The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Monday, December 2, 2013 is “Some Other Time.”

“Some Other Time” was written by Leonard Bernstein, with lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, for the 1944 Broadway musical On The Town. Adolph Green was born on this day, December 2, 1914, and was born and raised in the Bronx. He met and partnered up with Betty Comden in 1938 and they worked together for many years. In his early years, they met and worked with Leonard Bernstein and Judy Holliday, who went on to star in the musical Bells Are Ringing, for which Comden and Green wrote the lyrics. Comden and Green also wrote the screenplay for the great film musical Singin’ In The Rain.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Some Other Time” is an alternate take (take 7) from The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album, released in 1975. The song is one of my favorites from this album and I’m quite happy to have a good reason, other than my love for the song, to choose it for today. Bennett finds depth and nuance in this song that I’ve never heard in any of dozen or so versions of this song that I have listened too. It’s a true masterpiece.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4GpjSjgl1XVD6IXX9nj6bP
“Some Other Time,” as well as The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Who Can I Turn To

The song of the day for Thursday, November 21, 2013 is “Who Can I Turn To.”

About This Song

“Who Can I Turn To” was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley for the 1969 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint — The Smell of the Crowd. Although Shirley Bassey made the initial recording of this song, it was Tony Bennett’s version that charted and helped to bring the musical to Broadway, where it had a good run.

About This Version

Today’s version is an alternate version (specifically take #6) from the 1977 album by Tony Bennett and Bill Evans: Together Again. While I completely understand why this version was not the one chosen for the initial release of Together Again, I find a great deal of goodness in these alternate versions, if for no other reason that in listening to the version initially released along with the alternate versions, we begin to get a feel for the level of experimentation and improvisation that went on between these two great artists during these recording sessions.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4v8H0VmQ5ovzOuOTY6miEm
“Who Can I Turn To,” as well as The Complete Tony Bennett Bill Evans Recordings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: When In Rome

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 31, 2013 is “When In Rome.”

About This Song

“When In Rome” was written in 1964 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. In the year 2000, as 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.” It’s a fine song and has been widely recorded.

By the way, in case you were wondering … Fundador is a Spanish brandy; you can check it out here. And you know how a fundador can lead to a few.

About This Version

Today’s song is from the first of the albums from Tony Bennett and Bill Evans: The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album. Some people assumed that including this song on the album was Bennett’s idea, but it was Bill Evans who wanted to use this song. Evans played the song often and recorded it as well. It speaks to Cy Coleman’s background as a jazz piano performer that his compositions are written in a way that encourage jazz improvisation over a good, solid tune.

http://open.spotify.com/track/0z8NAX4UK2KxwvIUSvetdb
“When In Rome,” as well as The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes and Amazon.

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Song of the Day: We’ll Be Together Again

The song of the day for Sunday, October 27, 2013 is “We’ll Be Together Again.”

About This Song

This song was written in 1945 by Carl T. Fischer and Frankie Laine. At the time, Fischer was Laine’s pianist and musical director. Fischer wrote the tune and asked Laine to write the lyrics. The result is quite lovely song. In addition to Laine’s recording, it has been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Anita O’Day and Stan Kenton.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “We’ll Be Together Again” in June 1975 for their first album, The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album, released in 1975.

http://open.spotify.com/track/5gu1qdrba78rDk8oh55A6W
“We’ll Be Together Again,” as well as The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes and Amazon.

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Song of the Day: Days of Wine And Roses

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 23, 2013 is “Days of Wine And Roses.”

About This Song

This song was written for 1962 movie of the same name and was written by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. I remember hearing this song when it came out and thought it was very lovely. Then I saw the movie. Both Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick turned in extraordinary performances as the alcoholic couple. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded this song for The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album, released in 1975. Bennett also recorded this song for his 1965 The Movie Song Album.

http://open.spotify.com/track/23bcu1jfy1PNhIGAuRTec0
“Day of Wine and Roses,” as well as The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album is available from iTunes and Amazon.

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