The Year of Tony Bennett would like to wish Antonia Bennett a very happy birthday. We’ve been lucky to hear her sing many times with her Dad.
We are also enjoying her latest album of standards, Embrace Me. Here’s a sample of one of our favorites.
On the Third Day of Tony Bennett Christmas
On the third day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Tuesday, December 16, 2014, Tony Bennett and Antonia Bennett sing “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm.”
“I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” was written in 1937 by Irving Berlin for the movie On The Avenue, starring Dick Powell and Alice Faye, who introduced the song in the movie. Billie Holiday recorded it 1937 as did Mildred Bailey. Other notable recordings include those by Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald and Doris Day.
Tony Bennett first recorded “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” in 1968 for his album Snowfall. Today’s version is from A Swingin’ Christmas, a duet by Tony Bennett and his daughter Antonia, recorded in 2004.
“I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” as well as A Swinging’ Christmas is available from iTunes.
Embrace Me
Tony Bennett isn’t the only member of the Bennett family who’s been busy. His daughter, Antonia, has also released her album, Embrace Me, on iTunes.
This album is a great selection of standards from a terrific singer. Highlights for me include “But Not For Me,”Embraceable You” and “All The Things You Are” though I like every song on the album.
The CD of Embrace Me can be pre-ordered at Amazon, with availability on November 4, 2014. However, it can be downloaded from iTunes immediately.
We look forward to hearing you in concert in Portland, Oregon next month!
Song of the Day: I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
The song of the day for Wednesday, December 4, 2013 is “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm.”
About This Song
Today’s song is by the great composer Irving Berlin. It was written in 1937 for the movie On the Avenue, which starred Dick Powell and Alice Faye.
This song a classic Christmas favorite, with recordings by Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald (with and without Louis Armstrong), Frank Sinatra and Kay Starr, among many others.
I chose this song today as it seems that a great part of the U.S. is having very cold weather. Even here in usually mild Portland, Oregon, we’re going to be seeing temperatures in the teens and possibly even the single digits before it’s all over. So, bundle up everyone!
It also gives us a chance to remind our readers that The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas will be starting on December 14. In the meantime, get your love to keep you warm or, lacking that, bring out the down jackets and gloves and remember to keep your head warm too.
About This Version
“I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” is from Bennett’s 2008 Christmas album A Swingin’ Christmas Featuring the Count Basie Big Band. I like the cover of the album, which does a very sweet nod to Norman Rockwell’s 1942 painting “Freedom From Want.” Rockwell created a series of four lithographs to help promote the sales of war bonds.
I also love hearing Antonia sing with her Dad; I always enjoy hearing them sing together at their concerts.
http://open.spotify.com/track/0oBudl7P9fqep8ghZpA6wH
“I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm,” as well as the album A Swingin’ Christmas, is available from iTunes and Amazon.
Antonia Bennett’s Sail Away
I didn’t want to let anymore time pass without acknowledging the extraordinary singing by Antonia Bennett last Saturday night in Tacoma, most especially on Noël Coward’s song “Sail Away.”
I’ve always loved the score for Sail Away, but Miss Bennett’s version of this song is by far the best that I have ever heard. It was heartbreakingly beautiful and was sung perfectly.
Thank you, Miss Bennett, for making such a wonderful memories with your “Sail Away.”
Here’s Sir Coward singing his song:
http://open.spotify.com/track/4YjnxkU8jpZL71QQ756JW6