The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Steppin’ Out With My Baby

The song of the day for Sunday, January 26, 2014 is “Steppin’ Out With My Baby.”

About This Song

“Steppin’ Out With My Baby” was written by Irving Berlin for the 1948 movie Easter Parade, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. The song has been widely recorded by many jazz and popular singers, though today it is strongly associated with Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” is from Tony Bennett’s 1994 MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett album, as presented live on MTV. On this album, Bennett is accompanied by the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Doug Richeson on bass and Clayton Cameron on drums. Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon did all of the arrangements for the album.

MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett not only won Tony Bennett the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, but took the coveted Album of the Year Grammy award.

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes Mr. Bennett the very best of luck at tonight’s Grammy Awards, where Viva Duets is nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

http://open.spotify.com/track/0m8gkoSVEsZFNa6n3zBPhl
“Steppin’ Out With My Baby,” as well as the MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: They Can’t Take That Away From Me

The song of the day for Friday, September 13, 2013 is “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”

About This Song

Today’s song is, of course, by George and Iran Gershwin. It was written for the 1937 film Shall We Dance, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. Gershwin died from a brain tumor soon after the film was released. He left a body of work that would be the envy of any composer, though he was only 39 years old when he died.

About This Version

Today’s version of “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” is from Tony Bennett’s 1993 album Steppin’ Out. I enjoy this version for many reasons, the least of which is that he sings the verse, which is seldom heard. Actually, one of the many reasons I love Tony Bennett’s singing is because he does sing the verse so often.

http://open.spotify.com/track/0O6zqUCiOz7ocTC8DbseXh
“They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” as well as the album Steppin’ Out, is available from iTunes and Amazon.com.

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Song of the Day: By Myself

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 7, 2013, is By Myself.

About This Song

Written by the team of Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwarz, By Myself was written for the 1937 musical Between The Devil, where it was introduced by Jack Buchanan. The song proved more popular than the production, with recordings by Eileen Farrell, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald and even Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Tony Bennett’s delightful tribute to Fred Astaire, Steppin’ Out. The arrangement is very effective, with just Bennett and Cameron with his famous brushes, as befits a song that ends with “by myself, alone.”

Fred Astaire sung this song in the film Band Wagon.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1mDaRJufal4j8Hgg7PFb6d
By Myself, as well as the full Steppin’ Out album, is available from iTunes.

Here’s a bit of Fred Astaire from Band Wagon, singing By Myself:

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Song of the Day: Night and Day

The song of the day for Thursday, December 12, 2012 is Night and Day.

About Night and Day

Night and Day was written by Cole Porter for the 1932 musical Gay Divorce. The song was introduced by Fred Astaire on stage; he later sung the song in the 1934 film version, The Gay Divorcee. The  song has been heavily recorded over the years by prominent jazz and popular artists.

Frank Sinatra recorded the song at least five times, starting in 1942.  Frank Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915; we choose this song today in tribute to his birthday.

About This Version

Today’ version of Night and Day is from Tony Bennett’s 1992 album, Perfectly Frank. The album, naturally, contains songs that were sung by Frank Sinatra. But this is no cover album, the interpretations are pure Tony Bennett. It’s a fine album and The Year of Tony Bennett recommends it highly.

Perfectly Frank was arranged and conducted by the noted Canadian-born composer-arranger-conductor-trumpet player Robert Farnon and features the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Mr. Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

Night and Day, as well as full album Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: They Can’t Take That Away From Me

The Song of the Day for Monday, November 12, 2012 is They Can’t Take That Away From Me.

About They Can’t Take Away From Me

Written by George and Ira Gershwin, They Can’t Take That Away From Me was written for the 1937 film Shall We Dance, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It was introduced by Fred Astaire in the film.  It’s been recorded by many artists, including Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall and many others.

About This Version

This version originally appeared on Mr. Bennett’s tribute album to Fred Astaire, Steppin’ Out, released in 1993. All of the songs on this album were arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon. The album featured the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Doug Richeson (b) and Clayton Cameron (d).  This version was included on Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett.