The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got Just About Everything

The song of the day for Friday, September 17, 2021, is “I’ve Got Just About Everything.”

About Today

Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett’s long-time pianist and musical director, was born on September 17, 1923, in London, England. We’re honoring him with today’s song that really shows what a fine pianist Sharon was.

About This Song

“I’ve Got Just About Everything” was written by Bob Dorough. The song is a joy to listen to. In his liner notes for Forty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett, Bennet says that “this one explains how a singer feels when he sings a song everyone likes.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got Just About Everything” in 1964 with The Ralph Sharon Trio for the album When Lights Are Low. In addition to Sharon on piano, the trio featured Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums.

I"ve Got Just About Everything

Listen to I"ve Got Just About Everything on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.

“I’ve Got Just About Everything,” as well as When Lights Are Low is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Just In Time

The song of the day for Saturday, August 28, 2021, is “Just In Time.”

About Today

Fifty-nine years ago tonight, August 28, 1962, Tony Bennett and the Ralph Sharon Trio and The Dave Brubeck Quartet, invited by President John Kennedy, performed at a concert to celebrate that year’s group of Presidential Scholars. Originally the concert was to be held on the White House grounds, but was so popular that it was held on the National Mall by the Washington Monument. Bennett and Brubeck each played their sets. Then Bennett, Brubeck, bass player Eugene Wright, and drummer Joe Morello returned for a short, completely improvised set.

The concert was recorded and survived long enough for one of the improv numbers to be used on other records. And the original tapes were since thought to be lost. Not long after Brubeck’s death in 2012, the tapes were found, misfiled in the classical music section of Columbia’s vaults. In 2013, Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 as released.

In honor of this concert, The Year of Tony Bennett will feature all of Bennett’s set and the Bennett/Brubeck improv set over the next ten days. Enjoy!

About This Song

“Just In Time” was written for the 1956 Broadway musical hit, Bells Are Ringing, by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The song was introduced by Judy Holliday and Sidney Chaplin. Holliday and Dean Martin sang it in the 1960 film version of Bells Are Ringing.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Just In Time” at the White House concert in 1962, with The Ralph Sharon Trio, featuring Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums. The performance was released on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

Just In Time - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to Just In Time - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2013.

“Just In Time,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got Just About Everything

The song of the day for Friday, July 16, 2021, is “I’ve Got Just About Everything.”

About This Song

Written by the marvelous jazz pianist and composer Bob Dorough, “I’ve Got Just About Everything” is a true joy to listen to. In his liner notes for Forty/Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett, Bennett says that “this one explains how a singer feels when he sings a song everyone likes.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got Just About Everything” with The Ralph Sharon Trio in 1964 for When Lights Are Low. This has a great arrangement by Ralph Sharon plus excellent work by Sharon, Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums.

I"ve Got Just About Everything

Listen to I"ve Got Just About Everything on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.

“I’ve Got Just About Everything,” as well as When Lights Are Low is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: When Lights Are Low

The song of the day for Thursday, July 15, 2021, is “When Lights Are Low.”

About This Song

“When Lights Are Low” was written in 1936 by musicians Benny Carter and Spencer Williams, while both were living and working in Europe. Carter was the staff arranger for the BBC during that period.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “When Lights Are Low” in 1964 with the Ralph Sharon Trio, which featured Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums. It was released in 1964 on the album When Lights Are Low.

When Lights Are Low

Listen to When Lights Are Low on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.

“When Lights Are Low,” as well as the album When Lights Are Low is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: In The Wee Small Hours

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 7, 2021, is “In The Wee Small Hours.”

About This Song

“In The Wee Small Hours” was written in 1955 by David Mann and Bob Hilliard. This song is, of course, widely identified with Frank Sinatra, who anchored his well-received concept album In the Wee Small Hours around this song. Interestingly, the song almost didn’t get written. The two songwriters were working in Hilliard’s home in New Jersey. It was well past midnight and Mann was getting ready to leave for home in New York. Hilliard urged him to stay and Mann came up with the tune, to which Hilliard quickly wrote the lyric.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “In The Wee Small Hours” in 1964, featuring a very fine arrangement by Ralph Sharon, who accompanied Bennett, along with Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums. The recording was released on the 1966 album A Time For Love.

In The Wee Small Hours

Listen to In The Wee Small Hours on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1966.

“In The Wee Small Hours,” as well as A Time For Love is available on Apple Music.

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