The song of the day for Wednesday, July 12, 2023, is “The Lady is a Tramp.”

About July 12/16

On July 12 and July 16, 1973, Tony Bennett and The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, recorded 24 Rodgers and Hart songs on Tony Bennett’s Improv label. Two weeks prior to these sessions, Bennett had appeared in concert with the quartet at Alice Tully Hall in New York. So, from the 12th to the 16th of July 2023, we’ll be featuring some of those recordings.

The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet consisted of Braff on trumpet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass.

About This Song

“The Lady is a Tramp” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1937 Broadway musical Babes In Arms, where it was introduced by Mitzi Green. The song was meant as a spoof on the high society of New York, where the singer is clear about what she likes to do, no matter what everyone else is doing. “The Lady Is A Tramp” has been sung by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lena Horne. More recently, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga sang a duet of this song on their 2011 album “Duets II.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Lady is a Tramp” in July 1973. It was released in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

“The Lady is a Tramp,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook is available on Apple Music.