The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Lady is a Tramp

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 10. 2021, is “The Lady is a Tramp.”

About This Song

“The Lady is a Tramp” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1937 Broadway musical Babes In Arms, where it was introduced by Mitzi Green. The song was meant as a spoof on the high society of New York, where the singer is clear about what she likes to do, no matter what everyone else is doing. “The Lady Is A Tramp” has been sung by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lena Horne.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “The Lady is a Tramp” in 2011 for Duets II. It features an impeccable arrangement by Marion Evans.

This was the first time the pair worked together. Since that time, they put out the album Cheek to Cheek in 2014 and another album is due later this year.

The Lady is a Tramp

Listen to The Lady is a Tramp on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2011.

“The Lady is a Tramp,” as well as Duets II, is available from Apple Music.

And here are Tony and Lady Gaga!

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

The song of the day for Monday, February 8, 2021, is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” was written in 1982 by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman for the movie Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman).

The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis, and Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael, and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” with Aretha Franklin for the album Duets II.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing

Listen to How Do You Keep The Music Playing on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2011.

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?,” as well as Duets II, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Monday, September 14, 2020, is “Body and Soul.”

About Today

We are remembering the late Amy Winehouse, who was born on September 14, 1983, and died on July 23, 2011, at the age of 27. Her duet with Tony Bennett of “Body and Soul” was her last recording.

About This Song

“Body and Soul” was written in 1930 by Johnny Green, with lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, and Frank Eyton. Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, says that ‘Body and Soul’ “is the granddaddy of jazz ballads, the quintessential torch song, and the ultimate measuring rod for tenor sax players of all generations. Even in the new millennium, this 1930 composition continues to serve as the cornerstone of the repertoire.” Louis Armstrong recorded the song first, followed in the 1930s by recordings from primarily white society bands, such as those led by Paul Whiteman. That said, some early recordings by jazz artists including Benny Goodman and especially Art Tatum started to cement this song as a serious jazz standard (in fact, it’s rated #1 on the jazzstandards.com website). However, the Coleman Hawkins recording from 1939 is widely acknowledged to have made the song a true jazz standard. The Hawkins recording was followed by great jazz recordings by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Art Pepper, Dave Brubeck, and many more. Fine vocal recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse recorded “Body and Soul” in March 2011 for the album Duets II. The album won the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album. This recording of “Body and Soul” won the 2012 Grammy Award for best Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

“Body and Soul,” as well as Duets II, is available from Apple Music.

Here is the video made of their recording session.

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep The Music Playing

The song of the day for Wednesday, Mar25, 2020, is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About Today

Today, the Year of Tony Bennett is proud to honor the late Aretha Franklin on the anniversary of her birth on March 25, 1942. *-

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” was written in 1982 by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, and Marilyn Bergman. This song was written for the 1982 movie Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman).

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin recorded “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” in 2011 for Duets II.

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” as well as Duets II, is available from iTunes.

We are happy to present the video on Tony and Aretha recording today’s song.

Watch that little tear from Tony at the end of the song. Beautiful!

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Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Saturday, September 14, 2019, is “Body and Soul.”

About Today

The late Amy Jade Winehouse was born on September 14, 1983. She died on July 23, 2011, from alcohol poisoning. Her family set up the Amy Winehouse Foundation to help young people combat addiction to drugs and alcohol.

About This Song

“Body and Soul” was written in 1930, with music by Johnny Green and lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, and Frank Eyton.

Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, says that “Body and Soul” “is the granddaddy of jazz ballads, the quintessential torch song, and the ultimate measuring rod for tenor sax players of all generations. Even in the new millennium, this 1930 composition continues to serve as the cornerstone of the repertoire.” Louis Armstrong recorded the song first, followed in the 1930s by recordings from primarily white society bands, such as those led by Paul Whiteman.

That said, some early recordings by jazz artists including Benny Goodman and especially Art Tatum started to cement this song as a serious jazz standard (in fact, it’s rated #1 on the jazzstandards.com website). However, the Coleman Hawkins recording from 1939 is widely acknowledged to have made the song a true jazz standard. The Hawkins recording was followed by great jazz recordings by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Art Pepper, Dave Brubeck and many more. Fine vocal recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse recorded “Body and Soul” in March 2011 for the album Duets II. It was her last recording. Not only did Duets II win the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album, Bennett and Winehouse won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo or Group Performance.

“Body and Soul,” as well as Duets II, is available from iTunes.

This video was made during the recording session in London for “Body and Soul”

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