The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Maybe This Time

The song of the day for Friday, April 25, 2014 is “Maybe This Time.”

About This Song

“Maybe This Time” was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb. It appeared in the film version of Cabaret. It was not written for the original Broadway production. Nor was it written especially for the film version; Kander and Ebb had written the song in 1963 for Kaye Ballard. It was therefore not eligible for consideration for an Academy Award. The song is, of course, widely associated with Liza Minnelli, who sang it in the film version of Cabaret.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Maybe This Time” is from Bennett’s 1995 album Here’s To The Ladies. He also recorded it in 1972 for With Love. Mr. Bennett sings this song regularly in his live concerts and it has stopped the show at every concert I’ve attended.

http://open.spotify.com/track/5fAPRVP8nsyXFYvRIuzZJ3
“Maybe This Time,” as well as the album Here’s To The Ladies, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Maybe This Time

The song of the day for Thursday, May 16, 2013 is Maybe This Time.

About This Song

Maybe This Time was written for the 1972 film version of Cabaret, which starred Liza Minelli and Joel Grey, did not appear in the original Broadway production. Written by John Kander and Fred Ebb, the song had been written earlier for Kaye Ballard, though I’ve been unable to track down any information that she ever recorded it.

The song became closely identified with Liza Minelli, but many other singers have recorded it as well, including Frank Sinatra, Connie Francis, Steve Lawrence and Englebert Humperdink. It was also featured on the television program Glee.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version in 1972 for With Love; it was his first recording of this song. He recorded it again in 1995 for Here’s To The Ladies. Today’s version was arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon.

Mr. Bennett sings this song at nearly all of his concerts (to my great delight) and he and Lee Musiker have come up with a terrific and powerful show-stopper with their current version of Maybe This Time. If you have access to Bennett’s 2010 iTunes Festival in London EP (see one of my very first posts on this blog: The Best $5.99 You’ll Ever Spend) you can hear what a great number it is. That said, today’s version, sincere and straightforward and very touching, has many charms and I love this recording very much.

This song has become somewhat of an anthem for me. I never tire of hearing it. Especially when it’s sung by Tony Bennett.

http://open.spotify.com/track/626CWE7ZgdKZZuwOVDyqFr
Maybe This Time, as well as the remastered With Love album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Maybe This Time

The Song of the Day for September 12, 2012 is Maybe This Time.

About Maybe This Time

Maybe This Time was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb. The song was used in the film version of their musical Cabaret, but not in the original stage production. It is said that the song was written by Kaye Ballard and that she first recorded Maybe This Time, though The Year of Tony Bennett cannot find any documentation of when she recorded it for the first time. However, her website does have a link to play a snippet from her current 4-CD set. The song is widely associated with Liza Minnelli, who sings it regularly.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded Maybe This Time in 1995 for his album to Here’s To The Ladies. Mr. Bennett has performed this song at every concert of his I’ve ever attended, and I dearly hope he continues to include it in his concert set lists. It’s a wonderful song and I, personally, will never tire of hearing him sing it to a live audience. Mr. Bennett, with the current quartet, performed this song at the iTunes Festival in London 2010, which is available on iTunes and is a great, if short, live set. And is the best $5.99 you can spend if you like Tony Bennett. Everyone at the Year of Tony Bennett recommends this iTunes concert.

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July 19 2012

Maybe This Time

The Song of the Day is from the musical Cabaret and was written by John Kander (music) and Fred Ebb (lyrics). Tony’s first recording was on Here’s To The Ladies in 1995  and was compiled on the fifth CD of Fifty Years of Tony Bennett. Tony has sung this song at every concert of his I’ve attended. My favorite version of this song is from the London 2010 iTunes festival and can be purchased from iTunes. I’ve written about this live set already in The Best $5.99 You’ll Ever Spend.

For today, we have a live version done for the annual Bridge Schools Benefit Concert in 2011. Enjoy!

 

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