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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

January 29, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Album of the Week: Basie Swings, Bennett Sings

The album of the week starting on January 30, 2022, is Basie Swings, Bennett Sings.

Album Facts

Release Date 1959
Label Roulette
Producer Teddy Reig
Vocals Tony Bennett
Piano Count Basie, Ralph Sharon
Arrangements Ralph Sharon
Trumpet Thad Jones, Snooky Young, Wendell Culley, Joe Newman
Trombone Benny Powell, Henry Coker, Al Grey
Alto Saxophone Marshall Royal, Frank Weiss
Tenor Saxophone Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell
Baritone Saxophone Charlie Fowlkes
Guitar Freddie Green
Bass Eddie Jones
Drums Sonny Payne

After the relative success of Cloud 7 and The Beat of My Heart, Tony Bennett began to work on his dream of performing with Count Basie and Duke Ellington, whom he viewed as the greatest bandleaders of all time. He was able to work out a deal with Basie to record two albums: one live album on Columbia (details to follow ) and a studio album for Roulette, Basie’s label. This brought up a fight with Bennett’s current producer Mitch Miller, who felt Roulette would tarnish Bennett’s reputation.

Tony Bennett remembers those recordings in his autobiography, The Good Life:

Although I’d talked with him on the telephone I didn’t meet Count Basie until our rehearsals began. It was an amazing experience, the fulfillment of a dream, and I’ll never forget it. We hit it off right away, as though we always knew and understood each other. At one point Basie turned to his band, pointed at me, and said, “Anything this man wants, he gets!” I was floored.

Critic Richard S. Ginell wrote:

The Roulette half of the two Bennett/Basie sessions is a band singer’s paradise, with the Basie band caught at a robust and swinging peak and Bennett never sounding happier or looser in front of a microphone. The Count himself, alas, appears on piano only on two numbers (“Life Is a Song” and “Jeepers Creepers”), while Bennett’s perennial pianist Ralph Sharon takes over on the remaining ten tracks and does all the charts. Yet Sharon writes idiomatically for the Count’s style, whether on frantic rave-ups like “With Plenty of Money and You” and “Strike Up the Band” or relaxed swingers like “Chicago.” Though not a jazz singer per se, the flavor of jazz is everywhere in Bennett’s voice, which in those days soared like a trumpet. The 1990 CD included an atmospheric unissued Neal Hefti ballad “After Supper,” but even this bonus track does little to extend the skimpy playing time (about 31 minutes) of what is still a great, desirable snapshot from American showbiz of the late 1950s.

Listen to Basie Swings, Bennett Sings

You can also listen to Basie Swings, Bennett Sings on

  • Apple Music
  • Amazon Music player
  • Qobuz
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  • Pandora

 

Filed Under: Album of the Week Tagged With: Al Grey, Basie Swings / Bennett Sings, Benny Powell, Billy Mitchell, Charlie Fowlkes, Count Basie, Count Basie and His Orchestra, Eddie Jones, Frank Foster, Frank Weiss, Freddie Green, Henry Coker, Joe Newman, Marshall Royal, Ralph Sharon, Snooky Young, Sonny Payne, Teddy Reig, Thad Jones, Tony Bennett, Wendell Culley

December 26, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan

The song of the day for Monday, December 27, 2021, is “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan.”

About This Song

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1929 revue The Little Show and was introduced by Clifton Webb. It was a featured song in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, where it was sung by Fred Astaire and Oscar Levant. Even though the original title was “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” it is more often sung with Plans. And in spite of the sub-title on the cover of the sheet music, I have no idea what the blue pajama business is all about.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” in 1959 for his first album with Count Basie and His Orchestra, Basie/Bennett. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan,” as well as Basie/Bennett is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Arthur Schwartz, Basie/Bennett, Count Basie, Count Basie and His Orchestra, Howard Dietz, Tony Bennett

May 30, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Strike Up The Band

The song of the day for Monday, May 31, 2021, is “Strike Up The Band.”

About This Song

“Strike Up the Band” was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1927 musical of the same name. Although Strike Up the Band was not a big hit on Broadway, the song became extremely popular. When Gershwin moved to Los Angeles, he was approached by UCLA to help with a fight song and so he contributed “Strike Up the Band for UCLA”, which is still played at all football and home basketball games at the university.

About This Recording

Tony Bennett recorded “Strike Up The Band” with Count Basie and His Orchestra in 1959 for his album Basie/Bennett. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

Strike up the Band (Strike up the Band) - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to Strike up the Band (Strike up the Band) - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Count Basie · Song · 1959.

“Strike Up The Band,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Count Basie and His Orchestra, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Tony Bennett

April 8, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Taking a Chance on Love

The song of the day for Friday, April 9, 2021, is “Taking a Chance on Love.”

About This Song

“Taking a Chance on Love” was written by Vernon Duke, John La Touche, and Ted Fetter for the 1940 musical Cabin in the Sky, where it was introduced by the great Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song works well for both jazz singers and instrumentalists, with significant recordings by Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, and Dizzy Gillespie.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Taking a Chance on Love” in 1958 with Count Basie and His Orchestra for the album In Person!, released in 1959.

Taking A Chance On Love

Listen to Taking A Chance On Love on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1959.

“Taking a Chance on Love,” as well as In Person!, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cabin in the Sky, Count Basie and His Orchestra, John La Touche, Ted Fetter, Tony Bennett, Vernon Duke

February 10, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Jeepers Creepers

The song of the day for Thursday, February 11, 2021, is “Jeepers Creepers.”

About This Song

“Jeepers Creepers” was written by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer for the 1938 movie Going Places, which featured Louis Armstrong as a trumpet-playing horse trainer. It has been recorded by Bing Crosby and, of course, Louis Armstrong.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Jeepers Creepers” in 1959 for his album with Count Basie and His Orchestra, Basie/Bennett. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Jeepers Creepers - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to Jeepers Creepers - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Count Basie · Song · 1959.

“Jeepers Creepers,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Basie/Bennett, Count Basie and His Orchestra, Harry Warren, Johnny Mercer, Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett

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