The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Anything Goes

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 9, 2021, is “Anything Goes.”

About Today

Today we are honoring the great Cole Porter, who was born 130 years ago today, June 9, 1891, in Peru, Indiana.

About This Song

“Anything Goes” was written by Cole Porter in 1934 for the musical of the same name. In Anything Goes, Cole Porter and book writers Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse created one of the great musical comedy characters of all time: Reno Sweeney, played by Ethel Merman in the original 1934 production. The score contains many of Porter’s most popular songs, including “I Get a Kick Out You,” “You’re The Top,” and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Anything Goes” at his 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall, captured on Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1w9E9K8dvUKMbnFKXi7L45?si=7317b5ed6a3149d5

“Anything Goes,” as well as Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall is available on Apple Music.

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Sings With the Ladies, Part 1

The playlist of the week of June 30, 2019, is Tony Sings With the Ladies, Part 1.

Tony Sings With the Ladies, Part 1

This week’s playlist features some of Tony’s duets with female singers.

“Lullaby of Broadway” with the Dixie Chicks, from Duets: An American Classic

“I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You)” with k.d. lang, from A Wonderful World

“Body and Soul” with Amy Winehouse, from Duets II

“They Can’t Take That Away From Me” with Diana Krall, from Love Is Here To Stay

“But Beautiful” with Lady Gaga, from Cheek to Cheek

“Stormy Weather” with Natalie Cole, from Playin’ With My Friends

“Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)” with Queen Latifah, from Duets II

“I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues” with Bonnie Raitt, from Playin’ With My Friends

“Anything Goes+ with Lady Gaga, from Cheek to Cheek

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Song of the Day: I Get A Kick Out Of You

The song of the day for Friday, June 17, 2016 is “I Get A Kick Out Of You.”

About This Song

“I Get a Kick Out of You” was written for Cole Porter’s 1934 musical Anything Goes, where it was introduced by Ethel Merman. It’s been popular since then and has been recorded by artists including Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Anita O’Day, Max Roach and many more. The original lyrics reference the use of cocaine (I get no kick from cocaine), and that particular line in the lyric is often rewritten, often to champagne.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Get a Kick Out of You” for his 1957 jazz album The Beat of My Heart. The cut was not on the original LP release, but was added to the first CD release in the early 1990s. The arrangement is by Ralph Sharon and features Art Blakey on drums.

I Get a Kick out of You

Listen to I Get a Kick out of You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1957


“I Get A Kick Out Of You,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available from iTunes.

And because I love Ethel Merman, here’s one of her recordings of today’s song.

I Get A Kick Out Of You - From "Anything Goes"

Listen to I Get A Kick Out Of You - From "Anything Goes" on Spotify. Song · Ethel Merman · 2006

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Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga and Cheek to Cheek

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga made the big announcement on the Today Show today. Cheek to Cheek will be out on September 23.

If you didn’t catch them this morning, you can watch it here. Arriving in a Rolls Royce, no less.

“Anything Goes” from the album is now available from iTunes. Get it here.

The video for “Anything Goes” is up on Tony Bennett’s VEVO channel:

We’ve got Cheek to Cheek fever! We promise to keep you posted on all the Cheek to Cheek news.