The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Fly Me To The Moon

The song of the day for Saturday, October 10, 2015 is “Fly Me To The Moon.”

About This Song

“Fly Me To The Moon” was written in 1954 by Bart Howard. It was originally titled “In Other Words,” but the song was not doing that well, in spite of several recordings. In 1962, Howard renamed the song to “Fly Me To The Moon,” and the song began to catch on. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording for If I Ruled The World was a big hit for Bennett. There have been many recordings of the song, including those by Frank Sinatra, Kaye Ballard and many more. However, Bart Howard told Bennett that his 1965 recording was “the definitive performance of this song.”

About This Version

Today’s version is, of course, that definitive 1965 recording, included on one of Bennett’s finest albums: If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set. It was arranged and conducted by Don Costa. This song is definitely in my top ten of Tony Bennett songs, ever since the first concert of his I attended. It was in Seattle, at the Paramount Theater on September 14, 2007. I was sitting in the balcony. He put down the microphone at the end of the concert and sang “Fly Me To the Moon.” I heard every note and it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever heard.

Fly Me To The Moon

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965


“Fly Me To The Moon,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today is Saturday and, if you’re up early, don’t forget that Scott Simon interviews Mr. Bennett on Weekend Edition on NPR this morning. If you’ve overslept, you should be able to find a recording of the interview at npr.org.

It’s also YouTube Saturday and I found a very special video of Tony Bennett singing “Fly Me To The Moon.” The violinist is Joel Smirnoff, who was featured on Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, accompanying Bennett on “Prelude To A Kiss.”

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Song of the Day: Fly Me To The Moon

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 3, 2015 is “Fly Me To The Moon.”

About This Song

“Fly Me To The Moon,” written by Bart Howard in 1954, was originally titled “In Other Words,” but the song was not doing that well, in spite of several recordings. In 1962, Howard renamed the song to “Fly Me To The Moon,” and the song began to catch on. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording for If I Ruled The World was a big hit for Bennett. There have been many recordings of the song, including those by Frank Sinatra, Kaye Ballard and many more. However, Bart Howard told Bennett that his 1965 recording was “the definitive performance of this song.”

About This Version

In our examination of If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, we travel from Rio de Janeiro to the Moon. Tony Bennett has only recorded “Fly Me To The Moon” once, but this recording is so perfect, how could one possibly top it?

I attended my first Tony Bennett concert in September, 2007 at the beautiful Paramount Theater in Seattle, Washington. I had purchased my tickets late and when I did, the only tickets that remained were in the so-called mezzanine, but what I would definitely call a balcony. In any case, the concert was wonderful and I was having a great time. What I did not know then was that when Tony Bennett sings in especially good theaters with very fine acoustics, he will put down his microphone and sing, with just Gray Sargent accompanying him on guitar, “Fly Me To The Moon.” Even back in the balcony, I heard every single word and note as clearly as can be. It was one of the most magical moments I had ever experienced in a theater. I’ve heard him do this several times since and it’s thrilling each time.

Fly Me To The Moon

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965

“Fly Me To The Moon,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Fly Me To The Moon

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 5, 2014 is “Fly Me To The Moon.”

About This Song

“Fly Me To The Moon” was written in 1954 by Bart Howard. The song was originally titled “In Other Words,” but was not doing that well, in spite of several recordings. In 1962, Howard renamed the song to “Fly Me To The Moon,” and the song began to catch on. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording for If I Ruled The World was a big hit for Bennett. There have been many recordings of the song, including those by Frank Sinatra, Kaye Ballard and many more. However, Bart Howard told Bennett that his 1965 recording was “the definitive performance of this song.”

About This Version

This is the original version of “Fly Me To The Moon,” as referenced above. Other than the recording of this song from the MTV Unplugged concert in 1994, this is his only recording of “Fly Me To The Moon.” But how do you improve on perfection?

About Today

Tonight, I’ll be seeing Mr. Bennett in concert in Portland, Oregon at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. With any luck, he’ll put down his microphone and sing this song.

Fly Me To The Moon

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965


“Fly Me To The Moon,” as well as the album If I Ruled The World: Songs for The Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Fly Me To The Moon

The song of the day for Saturday, August 2, 2014 is “Fly Me To The Moon.”

About This Song

“Fly Me To The Moon” was written in 1954 by Bart Howard. The original title was “In Other Words,” but the song was not doing that well, in spite of several recordings. In 1962, Howard renamed the song to “Fly Me To The Moon,” and the song began to catch on. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording for If I Ruled The World was a big hit for Bennett. There have been many recordings of the song, including those by Frank Sinatra, Kaye Ballard and many more. However, Bart Howard told Bennett that his 1965 recording was “the definitive performance of this song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Fly Me To The Moon” on February 18, 1965 at the CBS 30th Street Studio. The song was released that year on the album If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, released that same year. The arrangement is by Don Costa. Other than the live recording of the MTV Unplugged concert in 1994, Mr. Bennett has never recorded this song since. But how can you possibly improve on perfection?

This author first saw Tony Bennett in concert in Seattle, Washington in September, 2007. By the time I bought my tickets, there were no orchestra seats left and I could only get tickets in what was (optimistically) called the mezzanine. At that time, I didn’t know that at certain concert halls, Mr. Bennett sometimes sings this song a capella, without a microphone. Towards the end of the concert, he put down his microphone and started to sing “Fly Me To The Moon.” Even in back of the house, his voice filled the auditorium. All of us hung on every note, never wanting this beauty to ever end. I’ve since heard him do the song without a microphone, but nothing could have prepared me for that first moment. It was, and remains, a moment of pure magic.

Fly Me To The Moon

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965

“Fly Me To The Moon,” as well as the album If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

And, from his MTV Concert in 1994, is Tony Bennett singing “Fly Me To The Moon.”

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Song of the Day: Fly Me To The Moon

The song of the day for Sunday, June 1, 2014 is “Fly Me To The Moon.”

About This Song

Written in 1954, “Fly Me To The Moon” was originally titled “In Other Words,” but the song was not doing that well, in spite of several recordings. In 1962, Howard renamed the song to “Fly Me To The Moon,” and the song began to catch on. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording for If I Ruled The World was a big hit for Bennett. There have been many recordings of the song, including those by Frank Sinatra, Kaye Ballard and many more. However, Bart Howard told Bennett that his 1965 recording was “the definitive performance of this song.”

Your blogger first heard Tony Bennet sing “Fly Me To The Moon” at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, Washington on September 14, 2007. This was my first Tony Bennett concert. By the time I bought my tickets, there were no orchestra seats left and I could only get tickets in what was (optimistically) called the mezzanine. At that time, I didn’t know that at certain concert halls, Mr. Bennett sometimes sings this song a capella, without a microphone. Towards the end of the concert, he put down his microphone and started to sing “Fly Me To The Moon.” Even in back of the house, his voice filled the auditorium. All of us hung on every note, never wanting this beauty to ever end. I’ve since heard him do the song without a microphone, but nothing could have prepared me for that first moment. It was, and remains, a moment of pure magic.

The Year of Tony Bennett notes that the author of this song, Bart Howard, was born on June 1, 1915 in Burlington, Iowa and died in 2004. On what would have been his 99th birthday, we are pleased to dedicate today’s song to his memory and offer our thanks for this quite wonderful song.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Bennett’s legendary television appearance on MTV Unplugged in front of a live audience. Accompanied by the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Doug Richeson on bass and Clayton Cameron on drums, Tony Bennett reached a whole new audience, singing the songs he likes to sing, sung the way he likes to sing them. This album won the coveted Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

http://open.spotify.com/track/6YNDwlmzhWcTHt70Mq9IIE
“Fly Me To The Moon,” as well as the album MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett, is available from iTunes.