The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: With Plenty of Money and You

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 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 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” in 1959 for his album with Count Basie and His Orchestra: Basie Swings/Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

With Plenty of Money and You – 1990 Remix / Remaster

With Plenty of Money and You – 1990 Remix / Remaster, a song by Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell on Spotify

“With Plenty of Money and You,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, is available from iTunes.

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

The song of the day for Thursday, February 14, 2019, 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 Schwarz 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 more often sung with Plans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded ” I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” in 1959 with the Count Basie Orchestra and features a terrific arrangement by Ralph Sharon. The album Basie/Bennett was originally released on Basie’s Roulette label; this decision was not well-regarded by Mitch Miller and others at Columbia Records. Their second album, In Person!, was released by Columbia.

The two albums that Tony Bennett made with Count Basie in the late 1950s are really remarkable and are among my favorites. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to them, just follow the Spotify link where you can stream the full album. Both are also available on iTunes.

I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans – 1990 Remix/Remaster

I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans – 1990 Remix/Remaster, a song by Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell on Spotify

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

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Song of the Day: Blue and Sentimental

The song of the day for Saturday, July 21, 2018 is “Blue and Sentimental.”

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written in 1938 by Count Basie, Jerry Livingston, Mack David. This song was initially recorded by the Count Basie Orchestra in 1938. 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 2001 for the album Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues.

And he does indeed sing the blues.

Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr)

Listen to Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Kay Starr · 2001


“Blue and Sentimental,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today we are honoring Kay Starr, who was born on July 21, 1922 in Dougherty, Oklahoma, though the family soon moved to Dallas. She started singing on radio talent shows at the age of 7 and by the age of 10 she had her own 15 minute radio show. At the age of only 15, she was hired to sing with the Joe Venuti orchestra, with the caveat of a midnight curfew at the insistence of her parents. She went on to have an illustrious singing career that lasted for many years–she released her last album in 1997.

Kay Starr

Starr was successful in every field of music she tried: jazz, pop and country. But her roots were in jazz. Billie Holiday, considered by many the greatest jazz singer of all time, called Starr “the only white woman who could sing the blues.”

Kay Starr died in November 2016. She is buried in her birthplace of Dougherty, Oklahoma next to her parents.

Our Saturday video features one of Kay Starr’s greatest hits: “Wheel of Fortune,” as sung on television in 1952.

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Song of the Day: With Plenty of Money and You

The song of the day for Thursday, July 5, 2018 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, 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” in 1959 for his album with Count Basie and His Orchestra: Basie Swings/Bennett Sings.

With Plenty of Money and You - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to With Plenty of Money and You - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959


“With Plenty of Money and You,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Solitude

The song of the day for Thursday, January 19, 2018 is “Solitude.”

About This Song

“Solitude” was written in 1934 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills. One of his masterpieces, Ellington is said to have written “Solitude” in twenty minutes at the recording session, as they were one number short (per Ted Gioia in Jazz Standards). It’s a very strong song for both vocalists and instrumentalists. Ellington made over a hundred recordings of this song. Other great recordings include those by Paul Robeson, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Billy Eckstine.

About This Version

Today I’m featuring Mr. Bennett’s first recording of “Solitude,” made in 1958 with Count Basie and His Orchestra for the album In Person!

Solitude

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


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

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