The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Let’s Face The Music And Dance

The song of the day for Monday, August 31, 2020, is “Let’s Face The Music And Dance.”

About This Song

“Let’s Face the Music and Dance” was written in 1936 for the film Follow the Fleet with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The Astaire – Rogers dance to this song is considered one of their best. It has also been recorded by singers including Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Let’s Face The Music And Dance” for his 1987 album Bennett/Berlin. Bennett arranged the song for this album.

“Let’s Face The Music And Dance,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from Apple Music.

Of course I’m including the video of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers from Follow The Fleet. I’m not some kind of monster.

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Song of the Day: Isn’t This a Lovely Day?

The song of the day for Monday, July 20, 2020, is “Isn’t This a Lovely Day?”

About This Song

This delightful song was written by Irving Berlin in 1935 for the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat. In the film, Astaire and Rogers are caught in a rainstorm while sitting in an outdoor gazebo. The song was introduced by Fred Astaire. This song has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Diana Krall, Jeri Southern, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Isn’t This a Lovely Day?” in 1987 for his album Bennett/Berlin. Bennett did his own arrangement.

“Isn’t This a Lovely Day?,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from Apple Music.

In 1962, Fred Astaire made an album with pianist Oscar Peterson named Fred Astaire Sings & Swings Irving Berlin. I heard this recording last Saturday on John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey’s Radio Deluxe program and wanted to share it too. The very nice tenor saxophone solo was by Flip Phillips.

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Song of the Day: The Song Is Ended

The song of the day for Monday, May 11, 2020, is “The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On).”

About Today

Today marks the anniversary of the birth of today’s songwriter, Irving Berlin, who was born on May 11, 1988, as Israel Isidore Beilin in Russia. When he was five, his family emigrated to New York.

Today also marks my return to blogging! I’m not out of the woods yet, but am better enough that I just had to return. I’ve really missed everyone. My state is still under shelter-in-place, which I been doing. Hope all of you are coping with the shutdowns and, most importantly, are well!

About This Song

In his book The Tin Pan Alley Song Encyclopedia, Thomas Hischak calls this song “… an Irving Berlin standard whose title has been called the theme of all popular music, a chilling number in which both the lover and the ballad that was ‘their song’ is gone; yet neither can be forgotten because they remain in one’s memory.” This song was first recorded in 1927 by Ruth Etting and has remained popular over the years with recordings by Dick Haymes, Dizzy Gillespie, Jeri Southern, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat “King” Cole, and many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Song Is Ended” for his 1987 album of Irving Berlin songs Bennett/Berlin. Dizzy Gillespie is featured on trumpet.

“The Song Is Ended,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Let Yourself Go

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 9, 2019, is “Let Yourself Go.”

About This Song

“Let Yourself Go” was written in 1936 by Irving Berlin for the movie Follow The Fleet, where it was introduced by Ginger Rogers. This song has been recorded by Fred Astaire, Kristin Chenoweth, Ella Fitzgerald, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Let Yourself Go” in 1987 for his album Bennett/Berlin. The terrific bass is from Paul Langosch.

“Let Yourself Go,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from iTunes.

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves Irving Berlin

The playlist of the week for July 21, 2019, is Tony Loves Irving Berlin.

Tony Loves Irving Berlin

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When I Lost You from Bennett/Berlin
Always from Tony
They Say It’s Wonderful from Bennett/Berlin
All of My Life from Bennett/Berlin
Let’s Face the Music and Dance from Bennett/Berlin
Cheek to Cheek from Cheek to Cheek
Russian Lullaby from Bennett/Berlin
Steppin’ Out with My Baby from Steppin’ Out
The Song is Ended from Bennett/Berlin
White Christmas from Bennett/Berlin

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