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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

March 1, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: It Don’t Mean a Thing

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 2, 2022, is “It Don’t Mean a Thing”

About This Song

“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing” was written in 1931 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills. This song was one of the first songs to use the word “swing” in the title and this song certainly defined what it meant to swing. Ellington recorded the song with Ivie Anderson on vocals and it was an immediate hit. It has been widely recorded since it was written and the song is a lot of fun to play and to listen to. Significant recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Gigi Gryce, Tony Bennett, and Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “It Don’t Mean a Thing” for their 2014 album Cheek To Cheek. Marion Evans wrote the very fine arrangement.

“It Don’t Mean a Thing,” as well as Cheek To Cheek is available on Apple Music.

We’ve also got the Ivie Anderson vocal with Duke Ellington. It’s hot and it swings!

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Ivie Anderson, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett

January 2, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

The song of the day for Monday, January 3, 2022, is “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.”

About This Song

“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” was written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields for the 1928 revue Blackbirds of 1928, produced by Lew Leslie. The song was the first big hit for this songwriting pair. It has been a widely recorded jazz and popular standard, with recordings by Ukelele Ike, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Anita O’Day, and many others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” for their 2014 album Cheek To Cheek. It was arranged by Lee Musiker, with instrumental arrangements by Brian Newman, Alex Smith, and Steve Kortya.

“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” as well as Cheek To Cheek is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh, Lady Gaga, Lee Musiker, Tony Bennett

May 10, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Cheek To Cheek

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 11, 2021, is “Cheek To Cheek.”

About Today

Israel Berlin, later known as Irving Berlin, was born in Tolochin, Russian Empire on May 11, 1888. His family emigrated to the United States when he was only five years old. He is widely considered on the great songwriters in American history, with his tremendous contributions to both film and stage productions. Berlin lived to be 101 years old, dying on September 22, 1989.

About This Song

“Cheek To Cheek” was written by Irving Berlin for the 1935 film Top Hat, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, where it was introduced (beautifully) by Fred Astaire. Though the song was nominated for an Academy Award (it lost to “Lullaby Of Broadway”), it became a hit in 1935 and has remained popular to this day. Significant recordings include those by Harry James, Glenn Miller, Roy Eldridge, Bing Crosby and many, many more. Fans of the Tom Hanks’ movie The Green Mile might remember this song, as Top Hat is viewed in the prison. For many, it is one of the very first songs that comes to mind when one thinks of Fred Astaire and the 1930s Hollywood musical.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “Cheek To Cheek” for their 2014 album Cheek To Cheek. The wonderful Marion Evans wrote the arrangement.

Cheek To Cheek

Listen to Cheek To Cheek on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2014.

“Cheek To Cheek,” as well as the album Cheek To Cheek, is available from Apple Music.

About Irving Berlin’s Piano

Berlin was a self-taught pianist who preferred to play on the black keys and played only in F#. He composed on a transposing upright piano, his first one was made in 1909. In 1940, another was made for him by Weser Brothers in New York. He only needed to adjust the transposing mechanism to change the key.The 1940 piano resides in the Smithsonian Museum. This video shows Berlin demonstrating the transposing feature to Dinah Shore and Tony Martin.

Irving Berlin- on television (very RARE clip)

In one of his RARE few television appearances, Irving Berlin explains the workings of his "special" piano to Dinah Shore and Tony Martin, and plays an early composition.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, Happy Birthday Irving Berlin, Irving Berlin, Lady Gaga, Marion Evans, Tony Bennett, Top Hat, transposing piano

March 27, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The song of the day for Sunday, March 28, 2021, is “But Beautiful.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is very happy to celebrate the birthday of Lady Gaga, who was born on March 28, 1986. Thanks for all the great music! We anticipate your upcoming album with Tony later this year.

About This Song

“But Beautiful” was written in 1947 by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. This song was written for Bing Crosby to sing in the 1947 movie The Road to Rio. The song has been widely recorded, including recordings by Bill Evans, Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Gregory Porter, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “But Beautiful” in 2014 for their album Cheek To Cheek. We especially like the lovely solo guitar from Gray Sargent at the beginning.

But Beautiful

Listen to But Beautiful on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2014.

“But Beautiful,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from Apple Music.

We also have a video from the recording of today’s song.

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga - But Beautiful (Studio Video)

TONY BENNETT & LADY GAGA: CHEEK TO CHEEK - LIVE available now! iTunes: http://smarturl.it/CTCLiveiT Amazon DVD: http://smarturl.it/CheekDVDamz Amazon Blu-Ray: http://smarturl.it/CheekBluRayAmz CHEEK TO CHEEK album available now: iTunes: http://smarturl.it/CheekToCheek Google Play: http://smarturl.it/CheekToCheekGP Amazon MP3: http://smarturl.it/CheekToCheekAmz Amazon CD: http://smarturl.it/CheekToCheekCD http://cheektocheek.ladygaga.com/ http://www.ladygaga.com http://www.tonybennett.com

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett

November 3, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Don’t Wait Too Long

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 4, 2020, is “Don’t Wait Too Long.”

About This Song

“Don’t Wait Too Long,” written by Sunny Skylar, concerns a relationship between a younger and older person (“you are the summer and I am the autumn”) and the realization that the time together may not be as long as they’d wish. Other recordings of this song are by Frank Sinatra (1965, September of My Years) and Blossom Dearie (1964, May I Come In).

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Wait Too Long” as a solo on his 2014 album with Lady Gaga, Cheek To Cheek. Jorge Calandrelli did the arrangement.

Don"t Wait Too Long

Listen to Don"t Wait Too Long on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2014.

“Don’t Wait Too Long,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, Jorge Calandrelli, Sunny Skylar, Tony Bennett

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