Cloud 7 Archives | Page 15 of 15 | The Year of Tony Bennett

The song of the day for Monday, November 11, 2013 is “Darn That Dream.”

About This Song

“Darn That Dream” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen, with lyrics by Eddie DeLange, for the short-lived Broadway musical Swingin’ The Dream, which opened in 1939.

Swingin’ The Dream was a musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with an African-American cast including Butterfly McQueen, Louis Armstrong, Bill Bailey, Moms Mabley and the Dandridge Sisters. Armstrong played the role of Bottom and introduced today’s song. Alas, it only ran for 13 performances.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Darn That Dream” for his first full album, Cloud 7, released in 1955. The song was arranged by Chuck Wayne, who also played guitar for the album. You can read more about Cloud 7 on The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography.

http://open.spotify.com/track/49qnUsYpaH3zLa20TCSYOy
“Darn That Dream,” as well as the album Cloud 7, is available from iTunes.

The song of the day for Thursday, April 11, 2013 is While The Music Plays On.

About This Song

While The Music Plays On was composed by Emery Heim (sometimes called Eddie Heim), with lyrics by Irving Mills and Lupin Fein, in 1939. In addition to Tony Bennett’s recording, this song has also been recorded by Les Brown, Jimmy Dorsey and Anne Shelton.

About This Version

I was reminded today by a Tony Bennett fan on Twitter that Bennett’s recording of While The Music Plays On is an outstanding jazz recording and so it is our song of the day. Recorded for his 1955 Cloud 7 album, this song describes a singer watching his love dancing with someone new:

Oh, what madness to discover
Music still possesses all its charms
As I serenade my lover
Dancing by in someone else’s arms

But I am not allowed to show the crowd
What happens when romance has gone
I must hide my fears singing through the tears
While the music plays on

It’s a beautiful song, sung with great heart and emotion.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2TkGosz6lz6xqUWmTGuRMQ
While The Music Plays On, as well as the full Cloud 7 album, is available from iTunes.