The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Let’s Face The Music And Dance

The song of the day for Monday, August 31, 2020, is “Let’s Face The Music And Dance.”

About This Song

“Let’s Face the Music and Dance” was written in 1936 for the film Follow the Fleet with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The Astaire – Rogers dance to this song is considered one of their best. It has also been recorded by singers including Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Let’s Face The Music And Dance” for his 1987 album Bennett/Berlin. Bennett arranged the song for this album.

“Let’s Face The Music And Dance,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from Apple Music.

Of course I’m including the video of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers from Follow The Fleet. I’m not some kind of monster.

Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers: Let"s Face the Music and Dance

From "Follow the Fleet" (1936)

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Song of the Day: Let’s Face The Music and Dance

The song of the day for Sunday, October 26, 2014 is “Let’s Face The Music And Dance.”

About This Song

“Let’s Face the Music and Dance” was written by Irving Berlin in 1936 for the film Follow the Fleet, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The Astaire – Rogers dance to this song is considered one of their best. It has also been recorded by singers including Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Let’s Face The Music And Dance” is Bennett’s newest: his duet with Lady Gaga from their new album Cheek To Cheek. The great arrangement is by the very great Marion Evans.

Let"s Face The Music And Dance

Listen to Let"s Face The Music And Dance on Spotify. Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · Song · 2014.

“Let’s Face The Music And Dance,” as well as the album Cheek To Cheek is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Let’s Face The Music and Dance

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 22, 2013 is “Let’s Face The Music and Dance.”

About This Song

Irving Berlin wrote “Let’s Face The Music and Dance” in 1936 for the movie Follow The Fleet, where was introduced by Fred Astaire. It’s one of Berlin’s most popular songs and has been recorded many times by artists including Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, Barbara Cook, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Tony Bennett’s wonderful 1957 jazz album The Beat of My Heart. For this album, Bennett chose the finest percussionists in the world for the songs on the album, including Art Blakey, Sabu, Jo Jones, Chico Hamilton and Candido Camera. This was also his first album with Ralph Sharon and Ralph Sharon Trio, with whom he would work for many years.

Candido-Camero-660x320

Candido Camera is why we chose this song today, as today is his 92nd birthday. Candido was born in Cuba on October 22, 1912. He is one the world’s preeminent conga drum players. He played on several songs on this album; he also appeared with Mr. Bennett in his 1962 Carnegie Hall concert and he and Bennett turned in an exceptional performance of “De Glory Road.”

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes Candido a very happy birthday and best wishes for many more.

http://open.spotify.com/track/5B9bcn6bpoAWbLnyQrlVvw
“Let’s Face The Music and Dance,” as well as the album The Beat of My Heart, is available from iTunes and Amazon.

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Song of the Day: Let Yourself Go

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 24, 2013 is Let Yourself Go.

About This Song

Let Yourself Go was written by Irving Berlin for the 1936 movie Follow The Fleet, where it was introduced by Ginger Rogers.

About This Version

Today’s song is from Tony Bennett’s 1987 album, Bennett/Berlin. In addition to the great work by the Ralph Sharon Trio (with Paul Langosch on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums), this album also features appearances by Dizzy Gillespie and Dexter Gordon. Tony Bennett arranged the album and the whole thing swings, especially this song. Just Let Yourself Go!

http://open.spotify.com/track/0HA5lQVQARqURymS5GEzWt
Let Yourself Go, as well as the full Bennett/Berlin album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Let’s Face The Music and Dance

The song of the day for Saturday, April 13, 2013 is Let’s Face The Music and Dance.

About This Song

This Irving Berlin song was written in 1936 for the Fred Astaire – Ginger Rogers movie Follow The Fleet.

About This Version

Today’s version of Let’s Face the Music and Dance is from Tony Bennett’s 1957 album The Beat of My Heart. This version, arranged by Ralph Sharon, features Candido, Sabu and Billy Exiner on percussion and drums.

http://open.spotify.com/track/5B9bcn6bpoAWbLnyQrlVvw
Let’s Face The Music and Dance, as well as the full The Beat of My Heart album, is available from iTunes.

And thanks to YouTube, here’s the famous scene from Follow The Fleet:

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