The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got Your Number

The song of the day for Friday, May 31, 2019, is “I’ve Got Your Number.”

About This Song

“I’ve Got Your Number” is from the 1962 Broadway musical Little Me, the second musical that Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh wrote (the first being Wildcat, written for Lucille Ball). Little Me starred Sid Caesar and Virginia Martin, both of whom introduced “I’ve Got Your Number.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got Your Number” in 1962 for his album I Wanna Be Around. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement. I really love the trombone in this recording.

I’ve Got Your Number

I’ve Got Your Number, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“I’ve Got Your Number,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Best Is Yet To Come

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 15, 2019, is “The Best Is Yet To Come.”

About This Song

“The Best Is Yet To Come” was written in 1959 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. Some say that the song was written for Tony Bennett. In any case, it is strongly identified with him and he sings it at many of his concerts. Other recordings include those by Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Today’s version is not the original recording from 1960, but from Bennett’s live performance at Carnegie Hall in 1962.

The Best Is Yet To Come – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962

The Best Is Yet To Come – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962, a song by Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra on Spotify

“The Best Is Yet To Come,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves Broadway

The playlist of the week starting May 5, 2019, is Tony Loves Broadway.

Tony Loves Broadway

Many of Bennett’s early successes were Broadway songs. This year’s Tony Award nominations have me in a Broadway kind of mood

About These Songs

Just in Time from Bells Are Ringing — 1956: Jule Styne, Adolph Green, Betty Comden
Stranger in Paradise from Kismet — 1953: Alexander Borodin, Robert Wright, George Forrest
Lazy Afternoon from The Golden Apple — 1954: Jerome Moross, John Treville Latouche
All the Things You Are from Very Warm For May — 1939: Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein
Some Other Time from On the Town — 1944: Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green, Betty Comden
Baby, Dream Your Dream from Sweet Charity — 1966: Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields
The Party’s Over from Bells Are Ringing — 1956: Jule Styne, Adolph Green, Betty Comden

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Song of the Day: Baby, Dream Your Dream

The song of the day for Saturday, April 20, 2019, is “Baby, Dream Your Dream.”

About This Song

“Baby, Dream Your Dream” was one of the hit songs from the very successful Cy Coleman – Dorothy Fields 1966 musical Sweet Charity, directed by Bob Fosse and starring Gwen Verdon along with the book by Neil Simon. “Baby, Dream Your Dream” was sung by Helen Gallagher and Thelma Oliver.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Baby, Dream Your Dream” in December 1965; it was released as single in 1966 to coincide with the Broadway premiere of Sweet Charity in January 1966. Johnny Mandel did the arrangement, which I really love. The recording was also used on Bennett’s 1967 album For Once In My Life.

Baby, Dream Your Dream – 2011 Remaster

Baby, Dream Your Dream – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Baby, Dream Your Dream,” as well as For Once In My Life, is available from iTunes.

About Today

After several years of doing video Saturdays, I thought it was time for something new. I’ll be doing some special on Sundays, starting tomorrow and I think you’ll like it a lot! Stay tuned!

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Song of the Day: It Amazes Me

The song of the day for Saturday, April 13, 2019, is “It Amazes Me.”

About This Song

“It Amazes Me” was written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh in 1958. Liza Minnelli recorded this song when she was only eighteen years old on her first album. It has also been recorded by Bill Evans, George Shearing, and Cleo Laine.

About This Version

Today, we’re featuring Tony Bennett’s version of “It Amazes Me” from his legendary 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall, captured on Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall.

It Amazes Me – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962

It Amazes Me – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962, a song by Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra on Spotify

“It Amazes Me,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

About Today

It’s Video Saturday and today I’ve got two videos today.

First up is Tony Bennett singing today’s song from his MTV Unplugged appearance in 1994.

Tony Bennett – It Amazes Me (from MTV Unplugged)

Music video by Tony Bennett performing It Amazes Me. (C) 1994 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

Next up is a performance at a tribute to Cy Coleman, who passed away in 2004, sung by the great Elaine Stritch. In her introduction to singing this song, she offers one of the funniest quotes I’ve ever heard: “I don’t think people who drink martinis watch The Sound of Music.”

Elaine Stritch, It Amazes Me

It Started With a Dream, Tribute to Cy Coleman