The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Until I Met You

The song of the day for Wednesday, December 6, 2017 is “Until I Met You.”

About This Song

“Until I Met You” was written in 1956 by Freddie Green and Donald E. Wolf. This song is also known as “Corner Pocket” and was often featured by Count Basie. Freddie Green played rhythm guitar for the Count Basie Orchestra for fifty years. This song has also been recorded by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Sarah Vaughan, among others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Until I Met You” in 1962 for the album On The Glory Road, which was due to be released in 1962. At the last minute, Columbia chose to not release the album. Fortunately, it was made available first as a part of Bennett’s 2011 Complete Collection and later for download on iTunes.

Until I Met You

Listen to Until I Met You on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1962.


“Until I Met You,” as well as On the Glory Road, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Firefly

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 17, 2016 is “Firefly.”

About This Song

Today’s song was written in 1958 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh as an audition piece for the musical Gypsy (which went on to be written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by a 28-year-old Stephen Sondheim).

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Firefly” twice in 1958: once as a single with an arrangement by Ray Ellis and again with the Count Basie Orchestra. It’s the second recording that I’m featuring today. It’s a short listen … just a little over a minute and a half, and every note is a delight. You’ll find this recording on In Person! The arrangement is by Ralph Sharon.

Firefly

Listen to Firefly on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1959.


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

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Song of the Day: There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Sunday, December 8, 2013, is “There Will Never Be Another You.”

About This Song

“There Will Never Be Another You” was written by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Mack Gordon, for the 1942 Sonja Henie musical film Iceland. Many of the most exquisite songs in the American Songbook have come from unexpected films, including “But Beautiful” from Road to Rio and today’s song.

Today’s song has been widely recorded by artists including Chet Baker, Rosemary Clooney, Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra and Joe Williams.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Tony Bennett’s 1959 album In Person! with Count Basie and His Orchestra. Bennett’s two album with the Count Basie Orchestra (the other being Basie/Bennett) are quite wonderful and like all great music, they hold up beautifully and sound as if they could have been recorded yesterday. They are among my favorite Bennett albums.

http://open.spotify.com/track/6EPp2rr3eB93hlfchjTJNE
“There Will Be Another You,” as well as the album In Person!, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: With Plenty of Money and You

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 26, 2013 is “With Plenty of Money and You.”

About This Song

“With Plenty of Money and You” was written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin for the movie Gold Diggers of 1937. Originally, Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg were slated to write all the songs for the movie, but Busby Berkeley wasn’t happy with the songs for the productions numbers and so he added Warren and Dubin. The final score for the movie includes songs by both songwriting teams.

About This Version

This swinging song is from Bennett’s widely-hailed 1959 album with the Count Basie Orchestra: Basie/Bennett, originally released on the Roulette label, which handled Basie’s albums. They got together again in 1959 for In Person!, this time from Columbia. Both albums are terrific.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7G5L3XC5LMcReydpXlxHov
“With Plenty of Money and You,” as well as the entire remastered Strike Up The Band album, is available from iTunes.

And, if you’re interested, here’s Dick Powell singing this song from the film:

With Plenty Of Money And You - Gold Diggers Of 1937

Listen to With Plenty Of Money And You - Gold Diggers Of 1937 on Spotify. Dick Powell · Song · 2005.

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Song of the Day: Undecided Blues

The song of the day for Sunday, March 3, 2013 is Undecided Blues.

About This Song

Undecided Blues is by Jimmy Rushing, who was not only a blues shouter, but also a jazz singer with the Count Basie Orchestra from 1935 to 1948. Mr. Rushing, whose father was a trumpter and mother a singer, was born in Oklahoma City in 1901 and died in 1972.

About This Version

I’ve been having trouble deciding about things, even the song of the day. So today’s song of the day is Undecided Blues from Playin’ With My Friends. This album was a revelation to me: Tony Bennett can really sing the blues.

http://open.spotify.com/track/24GVJ7Mx7Jh6g0EL8k77oz
Undecided Blues, as well as the full Playin’ With My Friends album, is available from iTunes.

As a Sunday treat, here’s Jimmy Rushing with the Count Basie Orchestra singing the Undecided Blues.

Undecided Blues

Listen to Undecided Blues on Spotify. Count Basie · Song · 1997.

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