The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Keep Smiling At Trouble

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 11, 2017 is “Keep Smiling At Trouble.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Keep Smiling At Trouble,” was written in 1924, with music by Lewis Gensler and lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva. “Keep Smiling at Trouble” was first recorded by Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians in 1924, with vocals by his brother, Tom Waring. Other noted recordings were by Jolson, Ruby Braff, Tommy Dorsey, Della Reese and Bobby Hackett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Keep Smiling At Trouble” in 1967 for the album For Once In My Life, with a great arrangement by Ralph Burns.

Keep Smiling At Trouble (Trouble"s A Bubble)

Listen to Keep Smiling At Trouble (Trouble"s A Bubble) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1967


“Keep Smiling At Trouble,” as well as For Once In My Life, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Keep Smiling At Trouble

The song of the day for Friday, August 19, 2016 is “Keep Smiling At Trouble.”

About This Song

“Keep Smiling at Trouble” was written 1924, with music by Lewis Gentler and lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva. It was first recorded by Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians in 1924, with vocals by his brother, Tom Waring. Other noted recordings were by Jolson, Ruby Braff, Tommy Dorsey, Della Reese and Bobby Hackett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song twice, once live from his recently-released album Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On in 1964, and two studio recordings once in 1963 and another in 1967. It’s the 1967 recording I”m featuring today, released on For Once in My Life with a great arrangement by Ralph Burns, whose work for Tony Bennett I really love. If you have any doubts, listen to Hometown, My Town from 1959.

Keep Smiling At Trouble (Trouble"s A Bubble)

Listen to Keep Smiling At Trouble (Trouble"s A Bubble) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1967


“Keep Smiling At Trouble,” as well as For Once In My Life, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Keep Smiling At Trouble

The song of the day for Saturday, March 8 , 2014 is “Keep Smiling At Trouble.”

About This Song

“Keep Smiling At Trouble” was composed in 1924 by Lewis Gensler, with lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva. The song was first recorded by Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians in 1924, with vocals by his brother, Tom Waring. Other noted recordings were by Jolson, Ruby Braff, Tommy Dorsey, Della Reese and Bobby Hackett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song several times. Today’s version is from his 1963 album This Is All I Ask. The album was arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns and produced by Ernie Altschuler. The album features the Ralph Sharon Trio.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7xcWqpzuKjL6pvCC4GoPwc
“Keep Smiling At Trouble,” as well as the album This Is All I Ask, is available from iTunes.

Our Saturday YouTube video is Tony Bennett singing today’s song on the Judy Garland television show!

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Song of the Day: Keep Smiling at Trouble

The song of the day for Friday, December 13, 2013 is “Keep Smiling at Trouble.”

Today’s song is dedicated to two of my very good friends. One is moving her household in the rainy weather. The other has a cat named Trouble. Today’s song is for you both.

About This Song

Today’s song, “Keep Smiling at Trouble (Trouble’s a Bubble)” was written in 1924, with music by Lewis Gensler and lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva, for the Broadway musical Big Boy. The first recording was by Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians, with Fred’s brother, Tom, on vocals. Other recordings include those by Al Jolson, Ruby Braff, Bobby Hackett and Della Reese.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Keep Smiling at Trouble” is a live version from Tony Bennett’s 1964 concert at the Sahara in Las Vegas. He seems to be having a good time with this song and that’s why I chose it for today. I’m not superstitious, but it is Friday the 13th, so let’s all smile at trouble, for trouble’s a bubble.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3XeJTG8qqE8nWGEEBrrMfv
“Keep Smiling at Trouble,” as well as all of the songs on the Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Keep Smiling At Trouble

The song of the day for Thursday, November 7, 2013 is “Keep Smiling At Trouble.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Keep Smiling at Trouble (Trouble’s a Bubble)” was written in 1924, with music by Lewis Gensler and lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva, for the Broadway musical Big Boy. The first recording was by Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians, with Fred’s brother, Tom, on vocals. (Trivia point: Fred Waring invented and marketed the Waring Blender in 1933). Other recordings include those by Al Jolson, Ruby Braff, Bobby Hackett and Della Reese.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded “Keep Smiling At Trouble” several times, starting with the 1963 album This Is All I Ask, followed by the 1967 version on For Once In My Life (which Mr. Bennett has selected for his 40/50/60 Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett box sets). Today’s version, though, is from his 1964 performance at the Sahara in Las Vegas, from the recently released Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964 album.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3XeJTG8qqE8nWGEEBrrMfv
“Keep Smiling At Trouble,” as well as the album Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964, is available from iTunes.

And even though it’s not YouTube Saturday, here’s Al Jolson singing his song: