The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Friday, January 10, 2014 is “There Will Never Be Another You.”

About This Song

“There Will Never Be Another You” was written by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Mack Gordon, for the 1942 film Iceland. It’s ironic that one of Harry Warren’s most beautiful songs was written for a Sonja Henie vehicle called Iceland, starring Miss Henie and John Payne as a U.S. Marine stationed in Iceland during World War II. The song was introduced in the movie by Joan Merrill. Amazingly, this beautiful song was not nominated for an Academy Award. No matter. The song has become a serious jazz standard and has had many fine recordings, including Bennett’s 1959 recording with Count Basie and his 1962 improvisation with Dave Brubeck at the White House Sessions. Other significant recordings include those by Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Today’s version of “There Will Never Be Another You” is from the recently-released Bennett/Brubeck The White House Sessions, Live 1962. My previous post on this site was to announce that Tony Bennett has been named the Best Male Jazz Vocalist for 2013 by the readers of Jazz Times and I want to feature one of his finer jazz performances. Tony Bennett and Dave Brubeck improvising: jazz doesn’t get much better.

http://open.spotify.com/track/43Nhohs8pPUMtF534R5tvA
“There Will Never Be Another You,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck The White House Sessions, Live 1962, is available from iTunes and Amazon.

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Bennett and Brubeck Concert Album

Mark May 28 on your calendar, as the Bennett & Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 album will be released.

On August 28, 1962, at the invitation of President Kennedy, Tony Bennett and Dave Brubeck performed at the Sylvan Theater on the grounds of the Washington Monument in a concert to thank the many college students who had served as interns that summer.

This concert featured two sets: one by Tony Bennett and another by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. An unplanned finale had Bennett come out and sing several songs with the Brubeck quartet, including a bossa nova version of That Old Black Magic.

The recording of this concert had thought to be lost, but was discovered in the Sony vaults in December of last year, not long after Mr. Brubeck passed away.

The recording will be released by RPM/Columbia/Legacy. This story from the New York Times was released today.