The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)

The song of the day for Thursday, October 23, 2025, is “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”

About This Song

“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” was written in 1931 by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Irving Mills. This song was one of the first songs to use the word “swing” in the title and this song certainly defined what it meant to swing. Ellington recorded the song with Ivie Anderson on vocals and it was an immediate hit. It has been widely recorded since it was written and the song is a lot of fun to play and to listen to. Significant recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Gigi Gryce, Tony Bennett, and Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” in May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, his tribute to Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

We’ve also got the first recording of this song with Ivie Anderson and Duke Ellington and His Orchestra. This recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.

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Song of the Day: Day Dream

The song of the day for Friday, November 29, 2024, is “Day Dream.”

About Today

We remember Billy Strayhorn, born on November 29, 1915. Strayhorn was an American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger who collaborated with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington for nearly three decades. His compositions include “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “Chelsea Bridge,” and “Lush Life”.

About This Song

“Day Dream” was written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, with lyrics by John LaTouche. Acknowledged to have been written solely by Strayhorn, “Day Dream” is a lovely song with a strong Strayhorn touch, enhanced by the thoughtful lyrics by John LaTouche. The first recording was in 1941 and featured Johnny Hodges on saxophone and Billy Strayhorn on piano. Other notable recordings include this one by Tony Bennett, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Day Dream” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington Hot & Cool. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Day Dream,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the 1941 recording of “Day Dream” with Johnny Hodges and Billy Strayhorn:

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Song of the Day: She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 24, 2024, is “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good).”

About This Song

“She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” (originally titled ‘I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)’)was written by Duke Ellington and Paul Francis Webster in 1941. It was written for Ivie Anderson to sing in a revue called Jump For Joy. Anderson also recorded the song in 1941 with Johnny Hodges.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot And Cool. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement, which features Wynton Marsalis on trumpet and Al Grey on trombone.

“She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good),” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot And Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the Ivie Anderson 1941 recording with Johnny Hodges:

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Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Sunday, September 24, 2023, is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Sophisticated Lady” in 1932 as an instrumental. Lyrics were added later by Mitchell Parish. Ellington is said to have been inspired to write this song by two of his grade school teachers, who toured Europe in the summers after teaching all year: “To me that spelled sophistication.” “Sophisticated Lady” was first recorded in 1933 on the flip side with Harold Arlen’s “Stormy Weather.” It is, of course, one of Ellington’s most popular and often-played songs. In addition to numerous recordings by Ellington over the years, the song has been recorded by Art Tatum, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hodges, Sarah Vaughan, and Glenn Miller.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sophisticated Lady” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

“Sophisticated Lady,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 23, 2021, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

“Mood Indigo” was written by Duke Ellington, based on a theme by Barney Bigard; Irving Mills wrote the lyrics. Ellington wrote the song, originally titled “Dreamy Blues,” specifically for ‘microphone transmission,’ and it was first played on a 1930 radio broadcast. Audiences loved the song, and so Irving Mills wrote the lyric, changing the name of the song to “Mood Indigo.” The song has been widely recorded by instrumental and vocal artists, including Tony Bennett, Charles Mingus, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Mood Indigo” in 1999 for his tribute album to Duke Ellington, Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot and Cool, released in Ellington’s centennial year. The album was conducted and arranged by Jorge Calandrelli. Joining Bennett for this recording were Wynton Marsalis on trumpet and Al Grey on trombone.

“Mood Indigo,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot and Cool is available on Apple Music.