the day for Monday, January 18, 2021, is “Just In Time.”

About This Song

“Just In Time” was written for the 1956 Broadway musical Bells Are Ringing; the music was composed by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden. It was introduced by Judy Holliday and Sidney Chaplin; Holliday and Dean Martin sang it in the 1960 film version of Bells Are Ringing.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Just In Time” on my birthday in 1956 and it was released as a single that year. It was later added to his 1962 album Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits.

In 1965 Harry Belafonte, a good friend of Bennett’s, asked him to join Martin Luther King, Jr. for the third Selma march, the march after Bloody Sunday. This interview with Harry Belafonte and Tony Bennett, conducted by Chris Cuomo, tells the story:

In 1978, the miniseries King was aired, starring Paul Winfield as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cecily Tyson as Coretta Scott King. Tony Bennett played himself and recreated his performance.. The entire miniseries is available on YouTube; I cued it up to Bennett’s performance:

Just in Time – Remastered

Listen to Just in Time – Remastered on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1962.

“Just In Time,” as well as Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Adolph Green, Bells Are Ringing, Betty Comden, Harry Belafonte, Jule Styne, Martin Luther King Day, Martin Luther King Jr., Mr Broadway: Tony's Greatest Broadway Hits, Selma March

December 27, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Party’s Over

The song of the day for Monday, December 28, 2020, is “The Party’s Over.”

About This Song

“The Party’s Over” was written by Jule Styne, Adolph Green and Betty Comden for the 1956 Broadway hit Bells Are Ringing. It was introduced by Judy Holliday, who won the Tony Award for her performance.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Party’s Over” for his 1959 album Hometown, My Town. Ralph Burns arranged and conducted the album.

The Party’s Over – 2011 Remaster

Listen to The Party’s Over – 2011 Remaster on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1959.

“The Party’s Over,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Adolph Green, Bells Are Ringing, Betty Comden, Jule Styne, Ralph Burns, Tony Bennett

December 26, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy

The song of the day for Sunday, December 27, 2020, is “Make Someone Happy.”

About This Song

“Make Someone Happy” was written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, for the 1960 musical Do Re Mi. It concerns a guy, a bit of a loser and a con, who goes into the juke box business with some gangster pals. ”Make Someone Happy” was introduced by John Reardon and Nancy Dussault.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Make Someone Happy” for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977.

Make Someone Happy

Listen to Make Someone Happy on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1977.

“Make Someone Happy,” as well as Together Again, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Bill Evans, Do Re Mi, Jule Styne, Together Again, Tony Bennett

November 24, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 25, 2020, is “Some Other Time.”

About Today

As is so often the case, once I feature a song from this album, I can’t let it go after just one song. Today is one of those days.

About This Song

“Some Other Time” was written by Leonard Bernstein, with lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, in 1944 for the Broadway musical On The Town, the story of three sailors on leave in New York City and their romantic adventures. This song is sung at the end by two of the couples. Inexplicably, this beautiful song was cut from the 1949 film version.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Some Other Time” in 1975 for their first album: The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

Some Other Time

Listen to Some Other Time on Spotify. Bill Evans · Song · 1975.

“Some Other Time,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Bill Evans, Leonard Bernstein, On The Town, The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, Tony Bennett

August 24, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Lucky To Be Me

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 25, 2020, is “Lucky To Be Me.”

About Today

Today marks the anniversary of the birth of composer Leonard Bernstein, who wrote today’s song. I grew up watching The Young People’s Concerts on television. As a teenager, I saw a community theatre production of Wonderful Town and fell in love with his musicals. As an adult, I collected albums that he had composed and conducted and listen to them regularly. I think one of greatest musical evenings in my life was attending this concert in 1980 for the 80th birthday of Aaron Copland, much of which was conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

About This Song

“Lucky To Be Me” was written by Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green, and Betty Comden 1944 musical On The Town, where it was introduced by John Battles. The song (as were most of the songs from the score) was cut from the 1949 film. My question: why bother to film a Leonard Bernstein musical when you cut the best songs, including “Some Other Time?”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Lucky To Be Me” for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977.

“Lucky To Be Me,” as well as Together Again, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Bill Evans, Happy Birthday Leonard Bernstein, Leonard Bernstein, On The Town, Together Again, Tony Bennett

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