The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Waltz for Debby

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 9, 2019, is “Waltz for Debby.”

About This Song

Bill Evans composed this song in 1956, soon after leaving the armed services. He wrote it for his young niece, Debby, the daughter of his brother Harold. With the lyrics by Gene Lees, “Waltz For Debby” became a standard for jazz and popular singers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Waltz for Debby” in 1975 for their first album: The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album. Bennett had previously recorded “Waltz for Debby” in 1964 for his album Who Can I Turn To.

Waltz For Debby

Waltz For Debby, a song by Tony Bennett, Bill Evans on Spotify

“Waltz for Debby,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Touch of Your Lips

The song of the day for Friday, June 14, 2019, is “The Touch of Your Lips.”

About This Song

“The Touch of Your Lips” was written in 1936 by Ray Noble. Noble was a popular English bandleader who became quite popular in the US as well. After great success in London, he and his vocalist Al Bowlly appeared at the Rainbow Room in 1934. “The Touch of Your Lips” has been recorded by Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and Andy Williams.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “The Touch of Your Lips” in 1975 for their first album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album. This album was released on the Fantasy label, which was the label Bill Evans was associated with. Part of their agreement was to do this first one on Evans’s label and second album, Together Again, on Bennett’s own label Improv.

The Touch Of Your Lips

The Touch Of Your Lips, a song by Tony Bennett, Bill Evans on Spotify

“The Touch of Your Lips,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: We’ll Be Together Again

The song of the day for Monday, June 3, 2019, is “We’ll Be Together Again.”

About This Song

“We’ll Be Together Again” was written by Carl T. Fischer in 1945, who was Frankie Laine’s pianist and musical director. Fischer asked Laine to write the lyrics, which he, quite nicely. In addition to the recording by Tony Bennett and Bill Evans, this song has been recorded by Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra and, of course, Frankie Laine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “We’ll Be Together Again” in 1975 for their first album, The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album. It was released on the Fantasy Label, Evans’s label.

We’ll Be Together Again

We’ll Be Together Again, a song by Tony Bennett, Bill Evans on Spotify

“We’ll Be Together Again,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: You Don’t Know What Love Is

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 28, 2019, is “You Don’t Know What Love Is.”

About This Song

This song was written by Gene de Paul and Don Raye for a 1941 Abbott and Costello film called Keep ‘Em Flying, but was cut from the film before it opened. The song was finally used in a B picture named Behind the Eight Ball. “You Don’t Know What Love Is” gradually became a jazz standard, as evidenced by the Miles Davis recording from 1954. Other significant jazz recordings included those by Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Anita O’Day, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone, and Cassandra Wilson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You Don’t Know What Love Is” in September 1976 for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977.

You Don’t Know What Love Is

You Don’t Know What Love Is, a song by Tony Bennett, Bill Evans on Spotify

“You Don’t Know What Love Is,” as well as Together Again, is available from iTunes.

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves a Piano

The playlist of the week of May 12, 2019, is Tony Loves a Piano. Some of Bennett’s finest recordings have been made with just Tony and a pianist. This week we honor some of the best of those recordings.

Tony Loves a Piano

Some of Tony Bennett's finest recordings have been with only Tony and a pianist. This week we honor some of the best of those recordings.

My Foolish Heart (Victor Young and Ned Washington) with Bill Evans
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart) with Ralph Sharon
Cold, Cold Heart (Hank Williams) with John Bunch
Some Other Time (Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green and Betty Comden) with Bill Evans
The Man That Got Away (Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin) with Ralph Sharon
A Sleepin’ Bee (Harold Arlen and Truman Capote) with Ralph Sharon
Dream Dancing (Cole Porter) with Bill Evans
One For My Baby (by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer)/It Had To Be You (Isham Jones, Gus Kahn) with John Bunch
We’ll Be Together Again (Carl T. Fischer and Frankie Laine) with Bill Evans

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