The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Darn That Dream

The song of the day for Monday, Decembe3er 30, 2019, is “Darn That Dream.”

About This Song

“Darn That Dream” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Eddie DeLange for the 1939 musical Swingin’ the Dream, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream. The cast had many big names: Louis Armstrong playing Bottom, Maxine Sullivan as Titania, Bill Bailey, and Dorothy Dandridge. It only ran for 13 performances and is considered to be a flop. Fortunately, “Darn That Dream” proved to be a big hit and earned some money for the investors.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Darn That Dream” in 1954 for his first full-length LP, Cloud 7, released in 1955.

“Darn That Dream,” as well as Cloud 7, is available from iTunes.

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Likes a Jimmy Van Heusen Song

The playlist for the week of October 6, 2019, is Tony Likes a Jimmy Van Heusen Song.

Jimmy Van Heusen was one of the great songwriters in mid-20th-century popular film music. He wrote many songs that are well-known and popular to this day. He is also the person who wrote the song that was my absolute favorite song when I was five years old: “Swinging on a Star.” I was told, as an adult, that I drove my parents crazy by constantly singing, loudly, phrases from this song. “Or would you rather be a pig?” Or a mule or a fish. Well, you get the idea.

Swinging on a Star. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From The Playground.
Darn That Dream. Lyrics by Eddie DeLange. From Cloud 7.
The Second Time Around. Lyrics by Sammy Cahn. From The Movie Song Album.
Call Me Irresponsible. Lyrics by Sammy Cahn. From Perfectly Frank.
Here’s That Rainy Day. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From Perfectly Frank.
Nancy. Lyrics by Phil Silvers. From Perfectly Frank.
But Beautiful. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.
What Makes It Happen. Lyrics by Sammy Cahn. From Tony Makes It Happen!
All My Tomorrows. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From Perfectly Frank.
I Thought About You. Lyrics by Johnny Mercer. From Perfectly Frank.
It Could Happen To You. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From When Lights Are Low.
Oh! You Crazy Moon. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From When Lights Are Low.

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Song of the Day: Solitude

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 27, 2019, is “Solitude.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Solitude” in 1934. As usual with Ellington songs, lyrics by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills were added later. One of his masterpieces, Ellington is said to have written “Solitude” in twenty minutes at the recording session, as they were one number short (Ted Gioia in Jazz Standards). It’s a very 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 performed “Solitude” in the second act of his legendary performance at Carnegie Hall, captured on the album 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: Solitude

The song of the day for Thursday, March 7, 2019, is “Solitude.”

About This Song

Written in 1934, Duke Ellington is said to have written “Solitude” in twenty minutes at the recording session, as they were one number short (Ted Gioia in Jazz Standards). It’s a very 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. The lyrics by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills were added later.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Solitude” at his legendary 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall. The album Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall captures this concert beautifully. Ralph Sharon arranged and conducted the entire concert. By the way, I do not use the word legendary lightly.

Solitude – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962

Solitude – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962, a song by Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra on Spotify

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

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Song of the Day: Darn That Dream

The song of the day for Monday, June 25, 2018 is “Darn That Dream.”

About This Song

“Darn That Dream” was written for the 1939 musical Swingin’ the Dream, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream, with a score by Jimmy Van Heusen and Eddie DeLange. The cast had many big names: Louis Armstrong playing Bottom, Maxine Sullivan as Titania, Bill Bailey and Dorothy Dandridge. It only ran for 13 performances and is considered to be a flop. Fortunately, “Darn That Dream” proved to be a big hit and earned some money for the investors.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Darn That Dream” in 1954 for the album Cloud 7, released in 1955. Cloud 7 was Bennett’s first full-length album. Even more important, it was the album that he wanted to make–an all jazz album with a superb band.

Darn That Dream

Darn That Dream, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“Darn That Dream,” as well as Cloud 7, is available from iTunes.

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