The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Very Thought of You

The song of the day for Thursday, June 18, 2020, is “The Very Thought of You.”

About Today

Today we would like to wish Sir Paul McCartney a very happy birthday!

About This Song

“The Very Thought of You” was written in 1934 by bandleader Ray Nobel. This ballad has been popular since it was written in 1934. Noble recorded it with his own orchestra; Bing Crosby also recorded it that same year. Other significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra, Carmen McRae, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Paul McCartney recorded “The Very Thought of You” in 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli did the arrangement.

“The Very Thought of You,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available from Apple Music.

Tony and Sir Paul made this video, which I am pleased to share.

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Song of the Day: For Once In My Life

The song of the day for Monday, June 8, 2020, is “For Once In My Life.”

About This Song

“For Once In My Life” was written in 1967 by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden. The song was written for the Motown Record’s Jobete publishing company. This song not only found success as a Motown song, with recordings by Stevie Wonder and Jean duShon, but also as a popular standard, starting with Tony Bennett’s recording in 1967. Thanks to Tony Bennett’s original recording of the song, it’s been sung by other popular and jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennet and Stevie Wonder recorded “For Once In My Life” in 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“For Once In My Life,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Because of You

The song of the day for Thursday, January 23, 2020, is “Because of You.”

About This Song

“Because of You” was written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein and Dudley Wilkinson.

About This Version

It was Spring 1951. Tony had been told that he would need a real breakthrough recording or he might be dropped from his contract with Columbia. He was preparing for a recording session with Percy Faith. They had three songs planned, but need a fourth. Percy grabbed the sheet music for “Because of You” from the pile on his piano. And, well, the rest was history. After a slow start, “Because of You” was Bennett’s first song to hit #1 on the charts, thanks in large part to fans playing it on jukeboxes and calling radio stations to play that new song from Tony Bennett. It spent 10 weeks at the top of the charts and charted for 32 weeks and sold over a million copies.

Today, I’ve chosen his recording of this song with k. d. lang on the 2006 album Duets: An American Classic. I love the way Bennett’s and lang’s voice blend so beautifully in their duet recordings. This is one of the best of them.

“Because of You,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available from iTunes.

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves to Sing with Elvis and Diana

The playlist for the week of October 13 is Tony Loves to Sing with Elvis and Diana.

This week’s playlist consists of duets featuring Tony and one of that marvelous couple: Elvis Costello and Diana Krall. This week’s songs are presented in chronological order.

1994 MTV Unplugged
They Can’t Take That Away From Me by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Elvis Costello.

2001 Playin’ With My Friends
Alright, Okay, You Win by Mamie Watts and Sid Wyche. Diana Krall.

2006 Duets: An American Classic
The Best is Yet to Come by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. Diana Krall.
Are You Havin’ Any Fun? by Jack Yellen and Sammy Fain. Elvis Costello.

2018 Love is Here to Stay
‘S Wonderful by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Diana Krall.
Love Is Here to Stay George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Diana Krall.
Somebody Loves Me George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Diana Krall.
Do It Again George Gershwin and Buddy DeSylva. Diana Krall.
They Can’t Take That Away From Me George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Diana Krall.

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Sings a Hispanic Song Book

The playlist for the week of September 8, 2019, is Tony Sings a Hispanic Song Book.

This week, I’m featuring music written by composers from Mexico and South America and performances with musicians from those regions, as well as the Caribbean. I hope you enjoy.

The songs from this playlist can be found on:

Duets: An American Classic
Duets II
Viva Duets
Yesterday I Heard the Rain
If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set
I Wanna Be Around

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