The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)

The song of the day for Sunday, April 3, 2022, is “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good).”

About This Song

“She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” was written in 1941 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. This song’s actual title is “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good). It was written for Ivie Anderson, who sang it in a revue called Jump For Joy. Anderson also recorded the song in 1941 with saxophonist Johnny Hodges which was well-received. The song has been widely recorded.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” in 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good),” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ivie Anderson original version with Ellington.

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Song of the Day: Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me

The song of the day for Saturday, March 5, 2022, is “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me.”

About This Song

“Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me” was written by Duke Ellington and Bob Russell in 1940. As with most Ellington songs, the tune was written first and the lyrics added later. Also, as with most Ellington songs, it became a favorite song of both instrumental and vocal musicians. Ellington recorded the song in 1944 and it was a hit on both the R&B and Popular charts. Other recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis, Jr., Anita O’Day, and Nina Simone.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me” in 1999 for his tribute to Duke Ellington: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ellington’s 1944 recording of today’s song:

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Song of the Day: Day Dream

The song of the day for Thursday, March 3, 2022, is “Day Dream.”

About This Song

“Day Dream” was written in 1941 by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, with lyrics by John LaTouche. Acknowledged to have been written solely by Strayhorn, “Day Dream” is a lovely song with a strong Strayhorn touch, enhanced by the thoughtful lyrics by John LaTouche. The first recording was in 1941 and featured Johnny Hodges on saxophone and Billy Strayhorn on piano. Other notable recordings include this one by Tony Bennett, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Day Dream” in 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Day Dream,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: It Don’t Mean a Thing

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 2, 2022, is “It Don’t Mean a Thing”

About This Song

“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing” was written in 1931 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills. This song was one of the first songs to use the word “swing” in the title and this song certainly defined what it meant to swing. Ellington recorded the song with Ivie Anderson on vocals and it was an immediate hit. It has been widely recorded since it was written and the song is a lot of fun to play and to listen to. Significant recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Gigi Gryce, Tony Bennett, and Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “It Don’t Mean a Thing” for their 2014 album Cheek To Cheek. Marion Evans wrote the very fine arrangement.

“It Don’t Mean a Thing,” as well as Cheek To Cheek is available on Apple Music.

We’ve also got the Ivie Anderson vocal with Duke Ellington. It’s hot and it swings!

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 17, 2022, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

“Mood Indigo” was written in 1930 by Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard, and Irving Mills. Originally titled “Dreamy Blues,” Ellington wrote this song, which is based on a theme by Barney Bigard, who is said to have learned it from his New Orleans clarinet teacher, Lorenzo Tio. Ellington wrote the song specifically for “microphone transmission” and it was first played on a 1930 radio broadcast. Audiences loved the song, and so Irving Mills wrote the lyric, changing the name of the song to “Mood Indigo.” The song has been widely recorded by instrumental and vocal artists, including Tony Bennett, Charles Mingus, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Mood Indigo” in 1999 for the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The album, a tribute to Duke Ellington, was released in 1999, one hundred years after Ellington was born. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Mood Indigo,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool is available on Apple Music.

I found this 1931 version of “Mood Indigo” with Ellington and The Cotton Club Orchestra:

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