The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: You Must Believe In Spring

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 22, 2020, is “You Must Believe In Spring.”

Note About Today’s Song

Every weekend I listen to the radio show Radio Deluxe, hosted by John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey. This weekend, they featured several songs from Tony Bennett, including today’s song. I was reminded why I love this song and especially this recording of it.

Radio Deluxe is a swell show: part jazz, part cabaret, and all of it excellent. John and Jessica always have something unique and wonderful to say about each of the songs they feature. It’s one of the highlights of my weekend. You can find out more about Radio Deluxe on its website radiodeluxe.com.

About This Song

“You Must Believe In Spring” was composed by the great Michel Legrand. The original French lyrics were written by Jacques Demy (who also wrote and directed the film); the English lyrics were written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. The song was written for the 1967 French film Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, which starred Catherine Deneuve. “You Must Believe In Spring” has been widely recorded by artists including Sylvia Syms, Barbra Streisand, and Bill Evans, in a posthumous release of an album with the same name, featuring sessions with Eddie Gomez and Eliot Zigmund.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You Must Believe In Spring” in September 1976 for their second album Together Again, released in 1977 on Bennett’s Improv label.

“You Must Believe In Spring,” as well as , is available from Apple Music and Quboz.

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Song of the Day: Lucky To Be Me

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 25, 2020, is “Lucky To Be Me.”

About Today

Today marks the anniversary of the birth of composer Leonard Bernstein, who wrote today’s song. I grew up watching The Young People’s Concerts on television. As a teenager, I saw a community theatre production of Wonderful Town and fell in love with his musicals. As an adult, I collected albums that he had composed and conducted and listen to them regularly. I think one of greatest musical evenings in my life was attending this concert in 1980 for the 80th birthday of Aaron Copland, much of which was conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

About This Song

“Lucky To Be Me” was written by Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green, and Betty Comden 1944 musical On The Town, where it was introduced by John Battles. The song (as were most of the songs from the score) was cut from the 1949 film. My question: why bother to film a Leonard Bernstein musical when you cut the best songs, including “Some Other Time?”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Lucky To Be Me” for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977.

“Lucky To Be Me,” as well as Together Again, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Two Lonely People

The song of the day for Friday, August 21, 2020, is “The Two Lonely People.”

About This Song

Bills Evans wrote “The Two Lonely People” in 1971; Carol Hall wrote the lyrics. The song first appeared on Evans’ 1971 album The Bill Evans Album. The song was also recorded in 1974 on the album But Beautiful, recorded live with Stan Getz at Jazz Middelheim in Antwerp, Belgium.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “The Two Lonely People” for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977.

“The Two Lonely People,” as well as Together Again, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy

The song of the day for Thursday, August 20, 2020, is “Make Someone Happy.”

About This Song

“Make Someone Happy” is from the 1960 musical Do Re Mi, by Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green. Do Re Mi concerns a guy, a bit of a loser and a con, who goes into the jukebox business with some gangster pals. ”Make Someone Happy” was introduced by John Reardon and Nancy Dussault.

About This Version

Bill Evans and Tony Bennett recorded “Make Someone Happy” for their second album, Together Again.

Make Someone Happy

Listen to Make Someone Happy on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1977.

“Make Someone Happy,” as well as Together Again, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: When In Rome

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 19, 2020, is “When In Rome.”

About This Song

“When In Rome” was written in 1964 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. In the year 2000, in part of his 70th birthday celebration at the Library of Congress, Stephen Sondheim chose a list of ‘Songs I Wish I Had Written (At Least in Part).’ On this list were several songs by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, most of which are songs that Tony Bennett has recorded, including “When In Rome.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “When In Rome” in 1975 for their first album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

Bill Evans always wanted it known that it was his idea to use “When In Rome” for this album, as he was interested in the chord progressions in the song. He was concerned that some people might think that Tony had chosen the song, as it often falls into the pop equation for singers.

“When In Rome,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from Apple Music.

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