The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: New York State of Mind

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 31, 2020, is “New York State of Mind.”

About This Song

“New York State of Mind” was written in 1976 by Billy Joel. It’s been recorded by just about everyone. I first heard the song sung by Carmen McRae and fell in love the song on the spot.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Billy Joel recorded “New York State of Mind” in 2001 for Bennett’s album Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Bluess.

Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“New York State of Mind,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends:Bennett Sings the Blues, is available from iTunes.

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Sings with the Guys, Part 1

The playlist of the week starting June 16, 0219, is Tony Sings with the Guys, Part 1.

Tony Sings with the Guys, Part 1

This playlist contains some of Tony early duets with male singers.

Let the Good Times Roll, with B.B. King, from Playin’ With My Friends

New York State of Mind, with Billy Joel, from Playin’ With My Friends

Cold, Cold Heart, with Tim McGraw, from Duets: An American Classic

Everyday I Have The Blues, with Stevie Wonder, from Playin’ With My Friends

The Boulevard of Broken Dreams, with Sting, from Duets: An American Classic

The Shadow of Your Smile, with Juanes, from Duets: An American Classic

The Very Thought of You, with Paul McCartney, from Duets: An American Classic

I Wanna Be Around, with Bono, from Duets: An American Classic

Evenin’, with Ray Charles, from Playin’ With My Friends

Rags to Riches, with Elton John, from Duets: An American Classic

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Song of the Day: The Good Life

The song of the day for Saturday, August 23, 2014 is “The Good Life.”

About This Song

Today’s song was written in 1962 by French composer Sacha Distel, with lyrics by Jack Reardon. Originally titled “La Belle Vie,” “The Good Life” was featured in the movie Seven Capital Sins. Tony Bennett is the singer most widely identified with “The Good Life;” other good recordings include those by Betty Carter, Carmen McRae and Stephane Grappelli. It has been said that Distel wrote this song about Bridgette Bardot, who refused Distel’s marriage proposal.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Good Life” in December, 1962 for his terrific album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. “The Good Life” was arranged and conducted by Marty Manning; the album was produced by Ernie Altschuler and was recorded at the CBS 30th Street Studio, with Frank Laico at the engineering helm. In addition to today’s song (which leads off the album) and the title song, other great songs from this album include “I’ve Got Your Number,” “It Was Me” and “Quiet Nights.”

The Good Life

The Good Life, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“The Good Life,” as well as the album I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes.

And for our Saturday YouTube viewing, here are Tony and Billy Joel singing today’s song, from Duets: An American Classic, released in 2006. You can read more about the album and even read the liner notes at our sister site, The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography.

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New York State Of Mind

And, for those of us who weren’t there to hear it today, here are Tony Bennett and Billy Joel singing Joel’s “New York State of Mind.”

http://open.spotify.com/track/2k4eIKbrXS2f7AKJpPEk59

Too true, Lauren.

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Song of the Day: New York State Of Mind

The Song of the Day for Saturday, November 17, is New York State Of Mind.

About New York State Of Mind

New York State of Mind was, of course, written by Billy Joel. In the same category as New York, New York (as sung by both Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli), New York State of Mind is an anthem for city that is recognized world-wide.  It’s recorded by many artists; two of my favorite versions are from Carmen McRae and Oleta Adams.

About This Version

It seems that Tony Bennett owns New York this week: book signings all week for Life Is A Gift, appearances on television shows and a sold-out two night stand at the Westbury Theater on Long Island this weekend. It put me in a New York state of mind.

This version is the Tony Bennett – Billy Joel live performance at Shea Stadium in 2008.

 

 

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