The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 18, 2103 is “But Beautiful.”

About But Beautiful

“But Beautiful” was written in 1947 by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke. It was written for the Bob Hope/Bing Crosby Road To Rio, which also starred Dorothy Lamour.  The light touch with a Brazilian theme of the performance in the film might not have predicted its inclusion as one the great jazz standards; it ranks at #133 on the Jazz Standards website. Both Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby recorded  “But Beautiful” in 1948. Its jazz beginnings were from instrumentalists; it was recorded in 1947 by Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis with later recordings by Stan Getz and Lionel Hampton. The jazz vocal versions soon followed, with recordings by Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne and Johnny Hartman. Bill Evans played  “But Beautiful” frequently starting in 1974; it was an inspired choice for Bill Evans’ and Tony Bennett’s first album.

About This Version

We pick this song today as it was one of the highlights of the Tony Bennett concert we attended on Saturday, June 15. Accompanied by Gray Sargent on guitar, Bennett perfectly referenced the intensity and yearning of his 1975 recording with  Bill Evans from their first album.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3iBFz5Y4c2t0zjzdjJmijc
“But Beautiful,” as well as the original The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes. The Complete Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Recordings, which also contains additional takes of several songs, is also available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I’ll Be Home For Christmas

On the Sixth Day of Tony Bennett Christmas, Wednesday, December 19, 2012, the song of the day is I’ll Be Home For Christmas.

Tony Bennett painting for the American Cancer Society Christmas Card for 2012
Tony Bennett painting for the American Cancer Society Christmas Card for 2012

About I’ll Be Home For Christmas

I’ll Be Home For Christmas was written in 1943 by Walter Kent with original lyrics by Kim Gannon. Buck Ram, who had also written a song based on his own poem of the same name, was later added as a lyricist. Originally recorded by Bing Crosby, the song is said to have been written from a soldier in World War II, yearning to be back home for Christmas.

Bing Crosby’s recording was released by the U.S. War Department on a V-Disc for soldiers stationed overseas.

About This Version

This version of I’ll Be Home For Christmas is from Tony Bennett’s album A Swingin’ Christmas, featuring the Count Basie Big Band and the Quartet with Monty Alexander (p), Gray Sargent (g), Paul Langosch (b) and Harold Jones (d). The song was arranged and conducted by Bill Holman. Unlike other recordings of I’ll Be Home For Christmas, this version is delightfully upbeat.

I"ll Be Home for Christmas (feat. Count Basie Big Band)

Listen to I"ll Be Home for Christmas (feat. Count Basie Big Band) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Count Basie Big Band · 2008

I’ll Be Home For Christmas, as well as the full A Swingin’ Christmas album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The Song of the Day for Monday, November 26, 2012 is But Beautiful.

About But Beautiful

But Beautiful was written by Jimmy  Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke. It was written for the 1947 movie Road To Rio and was introduced by Bing Crosby.

About This Version

This version is from the 1975 Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album. Bill Evans had recorded the song the year earlier with his trio with Stan Getz. To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Bennett and not recorded the song prior to this album. It is a great song for him and this recording is quite moving.

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got the World on a String

It’s been too long since we’ve featured a Harold Arlen song. Actually, I can’t go for more than a few days without listening to some Harold Arlen songs. For August 26, 2012, the Song of the Day is I’ve Got the World on a String.

About I’ve Got the World on a String

I’ve Got the World on a String was written by Harold Arlen (music) and Ted Koehler (lyrics)  for the 1932 Cotton Club Review and was introduced by Cab Calloway and Bing Crosby. Like most Arlen songs, it’s been recorded by many great singers including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Sarah Vaughn. The song is heavily identified with Frank Sinatra, who recorded in 1953.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song three times: on the 1960 Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen,  his 1962 Carnegie Hall Concert, and for the 1992 Perfectly Frank. All three versions are great. Today we feature the Carnegie Hall performance.