The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Girl I Love

The song of the day for Monday, July 1, 2013 is “The Girl I Love.”

About This Song

This song is, with a minor change in the current lyric, “The Man I Love,” written by George and Ira Gershwin in 1924. It was written and then cut from Lady Be Good, where it was originally “The Girl I Love.” It was also cut from their 1927 musical Strike Up the Band and the 1928 Rosalie. It may be the most famous and beloved song to be cut from a production.

About This Version

This beautiful recording is from one of Tony Bennett’s best album: Astoria: The Portrait of the Artist. In this album, Bennett chose a very special selection of songs that are a biography of his life upon returning home to Astoria from his service in World War II and working and striving to become the great singer he is today. It’s a very special journey that he takes us on with this album.

http://open.spotify.com/track/5AVGEmyWi87JKpahidXKgD
“The Girl I Love,” as well as the album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Fascinatin’ Rhythm

The song of the day for Thursday, December 27, 2012 is Fascinatin’ Rhythm, sung by some guy named Joe Bari; he’s got a great voice. 馃檪

Bennett, Tony, NYC, New York, 1950

About Fascinatin’ Rhythm

Fascinatin’ Rhythm is one of the great songs written by George and Ira Gershwin. It was written in 1924 and was introduced by Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire and Cliff Edwards in the Broadway musical Lady Be Good. The Astaires recorded the song in 1926, accompanied by George Gershwin himself.

About This Version

This version of Fascinatin’ Rhythm was recorded by Mr. Bennett, who was then going by the name Joe Bari, in spring 1949 for Leslie Records. The session was produced by George Simon and arranged and conducted by Marty Manning 聽(with whom Tony Bennett would work with again at Columbia) 聽and was recorded at the New York Decca studios. From this session, a two-sided 78 RPM disc was released. The other song was a novelty song by George Simon, Vieni Qui.

We are very pleased that most of Tony Bennett’s catalogue, including material like this 聽that was formerly only available in the 2011 The聽Complete Collection box set, is now available on both Spotify and iTunes. 聽We look forward to presenting some of 聽Mr. Bennett’s early recordings that are now generally available.

Fascinatin" Rhythm

Tony Bennett 路 Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 路 Song 路 2012

Fascinatin’ Rhythm, as well as the full Rarirites, Outtakes and & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Love Is Here to Stay

The song of the day for Saturday, December 8, 2012 is Love Is Here To Stay.

About Love To Stay

Written in 1938 by George and Ira Gershwin, Love is Here to Stay was written for the movie The Goldwyn Follies. In his new book, The Gershwins and Me, by Michael Feinstein (highly recommended), Mr. Feinstein quotes Ira Gershwin as saying that this song was George’s last composition.

About This Version

This version of Love is Here to Stay is from one of most favorite of Tony Bennett’s albums, Hometown, My Town, released in 1959.

Love is Here to Stay, as well as the full Hometown, My Town 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 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. 聽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聽(b) and Clayton Cameron (d). 聽This version was included on Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett.

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Song of the Day: He Loves And She Loves

The Song of the Day for October 26, 2012 is He Loves And She Loves.

About He Loves And She Loves

George and Ira Gershwin wrote this song in 1927. It was used in the 1927 Broadway musical Funny Face and was sung by Fred Astaire in the film of the same name in 1957. Mr. Astaire also starred in the 1927 musical!

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song for his 1993 album Steppin’ Out, a tribute to his friend Fred Astaire. This album contains songs introduced and made famous by Mr. Astaire. If you are fan of Fred Astaire (and how could you not be?), The Year of Tony Bennett highly recommends this album.

Mr. Bennett’s version of this song, while reflecting Mr. Astaire’s performance in Funny Face, has a slightly slower tempo, turning the song into a ballad that touches the heart. Well, mine anyway. We also present Fred Astaire’s version of the same song.