As we explore the best of Tony Bennett’s live performances, the song of the day for Wednesday, January 23, 2013 is Rules Of The Road.

About Rules Of The Road

While this song is not from a musical, it was written by great Broadway and songwriting team of Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh in 1961.

About This Version

This version of Rules Of The Road is from Bennett’s wonderful 1962 Carnegie Hall concert. I am also a fan of the version from the 1964 Live At The Sahara show; while available on iTunes, this recording is not available on Spotify.

Mr. Bennett has recorded many of Cy Coleman’s songs. As a jazz performer and composer, I think Cy Coleman’s music speaks well to Bennett’s musical tastes.

Rules Of The Road, as well as the full 1962 Carnegie Hall Concert album, is available from iTunes.

The Song of the Day for Saturday, November 10, 2012 is The Rules of the Road.

About The Rules of the Road

This song is by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. It’s been sung by many jazz artists, including Anita O’Day, Lena Horne and Shirley Horn, among others.

About This Version

This version is a previously unreleased version recorded in 1964 with the Ralph Sharon Trio, compiled on The Essential Tony Bennett double-CD set.

I’ve often thought that Cy Coleman was a perfect composer for Tony Bennett. In addition to composing many of Broadway’s finest shows (Sweet Charity, Little Me, City of Angels, and Barnum — to name a few), he was also a jazz pianist and performer in his own right.  Every song of Coleman’s that Tony Bennett has ever recorded has been quite good, due in part to Coleman’s jazz background while being a composer of popular and Broadway music.

I fell in love with Sweet Charity when I was in junior high school and played it constantly on my RCA stereo set in my room. I often wondered if either of my parents realized what I was listening to.

The Song of the Day for Wednesday, November 7, 2012 is The Best Is Yet To Come.

About The Best Is Yet To Come

This wonderful, upbeat song was written in 1959 by the Broadway song writing team of Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, though it was not written for the stage. The song is strongly associated with Frank Sinatra, who recorded it in 1964 with the Count Basie Orchestra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded this song in 1960 as a single, arranged and conducted by Mr. Coleman. The same recording appeared on I Left My Heart In San Francisco, released in 1962. This version is from the same year, from Mr. Bennett’s legendary Carnegie Hall concert.

Out of the tree of life I just picked me a plum!