The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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

The song of the day for Saturday, October 28, 2017 is “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep the Music Playing” was written in 1982, with music by Michel Legrand and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the movie Best Friends. 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, of course, Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” in 1986 for The Art of Excellence. Jorge Calandrelli did the arrangement.

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

For our Saturday video, we have the wonderful duet of today’s song with Tony and Aretha Franklin, as the recorded this song in Detroit for Duets II.

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

The song of the day for Saturday, June 17, 2017 is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” was written in 1982, with music by Michel Legrand and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It was written 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

Today I’m featuring Tony Bennett’s first recording of “How Do You Keep the Music Playing,” from his 1986 album The Art of Excellence. And an excellent album it was!

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 Duets II, is available from iTunes.

About Today

For our Saturday video, I’m happy to feature one of Bennett’s greatest duet performances. Tony and Aretha Franklin sing “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”

How Do You Keep The Music Playing (from Duets II: The Great Performances)

Tony Bennett performing "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" with Aretha Franklin from Duets II: The Great Perfromances Listen to Tony Bennett: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/listenYD Subscribe to the official Tony Bennett YouTube channel: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/subscribeYD Follow Tony Bennett: Facebook: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followFI Instagram: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followII Twitter: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followTI Website: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followWI Spotify: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followSI YouTube: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/subscribeYD Chorus: Forever If we can be the best of lovers Yet be the best of friends #TonyBennett #ArethaFranklin #HowDoYouKeepTheMusicPlaying #DuetsII

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Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Saturday, May 13, 2015 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, we’re featuring Mr. Bennett’s first recording of “Body and Soul,” recorded in 1989 for his autobiographical album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, released in 1990. The arrangement is by Jorge Calandrelli.

Body and Soul

Listen to Body and Soul on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1990


“Body and Soul,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available from iTunes.

About Today

It’s YouTube Saturday. This Saturday, I’m happy to present the video of the recording of “Body and Soul” with Amy Winehouse, recorded in 2011 for Duets II. This was her last recording; she passed away a few months later from alcohol poisoning. This recording won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance; the album Duets II won the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

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

The song of the day for Monday, February 13, 2017 is “On The Sunny Side Of The Street.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “On The Sunny Side Of The Street” was written in 1930 by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields for Lew Leslie’s International Revue. The song was one of the first in a series of cheerful songs to try to cheer people up over the Great Depression. It has proven popular with singers, who love the wonderful Fields lyrics, and jazz players, who love McHugh’s swingy tune.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson recorded “On The Sunny Side Of The Street” in 2011 for Duets II. It was arranged and conducted by our musical collaborator of the month, Marion Evans.

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes to congratulate Willie Nelson, who won the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for his album Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin.

On The Sunny Side Of The Street

Listen to On The Sunny Side Of The Street on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Willie Nelson · 2011


“On The Sunny Side Of The Street,” as well as Duets II, is available from iTunes.

And we have a video as well. Because, well, who can resist Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson? I know I can’t.

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Song of the Day: The Lady Is A Tramp

The song of the day for Thursday, February 2, 2017 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, among many others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “The Lady Is A Tramp” in 2011 for Bennett’s album Duets II. The arrangement is by Marion Evans, who we are honoring this month.

I still remember the first time I heard this recording. While at the office, I’d gotten a notice that Amazon had delivered Duets II to my doorstep. I rushed home and couldn’t wait to listen. I put the CD in the stereo and the first thing I heard was that great brassy introduction to “The Lady Is A Tramp,” followed by fantastic singing from Tony Bennet and Lady Gaga. It was love at first listen.

The Lady is a Tramp

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


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

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