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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

September 13, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Monday, September 14, 2020, is “Body and Soul.”

About Today

We are remembering the late Amy Winehouse, who was born on September 14, 1983, and died on July 23, 2011, at the age of 27. Her duet with Tony Bennett of “Body and Soul” was her last recording.

About This Song

“Body and Soul” was written in 1930 by Johnny Green, with lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, and Frank Eyton. Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, says that ‘Body and Soul’ “is the granddaddy of jazz ballads, the quintessential torch song, and the ultimate measuring rod for tenor sax players of all generations. Even in the new millennium, this 1930 composition continues to serve as the cornerstone of the repertoire.” Louis Armstrong recorded the song first, followed in the 1930s by recordings from primarily white society bands, such as those led by Paul Whiteman. That said, some early recordings by jazz artists including Benny Goodman and especially Art Tatum started to cement this song as a serious jazz standard (in fact, it’s rated #1 on the jazzstandards.com website). However, the Coleman Hawkins recording from 1939 is widely acknowledged to have made the song a true jazz standard. The Hawkins recording was followed by great jazz recordings by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Art Pepper, Dave Brubeck, and many more. Fine vocal recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse recorded “Body and Soul” in March 2011 for the album Duets II. The album won the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album. This recording of “Body and Soul” won the 2012 Grammy Award for best Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

“Body and Soul,” as well as Duets II, is available from Apple Music.

Here is the video made of their recording session.

Tony Bennett, Amy Winehouse - Body and Soul (from Duets II: The Great Performances)

Tony Bennett performing Body and Soul with Amy Winehouse from Duets II: The Great PerformancesListen to Tony Bennett: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/listenYDSubs...

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: 2012 Grammy Awards, Amy Winehouse, Duets II, Edward Heyman, Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Robert Sour

September 13, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Saturday, September 14, 2019, is “Body and Soul.”

About Today

The late Amy Jade Winehouse was born on September 14, 1983. She died on July 23, 2011, from alcohol poisoning. Her family set up the Amy Winehouse Foundation to help young people combat addiction to drugs and alcohol.

About This Song

“Body and Soul” was written in 1930, with music by Johnny Green and lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, and Frank Eyton.

Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, says that “Body and Soul” “is the granddaddy of jazz ballads, the quintessential torch song, and the ultimate measuring rod for tenor sax players of all generations. Even in the new millennium, this 1930 composition continues to serve as the cornerstone of the repertoire.” Louis Armstrong recorded the song first, followed in the 1930s by recordings from primarily white society bands, such as those led by Paul Whiteman.

That said, some early recordings by jazz artists including Benny Goodman and especially Art Tatum started to cement this song as a serious jazz standard (in fact, it’s rated #1 on the jazzstandards.com website). However, the Coleman Hawkins recording from 1939 is widely acknowledged to have made the song a true jazz standard. The Hawkins recording was followed by great jazz recordings by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Art Pepper, Dave Brubeck and many more. Fine vocal recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse recorded “Body and Soul” in March 2011 for the album Duets II. It was her last recording. Not only did Duets II win the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album, Bennett and Winehouse won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo or Group Performance.

“Body and Soul,” as well as Duets II, is available from iTunes.

This video was made during the recording session in London for “Body and Soul”

Tony Bennett, Amy Winehouse - Body and Soul (from Duets II: The Great Performances)

Tony Bennett performing Body and Soul with Amy Winehouse from Duets II: The Great PerformancesListen to Tony Bennett: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/listenYDSubs...

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Amy Winehouse, Amy Winehouse birthday, Duets II, Edward Heyman, Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Robert Sour, The Amy Winehouse Foundation, Tony Bennett

March 29, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Saturday, March 30, 2019, is “Body and Soul.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Body and Soul,” was composed in 1930 by Johnny Green, with lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, and Frank Eyton.

Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, says that Body and Soul “is the granddaddy of jazz ballads, the quintessential torch song, and the ultimate measuring rod for tenor sax players of all generations. Even in the new millennium, this 1930 composition continues to serve as the cornerstone of the repertoire.” Louis Armstrong recorded the song first, followed in the 1930s by recordings from primarily white society bands, such as those led by Paul Whiteman.

That said, some early recordings by jazz artists including Benny Goodman and especially Art Tatum started to cement this song as a serious jazz standard (in fact, it’s rated #1 on the jazzstandards.com website). However, the Coleman Hawkins recording from 1939 is widely acknowledged to have made the song a true jazz standard. The Hawkins recording was followed by great jazz recordings by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Art Pepper, Dave Brubeck and many more. Fine vocal recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded today’s version of “Body and Soul” in 1989 for his autobiographical album Astoria: Portrait Of The Artist, released in 1990. Jorge Calendrelli did the arrangement.

Body and Soul

Body and Soul, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Body and Soul,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Our video today is the filming of the recording session with Tony and Amy Winehouse of “Body and Soul” for Duets II. Made in March 2011, it was her last recording. She died from an alcohol overdose in July 2011.

The recording won the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Tony Bennett, Amy Winehouse – Body and Soul (from Duets II: The Great Performances)

Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse’s official music video for ‘Body and Soul’. Click to listen to Tony Bennett on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/TonyBennettSpotify?IQid=TonyBBAS As featured on Duets II.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Amy Winehouse, Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, Duets II, Edward Heyman, Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Jorge Calendrelli, Robert Sour, Tony Bennett

April 20, 2018 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Saturday, April 21, 2018 is “Body and Soul.”

About This Song

“Body and Soul” was written in 1930 by Johnny Green, with lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour and Frank Eyton.

Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, says that Body and Soul “is the granddaddy of jazz ballads, the quintessential torch song, and the ultimate measuring rod for tenor sax players of all generations. Even in the new millennium, this 1930 composition continues to serve as the cornerstone of the repertoire.” Louis Armstrong recorded the song first, followed in the 1930s by recordings from primarily white society bands, such as those led by Paul Whiteman. That said, some early recordings by jazz artists including Benny Goodman and especially Art Tatum started to cement this song as a serious jazz standard (in fact, it’s rated #1 on the jazzstandards.com website). However, the Coleman Hawkins recording from 1939 is widely acknowledged to have made the song a true jazz standard. The Hawkins recording was followed by great jazz recordings by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Art Pepper, Dave Brubeck and many more. Fine vocal recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Billy Eckstine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Body and Soul” on his remarkable live performance in 1994 on the series MTV Unplugged. The album of the performance, MTV Unplugged, not only won 1995 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance but also the coveted Album of the Year.

Body and Soul - Live at Sony Studios, New York City, NY - April 1994

Listen to Body and Soul - Live at Sony Studios, New York City, NY - April 1994 on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1994.


“Body and Soul,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Our video today features the recording of Tony and Amy Winehouse recording “Body and Soul” in 2014 for Duets II, which was the last recording Amy Winehouse made.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Amy Winehouse, Duets II, Edward Heyman, Frank Eyton, MTV Unplugged, Robert Sour, Tony Bennett

September 28, 2017 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Friday, September 29, 2017 is “Body and Soul.”

About This Song

“Body and Soul” was written in 1930, with music by Johnny Green and lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour and Frank Eyton.

Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, says that Body and Soul “is the granddaddy of jazz ballads, the quintessential torch song, and the ultimate measuring rod for tenor sax players of all generations. Even in the new millennium, this 1930 composition continues to serve as the cornerstone of the repertoire.” Louis Armstrong recorded the song first, followed in the 1930s by recordings from primarily white society bands, such as those led by Paul Whiteman. That said, some early recordings by jazz artists including Benny Goodman and especially Art Tatum started to cement this song as a serious jazz standard. However, the Coleman Hawkins recording from 1939 is widely acknowledged to have made the song a true jazz standard. The Hawkins recording was followed by great jazz recordings by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Art Pepper, Dave Brubeck and many more. Fine vocal recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

I know that I feature this song fairly often, but I feel that I owe you all an apology. I almost always play either the version from Astoria: Portrait of the Artist or the duet version with Amy Winehouse from Duets II. I realised just now that I’ve ignored this exquisite recording of “Body and Soul” from the 1994 MTV Unplugged performance. It’s a gorgeous arrangement by Ralph Sharon and features bassist Doug Richeson.

Body and Soul - Live at Sony Studios, New York City, NY - April 1994

Listen to Body and Soul - Live at Sony Studios, New York City, NY - April 1994 on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1994.


“Body and Soul,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Doug Richeson, Edward Heyman, Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, MTV Unplugged, Ralph Sharon, Robert Sour, Tony Bennett

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