The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Lullaby of Broadway

The song of the day for Friday, September 3, 2021, is “Lullaby of Broadway.”

About This Song

“Lullaby of Broadway,” written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, was introduced in the 1935 movie Gold Diggers of 1935 and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It is one of the great show biz anthems. The 1980 musical 42nd Street featured Jerry Orbach singing the song (which your blogger had the fortune to see him in).

About This Version

At the very end of Bennett’s set, in “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” he welcomes Dave Brubeck back on the stage and then says:

We haven’t rehearsed this, so lots of luck, folks.

Joining Tony Bennett on stage were Dave Brubeck, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums. Tony Bennett suggests “Lullaby of Broadway” and off they go. Lucky for us, it’s all captured on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

Lullaby Of Broadway (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to Lullaby Of Broadway (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck Trio · Song · 2013.

“Lullaby of Broadway,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Lullaby of Broadway

The song of the day for Saturday, December 3, 2016 is “Lullaby of Broadway.”

About This Song

“Lullaby of Broadway” was written by our songwriter of the month Harry Warren with lyrics by Al Dubin. The song was introduced in the 1935 movie Gold Diggers of 1935; it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It is one of the great show biz anthems. The 1980 musical 42nd Street featured Jerry Orbach singing the song, which your author had the great privilege to see on Broadway.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has made several recordings of “Lullaby of Broadway,” starting in 1957 on The Beat of My Heart up to 2006 with the Dixie Chicks on Duets: An American Classic. Today’s recording is my favorite, from Bennett’s legendary Carnegie Hall concert in 1962, released on the Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall album.

Introduction / Lullaby Of Broadway (From "Forty Second Street") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to Introduction / Lullaby Of Broadway (From "Forty Second Street") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · Song · 1962.


“Lullaby of Broadway,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

About Today

The Busby Berkeley production number of “Lullaby of Broadway” lasted over 13 minutes in Gold Diggers of 1935. Today I have a shorter video of the amazing tap dancing sequence from the number. It’s a really remarkable exhibit of tap dancing. Your author must confess that her first goal in life, determined at the age of four, was to be a tap dancer. As a result of that, I was sent to ballet school with nary a tap shoe in sight. Oh well.

Lullaby of Broadway - Excerpt - Busby Berkeley

Here"s another favorite, the massive tap sequence from the 13 1/2 minute production number "Lullaby of Broadway" from "Gold Diggers of 1935." Dance Director/Choreographer Busby Berkeley outdid himself with this number.

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