The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Stormy Weather

The song of the day for Saturday, February 6, 2016 is “Stormy Weather.”

About This Song

“Stormy Weather” was written in 1933 by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the Cotton Club, where is was introduced by Ethel Waters. Lena Horne, who sang with Tony Bennett in the 1970s, recorded this song in 1943 and remains strongly associated with it. It has also been recorded by Kay Starr, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Stormy Weather” the duet sung by Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole on Bennett’s 2001 album Playin’ With My Friends. The vocal arrangement is by Rob Mathes.

Stormy Weather

Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole · Playin" With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues · Song · 2001


“Stormy Weather,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today would have been the 66th birthday of Natalie Cole. I am still somewhat in shock over her death last year and miss her voice–she was a wonderful singer. Happy birthday, Natalie.

It’s also video Saturday. Alas, no videos exist of Ethel Waters singing “Stormy Weather,” but there are recordings and before I offer up a video, I wanted to pay tribute to her 1933 recording of this song that she made famous.

Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin" All The Time) - 78rpm Version

Listen to Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin" All The Time) - 78rpm Version on Spotify. Song · Ethel Waters · 1925

And now … the incomparable Lena Horne from 1943. The featured dancer at the end is Katherine Dunham.

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Song of the Day: Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe

The song of the day for Saturday, January 24, 2015 is “Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe.”

About This Song

“Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe” was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the 1940 Broadway musical Cabin in the Sky, starring Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song was introduced by Ethel Waters, sung to her husband Joe, played by Dooley Wilson. The 1943 film version of Cabin in the Sky also featured Miss Waters with the role of Joe played by Eddie Anderson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe” on his legendary (well, legendary to me) album Tony Sings For Two. Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon went to the studio with a lot of sheet music and chose, arranged and recorded 19 songs at a single session! The results were an extraordinary album.

Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe

Listen to Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

About Today

And, once again, it’s Saturday and that means a video. Here’s Ethel Waters singing today’s song to Dooley Wilson, from the 1943 film Cabin In The Sky:

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Song of the Day: Taking a Chance on Love

The song of the day for Saturday, January 11, 2014 is “Taking a Chance on Love.”

About This Song

“Taking a Chance on Love” was written for the 1940 musical Cabin in the Sky by Vernon Duke, with lyrics by John La Touche and Ted Fetter. The song was introduced by the great Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song works well for both jazz singers and instrumentalists, with significant recordings by Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett, Judy Garland and Dizzy Gillespie.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded this song for his second album, Tony, released in 1957. However, I prefer this version from 1958 In Person! with Count Basie and His Orchestra. This version was also used on the 1962 album I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7eZGFUxQlMDkDPzJAuGYQm
“Taking a Chance on Love,” as well as the album In Person! with Count Basie and His Orchestra, is available from iTunes.

And as it’s YouTube Saturday, I have two videos for you.

The first is Tony Bennett singing today’s song:

And here is Miss Ethel Waters from Cabin in the Sky:

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Song of the Day: Taking A Chance On Love

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 23, 2013 is Taking A Chance On Love.

About This Song

Today we feature another song from Cabin In The Sky, Taking A Chance On Love. This song was written for the original 1940 Broadway production by Vernon Duke, with lyrics by John LaTouche and Ted Fetter.  Taking A Chance on Love has been a favorite of jazz and popular performers since it was written, including recordings by Dizzy Gillespie, Judy Garland, Peggy Lee, Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims, Jane Monheit and even Rod Stewart.

About This Version

I can’t get Cabin In The Sky out my mind and have found myself humming this song a lot since I watched the movie on Saturday. I felt like a Count Basie song for today and so here’s Taking A Chance on Love from In Person! Bennett and Basie really swing this version.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7eZGFUxQlMDkDPzJAuGYQm
Taking A Chance On Love, as well the full In Person! album, is available from iTunes.

And again the amazing Ethel Waters, singing our song of the day, with dancing by the amazing Bill Bailey. And you thought Michael Jackson invented the Moonwalk.

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Song of the Day: Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe

The song of the day for Sunday, April 21, 2013 is Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe.

About This Song

This song, written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, was included in the film version of Cabin In The Sky, starring Ethel Waters, Eddie Anderson and a very young and very lovely Lena Horne. The Broadway production of Cabin In The Sky opened in 1940 starring Miss Waters and Dooley Wilson, and had a spectacular score by Vernon Duke and John LaTouche, which included a Tony Bennett favorite Taking A Chance on Love.

The film version was released in 1943. In addition to the Duke-LaTouche score, additional songs were added, including the Arlen-Harburg masterpiece, Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe, which was nominated for an Academy award for the Best Original Song, losing to the Harry Warren-Mack Gordon song You’ll Never Know from Hello Frisco, Hello.  Arlen was nominated for two songs that year; the other was That Old Black Magic written with Johnny Mercer. Also nominated were songs by Cole Porter, Jule Styne, Jimmy McHugh and Arthur Schwartz. Pretty tough company. The film, directed by Vincent Minnelli (his first solo film directing credit), included a brief scene with Louis Armstrong as The Trumpeter (complete with little devil horns) and the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

About This Version

I had never seen this film until this weekend; I recorded it just to check it out (thanks Turner Classic Movies) and found it delightful. Great performances, Ethel Waters, and a production number by Busby Berkeley. What more do you want in a movie? It was pure joy and the music was wonderful. The full score is available from iTunes.

Tony Bennett recorded this song only once, to the best of my knowledge, for his 1962 album with Ralph Sharon, Tony Sings For Two.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2wkWjp5DhCqTkGuw2Fi9a0
Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe, as well as the remastered Tony Sings For Two album, is available from iTunes.

And here’s Ethel Waters singing our song of the day from the film Cabin in the Sky: