The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Are You Having Any Fun?

The song of the day for Thursday, February 16, 2017 is “Are You Having Any Fun?”

About This Song

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” was written 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 Having Any Fun?” in 1959 for his album with Count Basie and His Orchestra, Basie/Bennett. The arrangement is by Ralph Sharon.

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

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


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

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Song of the Day: Jeepers Creepers

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 13, 2016 is “Jeepers Creepers.”

About This Song

“Jeepers Creepers” was written by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer for the 1938 movie Going Places, which featured Louis Armstrong as a trumpet-playing horse trainer. It has been recorded by Bing Crosby and, of course, Louis Armstrong.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Jeepers Creepers” with Count Basie and His Orchestra in 1959 for their album Basie/Bennett. The arrangement was done by Ralph Sharon.

Jeepers Creepers - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to Jeepers Creepers - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959


“Jeepers Creepers,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from iTunes.

We have a video today that features Jack Teagarden, Ruby Braff and Louis Armstrong playing “Jeepers Creepers,” recorded in 1958.

Jeepers Creepers 1958 Louis Armstrong and Jack Teagarden

The Greatest of Jazz unites yet once again to deliver some more of the Greatest Music in the world.

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Song of the Day: Strike Up The Band

The song of the day for Sunday, September 11, 2016 is “Strike Up The Band.”

About This Song

George and Ira Gershwin wrote “Strike Up the Band” for the 1927 musical of the same name. Although Strike Up the Band was not a big hit on Broadway, the song became extremely popular. When Gershwin moved to Los Angeles, he was approached by UCLA to help with a fight song and so he contributed “Strike Up the Band for UCLA”, which is still played at all football and home basketball games at the university.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Strike Up The Band” in 1959 with Count Basie and His Orchestra for their album Basie/Bennett.

Strike up the Band (Strike up the Band) - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to Strike up the Band (Strike up the Band) - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959


“Strike Up The Band,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from iTunes.

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

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 27, 2016 is “Are You Havin’ Any Fun?”

About This Song

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” was written for the 1939 George White’s Scandals by Jack Yellin and Sammy Fain. 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 today’s song in 1959 with Count Basie and His Orchestra, with an arrangement by Ralph Sharon on the album Basie/Bennett.

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

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


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

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Song of the Day: With Plenty of Money and You

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 13, 2016 is “With Plenty of Money and You.”

About This Song

“With Plenty of Money and You” was written for the Gold Diggers of 1937 by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, starring Dick Powell and Joan Blondell and choreographed by Busby Berkeley. Interestingly, the score for the film was to have been written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg, but Berkeley didn’t like what they had written and brought in Warren and Dubin for this song and several other songs. Some Arlen and Harburg songs were used in the film as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “With Plenty of Money and You” in 1959 with Count Basie and His Orchestra. It was released on their firs album: Basie/Bennett and features and arrangement by Ralph Sharon.

With Plenty of Money and You - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to With Plenty of Money and You - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959


“With Plenty of Money and You,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from iTunes.