The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Sunday, September 14, 2014 is “Body and Soul.”

About This Song

Today’s 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

Today’s version is the 2011 duet of “Body and Soul” with Amy Winehouse. It was arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli and recorded in London at Abbey Road Studios. This was the last song that Amy recorded; she died just a few weeks after their session. The recording won the Grammy award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

About Today

Today would have been Amy Winehouse’s 31st birthday. She died from alcohol poisoning on July 23, 2011. Every time I listen to her music, I am filled with sadness over all the music she never got to make and gratitude for the music she did make.

For more information about Amy’s legacy, please visit amywinehouse.com. Her parents have created the Amy Winehouse Foundation to help combat the misuse of drugs and alcohol on young people. You can learn more about the foundation at amywinehousefoundation.org.

Body and Soul

Listen to Body and Soul on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Amy Winehouse · 2011


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

And here’s the wonderful video of Tony and Amy recording “Body and Soul.”

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Song of the Day: On The Sunny Side Of The Street

Willie Nelson is celebrating his 81st birthday today and The Year of Tony Bennett is pleased to join in the celebration of one of America’s greatest singers and composers. In honor of his birthday, the song of the day is “On the Sunny Side of the Street.”

About This Song

Today’s song was written by Jimmy McHugh, with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, in 1930. It was introduced in Lew Leslie’s International Revue. It was an instant jazz standard and has remained popular up to today, with both instrumental and vocal recordings of great stature. Duke Ellington recorded it 1938 with vocalist Ivie Anderson. Instrumental recordings include those Dizzy Gillespie, Art Tatum, Count Basie, Lester Young and Dave Brubeck. Vocal recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Frankie Laine, Judy Garland, Doris Day and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Today’s version is, of course, the duet with Tony and Willie Nelson from the 2011 Duets II. Willie also plays the sweet guitar on this version.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4hkfBXwxJnCWRf9sDZvtkr
“On The Sunny Side Of The Street,” as well as the album Duets II, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Lady Is A Tramp

In honor of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (otherwise known as Lady Gaga) who is celebrating her birthday today, our song of the day for Friday, March 28, 2014 is The Lady Is A Tramp.

About This Song

The Lady is a Tramp was written in 1937 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the Broadway musical Babes in Arms. It’s been a jazz and popular standard from the beginning, with recordings by Tommy Dorsey and Sophie Tucker. Other notable recordings are by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne.

About This Version

The first time I heard Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga sing The Lady is a Tramp, I had to jump up and start dancing. As the first song in the album, it’s a great promise on the incredible joys to come. . She’s a natural for jazz and was a great partner for Bennett. It’s a great arrangement of a great song with two great singers. It’s not often that you get hear singers having this much fun while doing an amazing take. As for me, I can hardly wait until the release of Cheek to Cheek later this year.

http://open.spotify.com/track/6ZsKRsnPsdZvXfqqE6bTPy
The Lady is a Tramp, as well as the full Duets II album, is available from iTunes.

And here’s the great video they made when they recorded today’s song:

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

Today is Aretha Franklin’s birthday! In honor of her birthday, the song of the day for March 25, 2014 is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” was written by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, in 1982 for the movie Best Friends. The song, along with three others written by the Bergmans, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song has been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis, Barbra Streisand and many more popular singers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett tells this story in his autobiography The Good Life, as he talks about the creation of The Art of Excellence:

I included a song on that album called “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, which I first heard Sinatra sing. One night I went to see Frank perform at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles. I had no idea he knew I was there, but right after he finished singing the song, he said to me, in full view of thousands of people, “Tony! You should sing this song!” How could I refuse?

I had the great pleasure of hearing Tony Bennett sing this song live in concert and it was wonderful. The song is a favorite of mine, as is the duet with Miss Franklin. The Year of Tony Bennett wishes her a very happy birthday. But enough talking … time for a song.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4LTa2DALHWoAvFKQwsRugj
“How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” as well as the album Duets II, is available from iTunes.

And even though it isn’t Saturday, the video of these two magnificent musicians recording this song cannot be missed.

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Song of the Day: It Had To Be You

The song of the day for Monday, March 10, 2014 is “It Had To Be You.”

About This Song

“It Had To Be You” was written in 1924 by Isham Jones, with lyrics by Gus Kahn. The song is a standard in the American Songbook and has been widely recorded. Significant recordings include those by Cliff Edwards, Betty Hutton, Doris Day, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Bennett’s 2011 Duets II, where he sang this song with Carrie Underwood, whose birthday it is today. Happy Birthday, Carrie Underwood!

http://open.spotify.com/track/328dqlTGkTgH5GPrsQusql
“It Had To Be You,” as well as the album Duets II, is available from iTunes.