The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Are You Havin’ Any Fun?

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 20, 2020, is “Are You Havin’ Any Fun?”.

About This Song

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” was written by Jack Yellen and Sammy Fain for the 1939 George White’s Scandals. George White produced these Broadway revues from 1919 to 1939. Stars introduced in his Scandals include Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger, and The Three Stooges.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” in 1959 for his album with Count Basie and His Orchestra for the album Basie/Bennett. Tony tells this story from his autobiography The Good Life:

I didn’t meet Count Basie until our rehearsals began. We hit it off right away, as though we always knew and understood each other. At one point Basie turned to his band, pointed at me, and said, “Anything this man wants, he gets!” I was floored.

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves Judy and So Do We

The playlist for the week of September 29, 2019, is Tony Loves Judy and So Do We.

The founders of the Year of Tony Bennett saw the new film Judy last night, starring an absolutely amazing Renee Zellweger as Judy Garland. Both of us were moved to tears by Zellweger’s performance, and also from sadness over the challenges that Judy Garland, an immensely talented actress and singer, faced over her entire life, which ended much too soon.

Our playlist this week consists of a few of the songs that Judy Garland sang at her 1961 performance at Carnegie Hall and those same songs sung by Tony Bennett. There are also a couple of wonderful videos.

All of the Judy Garland recordings are from Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall.

Tony Bennett’s recordings are, in order, from Basie/Bennett, Tony Sings For Two, Together Again, and Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen.

This clip is from Tony’s appearance on Judy Garland’s television program from 1963:

This clip is from a documentary on songwriters. It features Yip Harburg, who wrote the lyrics for “Over the Rainbow,” talking about his song:

By Leave a Comment

Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves Jazz

The playlist for the week of September 1, 2019, is Tony Loves Jazz. I’ve picked some of his great jazz recordings, presented in chronological order, beginning with Cloud 7 and ending with Love is Here to Stay. We got a lot of songs, but as it’s a holiday weekend in the US, I hope you can find some time to give these a listen.

Did I miss one your favorites? Leave a comment and I promise to make it a song of the day within two weeks.

Tony Loves Jazz

Listen on Spotify: It's the season of jazz festivals, so I'm creating my own Tony Bennett jazz festival here. And don't just take my word for it; Tony Bennett is a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master.

From Cloud 7, released in 1955
Old Devil Moon
Darn That Dream

From The Beat of My Heart, released in 1957
Lullaby of Broadway
Crazy Rhythm

From Basie/Bennett, released in 1959
With Plenty of Money and You
Poor Little Rich Girl

From In Person!, released in 1959
Taking a Chance on Love
Fascinatin’ Rhythm

From My Heart Sings, released in 1961
Dancing in the Dark
Stella By Starlight

From Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, released in 1962
Solitude

From Bennett & Brubeck: The White Sessions, Live 1962, released in 2013, recorded in 1962
Lullaby of Broadway
There Will Never Be Another You

From Tony Makes It Happen!, released in 1967
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
Old Devil Moon

From The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, released in 1975
Days of Wine and Roses
Some Other Time

From Together Again, released in 1977
Dream Dancing
Make Someone Happy

From Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1997
That Ole Devil Called Love
All Of Me

From Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, released in 1999
Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me
Sophisticated Lady

From Duets II, released in 2011
The Lady is a Tramp
Body and Soul

From The Silver Lining: Songs of Jerome Kern, released in 2015
I Won’t Dance
I’m Old Fashioned

From Love Is Here To Stay, released in 2018
I Got Rhythm
Who Cares?

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan

The song of the day for Thursday, February 14, 2019, is “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan.”

About This Song

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” was written by Arthur Schwarz and Howard Dietz for the 1929 revue The Little Show and was introduced by Clifton Webb. It was a featured song in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, where it was sung by Fred Astaire and Oscar Levant. Even though the original title was “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” it more often sung with Plans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded ” I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” in 1959 with the Count Basie Orchestra and features a terrific arrangement by Ralph Sharon. The album Basie/Bennett was originally released on Basie’s Roulette label; this decision was not well-regarded by Mitch Miller and others at Columbia Records. Their second album, In Person!, was released by Columbia.

The two albums that Tony Bennett made with Count Basie in the late 1950s are really remarkable and are among my favorites. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to them, just follow the Spotify link where you can stream the full album. Both are also available on iTunes.

I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans – 1990 Remix/Remaster

I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans – 1990 Remix/Remaster, a song by Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell on Spotify

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Are You Havin’ Any Fun

The song of the day for Sunday, April 22, 2018 is “Are You Havin’ Any Fun.”

About This Song

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” was written for the 1939 George White’s Scandals by Sammy Fain and Jack Yellen. George White produced these Broadway reviews from 1919 to 1939. Stars introduced in his Scandals include Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger and The Three Stooges.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Are You Havin’ Any Fun” in 1959 for their album Basie/Bennett. Ralph Sharon did the arrangement.

Are You Havin" Any Fun? - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to Are You Havin" Any Fun? - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Count Basie · Song · 1959.


“Are You Havin’ Any Fun,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from iTunes.

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites