The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Are You Havin’ Any Fun?

The song of the day for Monday, August 21, 2023, is “Are You Havin’ Any Fun.”

About Today

William James “Count” Basie was born on August 21, 1904, in Red Bank, New Jersey. His collaborations with Tony Bennett in the late 1950s were highlights for the young jazz singer. The Year of Tony Bennett is proud to remember Count Basie on the anniversary of his birth.

About This Song

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” was written by Jack Yellen and Sammy Fain for the 1939 George White’s Scandals. White produced these Broadway revues from 1919 to 1939. Stars introduced in his Scandals include Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger, and The Three Stooges.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Are You Having Any Fun?” on January 5, 1959, for the album Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, with Count Basie and His Orchestra. The song was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.

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Tony Bennett on the Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show ran on television from 1948 until 1971. Sullivan had many musical guests on his show over the years, and Tony Bennett appeared frequently. Here are some of those appearances:

November 22, 1964

June 27, 1965, with his trio and Ruby Braff on cornet

April 16, 1967, with Count Basie

April 6, 1969, with Duke Ellington

September 28, 1969

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Song of the Day: Blue and Sentimental

The song of the day for Friday, July 21, 2023, is “Blue and Sentimental.”

About Today

We are celebrating Kay Starr, Tony’s duet partner for today’s song, on the anniversary of her birth in Oklahoma on July 21, 1922. Kay loved to sing as a small child and won her first talent show at the age of 7. By then the family had moved to Dallas, Texas, where Kay found many opportunities to sing and earn money. She was discovered at the age of 15 by Joe Venuti and worked with Venuti for several years. Starr considered herself a jazz singer, but she also sang traditional pop, country, and Western swing music. She performed well into her 80s, including a stint in the revue 3 Girls, with Helen O’Connell and Margaret Whiting. She died in 2016 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written in 1938 by Count Basie, with Jerry Livingston and Mack David, and was originally recorded by The Count Basie Orchestra. It has since been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Mel Tormé.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Kay Starr recorded “Blue and Sentimental” in May 2001 for the album Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues.

“Blue and Sentimental,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Taking a Chance on Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 10, 2023, is “Taking a Chance on Love.”

About This Song

“Taking a Chance on Love” was written by Vernon Duke, with lyrics by John LaTouche 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 “Taking a Chance on Love” on December 30, 1958, for his album with Count Basie and His Band: In Person!, which was released in 1959. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Originally, the album was meant to use recordings of Tony Bennett and Count Basie and His Band at club dates they did after their first album. Unfortunately, there were some issues with the recordings, so they rerecorded the songs in the studio.

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

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Song of the Day: With Plenty of Money and You

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 29, 2023, 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 Gold Diggers of 1937, starring Dick Powell and Joan Blondell and choreographed by Busby Berkeley. Interestingly, the score for the film was to have been written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg, but Berkeley didn’t like what they had written and brought in Warren and Dubin for this song and several other songs. Some Arlen and Harburg songs were used in the film as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “With Plenty of Money and You” with Count Basie and His Orchestra on January 5, 1959, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Sharon. This recording was released on the album Basie Swings, Bennett Sings in 1959.

“With Plenty of Money and You,” as well as Basie Swings, Bennett Sings is available on Apple Music.

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