The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Baby, Dream Your Dream

The song of the day for Friday, August 23, 2013 is “Baby, Dream Your Dream.”

About This Song

“Baby, Dream Your Dream” is from the 1966 musical Sweet Charity, directed by Bob Fosse and starring his wife, Gwen Verdon, as Charity. The music was written by Cy Coleman with lyrics by Dorothy Fields. I was a sophomore in high school when Sweet Charity opened and its original cast album was played often on my RCA portable stereo. It’s a wonderful score and this song is one the best numbers.

About This Version

I’ve been working on Tony Bennett songs and recording sessions in the 1950s and have been listening to many of his recordings that were released as singles. There’s gold there, and I’m pleased to present one of those recordings today.

Originally sung by the taxi dancers as they aspire to getting out meeting Mr. Right and settling down, Bennett’s version is more the dream of all young couples starting their lives together. I adore this recording: it’s full of love and hope and joy. When I listen to Tony Bennett singing this song, I believe that all things are possible. The arrangement is by David Rose and was produced by Ernie Altschuler.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4qGwC5SpIMX5Br9lA7O8yl
“Baby, Dream Your Dream,” as well as all of the songs on Columbia Singles, Volume 6, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got Your Number

The song of the day for Thursday, August 22, 2013 is “I’ve Got Your Number.”

About This Song

Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh wrote “I’ve Got Your Number” in 1962 for the musical Little Me, starring Sid Caesar and Virginia Martin, who introduced this song.

About This Version

“I’ve Got Your Number” is from Tony Bennett’s 1963 album I Wanna Be Around. The song was arranged by Marty Manning with a great big band sound … the trombones at the beginning get me each and every time I listen to this song. The album was produced by Ernie Altschuler.

Today’s version is by request from this blog’s earliest and most devoted fan. Nick, you take care of yourself!

http://open.spotify.com/track/3pXVyrs7lh9X5tSgcASIUB
“I’ve Got Your Number,” as well as the album I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes and Amazon.com.

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Song of the Day: The Best Is Yet To Come

The song of the day for Sunday, August 4, 2013 is “The Best Is Yet To Come.” Today’s song is dedicated to my co-blogger and friend, Lesley, whose birthday is today. Happy birthday, dear friend.

About This Song

“The Best Is Yet To Come” was written by the great songwriting team of Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. Some have said that this song was written for Tony Bennett. If not, it is certainly closely identified with him; he performs it regularly in concert today.

About This Version

Today’s version is the singles version, recorded in 1960 and released in early 1961. When Tony Bennett sings this song, I always believe that it’s completely, absolutely true. This recording was arranged and conducted by Cy Coleman.

http://open.spotify.com/track/65YpRViLIGXrzxp2IxjyVl
“The Best Is Yet To Come,” as well as all of the singles on Columbia Singles, Volume 6, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: It Amazes Me

The song of the day for Saturday, August 3, 2013 is “It Amazes Me.”

About This Song

“It Amazes Me” was written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh in 1958. While Coleman and Leigh composed the scores for a number of very good Broadway musicals, including Sweet Charity, they also wrote many stand-alone songs, including this one.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “It Amazes Me” in 1958 for Long Ago and Far Away. However, today’s version is from his 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall.

While I was driving home from the office this evening, I was listening to the Carnegie Hall concert on the car stereo. At a long stop light, “It Amazes Me” began to play and it was as if I was really hearing it for the first time. This happens to us every so often; a song that we listened to and loved suddenly sounds completely new, as we hear things we never heard before. And what I heard this afternoon was a perfect performance of a very fine song.

More and more I am struck by Bennett’s perfect diction and phrasing and this is so evident in “It Amazes Me.” We hear each word perfectly, but it’s not forced, it grows out of the performance and is so natural. (My true test for any singer is “The Man That Got Away” and ‘tomorrow he may turn up.” For too many singers, it comes out “tomorrow he may turnip.” Bennett passes this test with flying colors, even at the emotional dramatic peak of the song.)

Aided by a subtle and lovely arrangement by Ralph Sharon, I hear the amazement and wonder and awe in this delivery. And it speaks to the great versatility of the performer Tony Bennett. He can deliver big, emotional dramatic songs and I love those. But equally I love this side: the precise, quiet delivery where each note, each syllable, each phrase is perfect … and still with that thing that nobody else I’ve ever heard can do: singing a song so perfectly while it sounds as if it’s being written at that moment. Never rote, with all the joy of discovery of wonder in a song.

All I can say is that this song amazes me. Every time. As if it were the first time.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2WxNwCHOfSARBRGpKhFbgW
“It Amazes Me,” as well as the complete Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall concert album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Then Was Then And Now Is Now

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 10, 2013 is “Then Was Then And Now is Now.”

About This Song

“Then Was Then And Now is Now” was written in 1964, with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Peggy Lee. Miss Lee recorded this song for her album of the same name, released in 1965. In addition to recordings by Peggy Lee and Tony Bennett, Jack Jones also recorded this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Then Was Then And Now is Now” for his masterful 1965 album If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set. This album is one of Bennett’s best and well worth a listen.

Then Was Then And Now Is Now

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965

“Then Was Then And Now is Now,” as well as the entire If I Ruled The World album, is available from iTunes.