The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Me, Myself and I

The song of the day for February 9, 2014 is “Me, Myself and I.”

About This Song

“Me, Myself and I” was written in 1937 by Irving Gordon, with lyrics by Allen Roberts and Alvin S. Kaufman. This song had several successful recordings in 1937, including those by Billie Holiday and Benny Goodman. This song has also been recorded by Ruby Braff, Lester Young and, of course, Tony Bennett.

About This Version

I had a request for another song from Tony Bennett’s On Holiday album (based on that listener’s enjoyment of “Trav’lin’ Light” from earlier in the week) and was happy to provide. I chose “Me, Myself and I” not only because it’s a terrific song and a great recording by Tony Bennett, but because I think it’s important for us all to remember that Billie Holiday sang all kinds of songs, not just the torch songs so often associated with her. Today’s song is an example of that.

Like the rest of the songs from Tony Bennett On Holiday, this song features Ralph Sharon on piano, with the orchestra arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4qryy6FjSy0Muh50xUbLL9
“Me, Myself and I,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Trav’lin’ Light

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 5, 2014 is Trav’lin’ Light.

About This Song

“Trav’lin’ Light” was written in 1942 by Trummy Young and Jimmy Mundy, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Billie Holiday and the Paul Whiteman Orchestra recorded this song the year it was written and it was very well received.

Additional recordings include those Peggy Lee, Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald and Queen Latifah. And, of course, Tony Bennett.

About This Version

This may very well be the most beautiful Tony Bennett song that you’ve never heard. Mr. Bennett recorded it for his 1997 album of songs associated with Billie Holiday, On Holiday. Note that the picture of Miss Holiday used on the cover of the album was painted by Tony Bennett.

I had come across the Billie Holiday recording of this song and fell in love with it immediately. The melody is quite beautiful and the lyrics are classic Johnny Mercer.

This is a stunning arrangement, featuring Ralph Sharon with a nice and subdued orchestra. The album was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli and produced by Tony Bennett and Danny Bennett.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1qgbAv7Q5TY5IAEv03FzJ3
“Trav’lin’ Light,” as well as the album On Holiday, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: God Bless The Child

Billie Holiday was born on April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To celebrate her on the day of her birth, the song of the day for today is God Bless The Child.

Lady Day

About This Song

God Bless The Child was written in 1939 by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog, Jr. Holiday recorded it on the Okey label in 1942. It’s been recorded by  singers of jazz, blues, rock and popular music, including Carmen McRae, Anita O’Day, Frankie Laine, Stevie Wonder, Blood Sweat and Tears, Lou Rawls, Ella Fitzgerald, and DeeDee Bridgewater.

About This Version

Billie Holiday was one of the artists that the young Tony Bennett  admired. In his autobiography, The Good Life, he writes about seeing her in the last part of the 1940s after returning from the war in Europe.  In 1997, Tony Bennett released his tribute album to Billie, Bennett on Holiday.  God Bless The Child is the last song on the album: it’s a well-crafted duet using Holiday’s original (I believe) recording with Bennett. The song was very well produced  (by Phil Ramone) and recorded; the result sounds as natural as if they were in the studio together.

Happy birthday to Lady Day, one of the greatest jazz singers of all time. You’ll never be forgotten.

http://open.spotify.com/track/6v2DbCEOjbO4VrNkFACL4k
God Bless The Child, as well as the Bennett on Holiday album, is available from iTunes.

Here’s Billie singing They Can’t Take That Away From Me by George and Ira Gershwin.

http://open.spotify.com/track/50b0UZfQDQXzm8fgu0aeZB
 

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Song of the Day: What A Little Moonlight Can Do

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 5, 2013 is What a Little Moonlight Can Do.

About This Song

What A Little Moonlight Can Do was written in 1934 by Harry Woods. Billie Holiday recorded the song in 1935 with Teddy Wilson. It was also recorded by Peggy Lee in 1959.

About This Version

This recording is from Tony Bennett on Holiday: A Tribute To Billie Holiday. It’s a sweet  and fun arrangement that will make you smile!

Note that the cover image incorporates Tony Bennett’s portrait of Billie Holiday.

http://open.spotify.com/track/0PPOBJY0oBhGCR79a1CiVO
What a Little Moonlight Can Do, as well as the full Tony Bennett on Holiday album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Me, Myself and I

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 16, 2013 is Me, Myself and I.

About Me, Myself and I

Me, Myself and I (Are All in Love with You) was composed by Irving Gordon with lyrics by Allen Roberts and Allen S. Kaufman. It was first recorded in 1937 by Billie Holiday. The song has also been recorded by Benny Goodman, Lester Young and Ruby Braff.

Irving Gordon is also known for Unforgettable, a great hit for Nat “King” Cole. Unforgettable won a Grammy Award in 1992 as Song of the Year for Natalie Cole’s album of the same name, as well as Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance and Record of the Year. Note that Harold Jones, Tony Bennett’s current drummer, was Natalie Cole’s drummer for this album, as well as several other albums for Natalie Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song for his 1997 Billie Holiday tribute album, On Holiday.

Me, Myself And I(Are All In Love With You)

Listen to Me, Myself And I(Are All In Love With You) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1997

Me, Myself and I, as well as the full  On Holiday album, is available from iTunes.

We’re also happy to present Miss Holiday herself singing this song from the album A Working Day (released in 2012).

No Title

Listen to on Spotify. Song · Various Artists

A Working Day is also available from iTunes. It contains 34 of her greatest songs and is well-worth listening to.