The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 10, 2015 is “But Beautiful.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “But Beautiful,” was written in 1947 by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. It 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

Today’s version of “But Beautiful” is the duet by Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga for Cheek to Cheek, released in 2014. This song was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

But Beautiful

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


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

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Sunday, November 8, 2015 is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Sophisticated Lady” in 1932 as an instrumental. Lyrics were added later by Mitchell Parish. Ellington is said to have been inspired to write this song by two of his grade school teachers, who toured Europe in the summers after teaching all year. “To me that spelled sophistication.”

“Sophisticated Lady” was first recorded in 1933 on the flip side with Harold Arlen’s “Stormy Weather.” It is, of course, one of Ellington’s most popular and often-played songs. In addition to numerous recordings by Ellington over the years, the song has been recorded by Art Tatum, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hodges, Sarah Vaughan, and Glenn Miller.

About These Versions

Today we feature three different versions of “Sophisticated Lady,” from 1960, 1999 and 2014. Mr. Bennett also recorded this song in 1973 while on the MGM/Verve label, but that version is not available on either Spotify or iTunes.

We open with the 1960 version, arranged by Frank DeVol and released on Alone Together. In spite of this version including two of my least-favorite things (too many strings and a chorus), it’s a good arrangement and Bennett is in top voice.

Next is the 1999 version, which Mr. Bennett recorded for his centennial tribute album to Duke Ellington: “Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool.” This is a slower and more considered version than the 1960 recording. The beginning of the song, with just Gray Sargent’s guitar, is wonderful. And if that’s not special enough, Joel Smirnoff’s violin comes in. It just guitar, violin and Bennett’s voice. It’s delicate, sincere and touching, with just a hint of irony. For me, this is a perfect recording of this wonderful song.

We conclude with Bennett’s most recent (solo) recording from 2014 on Cheek to Cheek. This version features just piano with a very effective Marion Evans arrangement.

1960

Sophisticated Lady

Listen to Sophisticated Lady on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“Sophisticated Lady,” as well as Alone Together, is available from iTunes.

1999

Sophisticated Lady

Tony Bennett · Bennett Sings Ellington / Hot And Cool · Song · 1999


“Sophisticated Lady,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

2014

Sophisticated Lady

Listen to Sophisticated Lady on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2014


“Sophisticated Lady,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Anything Goes

The song of the day for Saturday, November 7, 2015 is “Anything Goes.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Anything Goes,” was written by Cole Porter in 1934. In Anything Goes, Cole Porter and book writers Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse created one ofthe great musical comedy characters of all time: Reno Sweeney, played by Ethel Merman in the original 1934 production. The score contains many of Porter’s most popular songs, including “I Get a Kick Out You,” “You’re The Top,” and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “Anything Goes” in 2014 for their first album together, “Cheek To Cheek.” The arrangement is from Marion Evans. As you may know, Bennett and Gaga are currently recording their second album, this time consisting of songs by Cole Porter, again arranged by Marion Evans. Today’s song is, I hope, a taste of what’s to come. I know I can hardly wait. The chemistry between these two performers is wonderful!

Anything Goes

Listen to Anything Goes on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · 2014


“Anything Goes,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

About Today

It’s Saturday and here’s your video. Enjoy!

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Firefly

The song of the day for Sunday, October 18, 2015 is “Firefly.”

About This Song

“Firefly” was written in 1958 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. It was written as an audition piece for the musical Gypsy; this was after Ethel Merman rejected the producer’s choice of a relatively young Stephen Sondheim to write the music and lyrics. The composing duties went to the great Jule Styne, who did insist on Sondheim for the lyrics.

About Today

It’s Sunday and hopefully most of us have a little extra time to listen to more than one recording today.

About These Versions

This song must be a favorite of Bennett’s as he’s recorded it six times, from 1958 to 2014!

There are two recordings from 1958: first as a single arranged by Ray Ellis and later that year with Count Basie, which is probably my favorite version of them all. Next up are two live recordings: 1962 at Carnegie Hall and 1964 at The Sahara. Finally are our two duet versions: 1998 with Kermit The Frog and 2014 with Lady Gaga. There’s a lot to choose from today!

1958-1

Firefly

Tony Bennett · The Columbia Singles, Vol. 5 · Song · 2011


“Firefly,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 5, is available from iTunes.

1958-2


“Firefly,” as well as In Person!, is available from iTunes.

1962

Firefly - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to Firefly - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


“Firefly,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

1964

Firefly - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964

Listen to Firefly - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“Firefly,” as well as Tony Bennett Live at The Sahara: From This Moment On, is available from iTunes.

1998

Firefly

Listen to Firefly on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Kermit the Frog · 1998


“Firefly,” as well as The Playground, is available from iTunes.

2014

Firefly

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · Cheek To Cheek (Deluxe) · Song · 2014


“Firefly,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Won’t Dance

The song of the day for Sunday, October 4, 2015 is “I Won’t Dance.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “I Won’t Dance,” has a wonderful tune written by Jerome Kern. The lyrics are, on the other hand, a bit complicated. The song was originally written for for a 1934 London musical called Three Sisters with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Otto Harbach; alas the production was flop and closed quickly. Kern decided to use this great tune for the 1935 film of Roberta, starring Irene Dunne with Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. This time, the lyrics were from Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields. I won’t even begin to figure out how they split the royalties.

About These Versions

Tony Bennett has recorded “I Won’t Dance” twice. The first time was in 2014 with Lady Gaga on their album Cheek To Cheek, with a great big band arrangement from Marion Evans. I’ve always loved this song and thought that Bennett and Gaga sang it just great. It was also quite effective on the Cheek To Cheek television special. [I don’t care what the Television Academy thinks. As far as I’m concerned, it earned the Emmy Award for Best Variety Special hands down.]

The second recording was just released in September 2015 on Bennett’s album with Bill Charlap–The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Bennett and Charlap arranged this version 3/4 waltz time. It’s quiet and sweet; Bennett dances lightly over the piano.

“I Won’t Dance” is a perfect example of why I started this Sunday feature of presenting different versions of the same song sung by Tony Bennett. Whether separated by decades, as in last week’s song, or a matter of months, as for today’s song, it is telling on many levels how this master treats the material. Just brilliant, Tony Bennett is.

2014

I Won"t Dance

Listen to I Won"t Dance on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · 2014


“I Won’t Dance,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

2015

I Won"t Dance

Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap · The Silver Lining - The Songs of Jerome Kern · Song · 2015


“I Won’t Dance,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

Because I’m in a great mood today, here’s a video of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers from Roberta. This film is the first time they worked together. I don’t know if Astaire actually played the piano or not. If he didn’t, it’s the best fake piano playing I’ve ever seen on film. And if he did play piano, he plays great! And Ginger’s gown is fantastic!

Your author is off to the Newport, Oregon Jazz Festival for concert by Bill Charlap and his Trio, also joined by his wife and pianist, Renee Rosnes. I’ll report in a few days.