The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Friday, May 29, 2020, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Mood Indigo” in 1930 and named it “Dreamy Blues”; the lyrics by Irving Mills were added later. The 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 lyrics, 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 May 1999 for the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, which was released in the 100th year anniversary of Ellington’s birth. The album won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Mood Indigo,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 18, 2020, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Mood Indigo” in 1930; the lyrics by Irving Mills were added later. 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 lyrics, 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, released on the centenary of Ellington’s birth in 1899. Jorge Calandrelli did the arrangement.

Bennett Sings Ellington Hot & Cool won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Mood Indigo,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Don’t Get Around Much Anymore

The song of the day for Monday, March 9, 2020, is “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.”

About This Song

“Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” was written in 1940 by Duke Ellington; the lyrics by Bob Russell followed later. Originally written as an instrumental, Ellington named the song “Never No Lament.” Bob Russell’s lyrics came in 1942 and the song’s title was changed to the current “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” The somewhat sad lyric of the jilted lover who would just rather stay home bumps up against the very cheerful tune.

About This Version

Tony Bennett’s first recording of “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” was made in 1967 for the album Tony Makes It Happen! The excellent arrangement was written by the very excellent Marion Evans.

“Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” as well as Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from iTunes.

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Tony Live! Solitude

The song of the day for Saturday, January 18, 2020, is “Solitude.”

About This Song

One of his masterpieces, Duke Ellington is said to have written “Solitude” in twenty minutes at the recording session, as they were one number short (Ted Gioia in The Jazz Standards). As customary many Ellington songs, the lyrics by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills were added later. It’s a strong song for both vocalists and instrumentalists. Ellington made over a hundred recordings of this song. Other great recordings include those by Paul Robeson, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Billy Eckstine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Solitude” at his concert at Carnegie Hall to open a selection of Ellington songs, all of which (amd much more) were released on Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall.

“Solitude,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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

The song of the day for Saturday, September 21, 2019, is “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me.”

About This Song

“Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me” was written by Duke Ellington in 1940. As with most Ellington songs, the tune was written first and the lyrics by Bob Russell were 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 Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The arrangement was written by Jorge Calandrelli.

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

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