The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Firefly

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 9, 2014 is “Firefly.”

About This Song

“Firefly” was written in 1958 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. It was an audition number written for the upcoming musical Gypsy, starring Ethel Merman in one her greatest roles. The job of writing the score went to Jule Styne, with the lyrics by a very young Stephen Sondheim. I think I would have loved to hear what Coleman and Leigh might have done for Gypsy. Thankfully, we have this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded Firefly in August, 1958, arranged by Ray Ellis and released as single that same month. Today’s recording is from his second album with Count Basie and His Orchestra, In Person!, and was recorded just a few months later in December, 1958.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1LdR8g2RNMijylY5kS69Iq
“Firefly,” as well as the album In Person!, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Best Is Yet To Come

The song of the day for Saturday, June 14, 2014 is “The Best Is Yet To Come.”

The Year of Tony Bennett chooses this song today in honor of the composer, Cy Coleman, who was born in New York on June 14, 1929. Not only was Mr. Coleman a noted Broadway composer, he was also a jazz pianist and popular song composer. When I sit down and think of my favorite songs, so many of them were written by Cy Coleman. Thanks for the great music.

About This Song

“The Best Is Yet To Come” was written in 1959 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. Some say that the song was written for Tony Bennett. In any case, it is strongly identified with him and he sings it at many of his concerts. Other recordings include those by Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Best Is Yet To Come” in 1960 and released it in 1961 as a single and also added it to his 1962 album I Left My Heart In San Francisco. It was arranged and conducted by Cy Coleman.

http://open.spotify.com/track/463wvwQJ7DJCvBvbvD55xz
“The Best Is Yet To Come,” as well as the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available from iTunes.

Our Saturday YouTube video features Diana Krall and Tony Bennett talking about and recording this song in 2006 for Duets: An American Classic.

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Song of the Day: When In Rome

The song of the day for Saturday, May 24, 2014 is “When In Rome.”

About This Song

“When In Rome” was written in 1964 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. In the year 2000, 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.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans chose “When In Rome” as one of the songs for their first album, The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album, released in 1975. Like all the songs on the album, it’s about as close to perfect as can be.

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

For our Saturday video, here’s a clip from the Clint Eastwood documentary about Tony Bennett, The Music Never Ends, about Bill Evans and Tony Bennett, including their appearance on The Tonight Show, where they performed “When In Rome.”

The Music Never Ends is available from Amazon. The special edition DVD also includes Tony Bennett’s performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 2005.

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Song of the Day: The Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Sunday, April 20, 2014 is “The Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

While Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh are best-known for their scores for Broadway musicals, such as Little Me and Wildcat, “The Rules of the Road” was not written for a show. The song was written in 1961. In addition to several recordings by Tony Bennett, the song has also been recorded by Lena Horne, Shirley Horne, Nat King Cole and Rosemary Clooney. But as far as I’m concerned, Tony Bennett completely owns this song.

About This Version

Yes, this may very well be my favorite Tony Bennett song. A few months ago, I featured the version from I Left My Heart in San Francisco. Today’s version is from When Lights Are Low. No big orchestra, no big brassy open. Just Ralph Sharon, Billy Exiner and Hal Gaylord. It’s intimate and personal. And kind of wonderful.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3Ym1D0K9Qk4PTK2Iw2Z6It
“The Rules of the Road,” as well as the album When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got Your Number

The song of the day for Monday, April 15, 2014 is “I’ve Got Your Number.”

About This Song

“I’ve Got Your Number” is from the 1962 musical Little Me. Based on a novel by Patrick Dennis, Little Me: The Intimate Memoirs of that Great Star of State, Screen and Television / Belle Poitrine, an autobiography of an imaginary diva. The script for the musical was written by Neil Simon, who enlisted the songwriting team of Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh to write the score and Bob Fosse as choreographer. The production starred Virginia Martin and Nancy Andrews as Young Belle and Old Belle and, in what must have been a remarkable tour de force, Sid Caesar as all of the men in Belle’s life. Martin and Caesar introduced “I’ve Got Your Number.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got Your Number” in October 1962 for his album I Wanna Be Around, which was released in 1963. The song was arranged and conducted by Marty Manning and produced by Ernie Altschuler.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3pXVyrs7lh9X5tSgcASIUB
“I’ve Got Your Number,” as well as the album I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes.

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