The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Tony Live! Once Upon a Time

The song of the day for Saturday, May 24, 2020, is “Once Upon a Time.”

About This Song

“Once Upon a Time” was written by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams for the 1962 Ray Bolger musical All American, where it was introduced by Bolger and Eileen Herlie. While the musical was not a major smash hit, the song is quite lovely. In addition to Tony Bennett’s fine recordings, it was also recorded by Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Howard Keel, Bobby Darrin, and Mandy Patinkin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Once Upon a Time” in 1964 at his appearance at The Sahara in Las Vegas. Recorded by the great Frank Laico, the set (including a comedy break with Milton Berle and Don Rickles), was released in 2011 on CD as Live at The Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964.

“Once Upon a Time,” as well as Live at The Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964, is available from iTunes.

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Tony Live! This Could Be the Start of Something Big

The song of the day for Saturday, March 21, 2020, is “This Could Be the Start of Something Big.”

About This Song

“This Could Be the Start of Something Big” was written in 1956 by multi-talented Steve Allen. Allen was the first host of The Tonight Show in 1953. He was also an accomplished pianist and singer and, as evidenced by this song, a fine composer as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “This Could Be the Start of Something Big” on April 6, 1964, at The Sahara Hotel in the Congo Room. Frank Laico recorded the show, which was finally released in 2011 as part of the Complete Collection box set as Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas 1964.

“This Could Be the Start of Something Big,” as well as Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas 1964, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Bewitched

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 17, 2019, is “Bewitched.”

About Today

Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett’s long-term pianist and musical director, was born on September 17, 1923, in London. Sharon first started working with Tony Bennett in 1957 and, after a hiatus in the late 1960s and 1970s, rejoined Bennett, touring and recording until his retirement in 2001. Ralph Sharon passed away on March 31, 2015. Tony remembered him in his book Just Getting Started:

I’m still inspired and guided by what Ralph told me so many years ago, in so many words: keep growing, and believe in what you do. I lost a real brother when Ralph passed away in 2015. I hope to keep going for a while. But it’s nice to know that when my time comes, Ralph and I will accompany each other.

About This Song

“Bewitched,” which often goes by its “full” name “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered,” was written in 1940 by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the Broadway musical Pal Joey. Notable recordings are by Benny Goodman, Mel Tormé, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. Alec Wilder admired the lyric and the verse, but found the song “notey.” In spite of being notey, it’s a cornerstone of the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon recorded “Bewitched” on October 29, 1959. Bennett describes that day in Getting Started:

We booked time at the studio and pored through music books, trying one tune after another. The arrangements were spontaneous, and we finished each song in one or two takes. In one afternoon we laid down sixteen tunes—which must be some kind of record—twelve of which made is onto the album, which became 1961’s Tony Sings For Two. Mitch Miller showed up at the start of these sessions, furious that I was really going through with it. When he saw that there was no dissuading me, he turned to Frank Laico and said, “I’m leaving. I can’t support this.” Tony Sings For Two turned out to be one of my finest records ever.

Tony Sings For Two wasn’t released until 1961. It’s a remarkable album created by two remarkable artists.

“Bewitched,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

As a postscript, I will also note the search term used by an anonymous reader who found information about this song on this blog by typing “bewiced bwildered”. Other related search terms include “how to play like Ralph Sharon” and my favorite of all “i just want to hear tony bennett and nobody else right now”.

I think if I were ever tempted to write an essay or book about my experience with The Year of Tony Bennett, I would have to name it I Just Want to Hear Tony Bennett and Nobdy Else Right Now.

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Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Monday, June 10, 2019 is “The Man That Got Away.”

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away” by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin, was written for Judy Garland for the 1954 version of A Star Is Born, with James Mason. Her performance of the song is legendary in film history, with 27 takes in three days, three separate sessions, and two different directors. The filmed scene is brilliant and made the song a huge hit for Garland, who sang it in most of her concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon recorded “The Man That Got Away” on October 28, 1959, released in 1961 on the album Tony Sings For Two. It was a remarkable session, as Bennett relates in his autobiography, The Good Life:

We booked time in the studio and pored through music books, trying one tune after another. The arrangements were spontaneous, and we finished each song in one or two takes. In one afternoon we laid down sixteen tunes–which must be some kind of record–twelve of which made it onto the album, which became 1961’s Tony Sings For Two. Mitch Miller showed up at the start of these sessions, furious that I was really going through with it. When he saw there no dissuading me, he turned to Frank Laico and said, “I’m leaving. I can’t support this.” Tony Sings For Two turned out to be one of my finest records ever.

The Man That Got Away – Remastered

The Man That Got Away – Remastered, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today marks the anniversary of the birth of Judy Garland, born as Frances Ethel Gumm in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, on June 10, 1922. In her short life of just 47 years, she left us with a body of work that will never be forgotten. Her performance in 1954’s A Star Is Born was legendary, as shown in this clip of her singing “The Man That Got Away.”

The Man That Got Away – A Star Is Born (1954)

Of course this is the original version that was written for Judy by Harold Arlen for the film A Star Is Born in 1954. Judy Garland is 32 years old here.

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall

Fifty-seven years ago, on June 9, 1962, one of the greatest achievements in Tony Bennett’s career took place: his appearance at Carnegie Hall. Tony Bennett relates in his 1998 autobiography The Good Life:

When “San Francisco” was peaking in early 1962, I was invited to appear at Carnegie Hall for the first time. Carnegie Hall had never featured a “pop” singer like myself as solo performer. To my surprise, Columbia backed me completely. Goddard said. “You’ve got to play Carnegie Hall, and we’d love to make a record out of the concert.”

I wanted everything to be right. I called my old army buddy Arthur Penn and asked him to help me stage the show. He very graciously agreed, even though he’d just directed his Oscar-winning file The Miracle Worker and wasn’t exactly staging shows anymore. He brought in Gene Saks, the famous Broadway director, and together the three of use worked out exactly what would be done at Carnegie Hall. Gene Saks gave the whole theater a truly spiritual look with his elegant, understated lighting. Carnegie Hall never looked better.

…

I put everything I’d been studying for the last twenty years into practice for that show.

…

The concert was held on June 9, 1962. Backstage I had a healthy case of the butterflies and reflected on Sinatra’s advice about the jitters. From the minute I hit the stage all the nervousness disappeared, and I knew I was going to nail it. I’m proud to say that the concert was an absolute triumph.

…

Columbia was able to get Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall released by the end of August. We got the greatest sound on our album, better than any other album I’d recorded. Frank Laico did a terrific job, not only recording the music, but beautifully capturing the enthusiasm of the crowd.

Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall – The Complete Concert

Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall – The Complete Concert, an album by Tony Bennett on Spotify

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