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 Saturday, February 16, 2019, is “The Lady is a Tramp.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote “The Lady is a Tramp” in 1937 for the 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. More recently, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga sang a duet of this song on their 2011 album Duets II.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “The Lady is a Tramp” in 2011 for the album Duets II. It was the first time the pair worked together; in 2014 the duo released an album together: Cheek to Cheek. The excellent arrangement of “The Lady is a Tramp” is by the great Marion Evans.

The Lady is a Tramp

The Lady is a Tramp, a song by Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga on Spotify

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

About Today

And here’s our Saturday video–turquoise hair and all!

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga – The Lady is a Tramp (from Duets II: The Great Performances)

Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga’s official music video for ‘The Lady Is A Tramp’. Click to listen to Tony Bennett on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/TonyBennettSpotify?IQid=TonyBLIAT As featured on Duets II.

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Song of the Day: Blue Velvet

The song of the day for Saturday, May 26, 2018 is “Blue Velvet.”

About This Song

“Blue Velvet” was written in 1950 by Bernie Wayne and Lee Morris. It is said that Bernie Wayne wrote the song, inspired by a woman he saw at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blue Velvet” in 1951, with an arrangement by Percy Faith. The single was released that year and was a top 20 hit for Bennett.

Blue Velvet

Tony Bennett · The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1 · Song · 2011


“Blue Velvet,” as well as all of the singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Volume 1, is available from iTunes.

About Today

This week’s Saturday video features Tony’s duet of “Blue Velvet” with k.d. lang for the album Duets II.

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Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Saturday, April 21, 2018 is “Body and Soul.”

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 Billy Eckstine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Body and Soul” on his remarkable live performance in 1994 on the series MTV Unplugged. The album of the performance, MTV Unplugged, not only won 1995 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance but also the coveted Album of the Year.

Body and Soul - Live Version

Listen to Body and Soul - Live Version on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1994


“Body and Soul,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Our video today features the recording of Tony and Amy Winehouse recording “Body and Soul” in 2014 for Duets II, which was the last recording Amy Winehouse made.

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

The song of the day for Saturday, March 17, 2018 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. It 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). 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 “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” for his 1986 album The Art of Excellence.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

Listen to How Do You Keep The Music Playing? on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1986


“How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available from iTunes.

About Today

It’s YouTube Saturday! Today we have the wonderful duet of Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin singing today’s song, recorded for the 2011 Duets II album.

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Song of the Day: Blue Velvet

The song of the day for Sunday, November 12, 2017 is “Blue Velvet.”

About This Song

“Blue Velvet” was written in 1950 by Bernie Wayne and Lee Morris. Tony Bennett’s 1951 recording of “Blue Velvet” was the first recording of the song and was one of his early hits for Columbia.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “Blue Velvet” in 2011 for the album Duets II. k.d. lang is the only singer to appear on both Duets: An American Classic and Duets II.

Blue Velvet

Listen to Blue Velvet on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, k.d. lang · 2011


“Blue Velvet,” as well as Duets II, is available from iTunes.

We also have this video of the recording of “Blue Velvet” for Duets II.

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