The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Day Dream

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 6, 2014 is “Day Dream.”

About This Song

“Day Dream” was written in 1941 by Billy Strayhorn with Duke Ellington, with lyrics by John La Touche. The first recording was with Ellington saxophonist Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn on piano. Ellington recorded it several times, including his 1968 tribute album to Strayhorn, And His Mother Called Him Bill (if you can keep from crying while Ellington plays “Lotus Blossom” all by himself for his late friend, as the band is packing up, you must have nerves of steel), Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Jo Stafford. Tony Bennett recorded “Day Dream” in 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool.

About This Version

This version of “Day Dream” was recorded in May, 1964 with a superlative group of jazz musicians: Herbie Hancock on piano, Stan Getz on tenor sax, Ron Carter on bass and Elvin Jones on drums. There are six songs from this session on this Rarities collection and they are all worth your time. I’m just glad that they were finally released in 2011 with the complete collection and now available on iTunes for everyone.

http://open.spotify.com/track/66ZCFZIrtAWe2pa1RhicXX
“Day Dream,” as well as all of the treasures on Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Just Friends

The song of the day for Thursday, June 12, 2014 is “Just Friends.”

About This Song

“Just Friends” was written in 1931 by John Klenner (music) and Sam M. Lewis (lyrics). The first recording was in 1931 by Red McKenzie, but the song became popular in 1932 when Russ Columbo recorded it. Notable recordings throughout the years include those by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker and Charlie Parker. It ranks #85 on jazzstandards.org.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song, as well as several others, in 1964 with an extraordinary group of jazz musicians: Herbie Hancock (piano), Elvin Jones (drums), Ron Carter (bass) and Stan Getz (tenor saxophone). The results were fantastic.

http://open.spotify.com/track/0FKdZzcnDnHfHg0FyNkGCA
“Just Friends,” as well as all of the songs collected on Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Have You Met Miss Jones?

The song of the day for Monday, January 13, 2013 is “Have You Met Miss Jones?”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote “Have You Met Miss Jones?” for the 1937 musical I’d Rather Be Right. The song has stayed popular over the years, with recordings by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Joe Pass. Robbie Williams recorded it for the soundtrack of the movie Bridget Jones’s Diary.

About This Version

I pondered on and off all day about what song to use today. I thought that we were all past due for some Rodgers and Hart, but at the same time, I was in a mood for some jazz. And then I remembered the great series of songs on the Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1 that I first discovered a few years ago when I got Tony Bennett’s Complete Collection. Thankfully, these songs are now available on iTunes as well.

Today’s version of “Have You Met Miss Jones?” was recorded in October, 1964 with the stellar quartet of Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, Stan Getz on tenor sax and Elvin Jones on drums. Bennett and this quartet also recorded “Danny Boy,” “Day Dream,” “Out of This World” and “Just Friends” in the same time frame.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3uyrm6aXjeDHkLiRj3rYgl
“Have You Met Miss Jones?” as well as all of the songs collected on Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

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By Special Request: Danny Boy

I am more than happy to fulfill a special request by a very special friend to hear Tony Bennett’s exquisite recording of “Danny Boy.”

This song was her late father’s favorite song. If he were still alive, today would be his birthday.

Danny Boy

Tony Bennett · Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 · Song · 2012

The first time I heard this recording, I actually wept.

In 1964, Tony Bennett recorded several songs, including “Danny Boy,” in a session with Herbie Hancock on piano, Stan Getz on tenor sax, Ron Carter on bass and Elvin Jones on drums. All of the songs they recorded that are collected on Volume 1 of Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights are amazing. Really, really amazing.

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Song of the Day: Just Friends

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 18, 2013 is “Just Friends.”

About This Song

“Just Friends” was written in 1931 by John Klenner, with lyrics by Sam M. Lewis. The song was first recorded by Red MacKenzie and his Orchestra, but became popular when recorded by the singer Russ Columbo. It has become a jazz standard with recordings by Chet Baker, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

In 1964, Tony Bennett did a series of sessions with Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums). Today’s version of “Just Friends” is from one of these sessions.

http://open.spotify.com/track/0FKdZzcnDnHfHg0FyNkGCA
“Just Friends,” as well all of the songs on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.