The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Swinging on a Star

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 18, 2023, is “Swinging on a Star.”

About This Song

“Swinging on a Star” was written in 1944 by the songwriting team of Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. It was written for the movie Going My Way, starring Bing Crosby, and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for that year. Crosby recorded a very successful version of the song in 1944. Other recordings include those by Rosemary Clooney, Burl Ives, and Ruby Braff, among many others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Swinging on a Star” in June 1998 for his album The Playground. The Ralph Sharon Quartet accompanied Mr. Bennett on this album. In addition to Sharon on piano, the quartet featured Paul Langosch on bass; Gray Sargent on guitar; and Clayton Cameron on drums. This album marks the first time Gray Sargent recorded with Tony Bennett.

“Swinging on a Star,” as well as The Playground is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Undecided Blues

The song of the day for Monday, May 9, 2022, is “Undecided Blues.”

About This Song

“Undecided Blues” was written in 1941 by blues shouter Jimmy Rushing (also known as Five-by-Five, due to his stature). Rushing was born in Oklahoma City into to a musical family; his father was trumpet player and his mother a singer. He started his career as an itinerant blues singer in the early 1920s. He sang with Jelly Roll Morton and other early jazz orchestras before joining the Bennie Moten band in 1929. When Moten died in 1935, he joined the Count Basie Orchestra, which was his home for many years. Rushing with the Count Basie Orchestra first recorded “Undecided Blues” in 1941.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Undecided Blues” in 2001 for his album Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. The Ralph Sharon Quartet (Sharon on piano; Gray Sargent on guitar; Paul Langosch on bass; and Clayton Cameron on drums) backs Bennett on this album. The vocal arrangements are by Rob Mathes. The album won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Undecided Blues,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Prelude to a Kiss

The song of the day for Saturday, December 11, 2021, is “Prelude to a Kiss.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Prelude to a Kiss” in 1938, with lyrics by Irving Mills and Irving Gordon. Ted Gioia in The Jazz Standards notes that in the late 1930s, having practically invented swing music, “… at this juncture he does the exact opposite. The Duke uses his fame and great artistic freedom to become more ambitious, more experimental, less beholden to the formulas of swing music. … ‘Prelude To A Kiss’ from 1938 is a case in point.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Prelude to a Kiss” in 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, arranged by Jorge Calandrelli. The recording features Gray Sargent on guitar and Joel Smirnoff on violin.

“Prelude to a Kiss,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ellington’s 1938 instrumental recording of “Prelude to a Kiss”

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Song of the Day: So In Love

The song of the day for Monday, October 18, 2021, is “So In Love.”

About This Song

Cole Porter wrote “So In Love” for his 1948 for his Broadway musical Kiss Me Kate, where it was introduced by Patricia Morison, who played the role of Kate. This song has been widely recorded, by artists including Julie Andrews, Chick Corea, Placido Domingo, Eddie Fisher, Ella Fitzgerald, and Peggy Lee.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “So In Love” for his 2021 album with Lady Gaga, Love For Sale. Bennett is accompanied by his quartet and the orchestra. His quartet is comprised of Tom Ranier on piano, Gray Sargent on guitar, Marshall Wood on bass, and Harold Jones on drums. Jorge Calendrelli wrote the arrangement.

So In Love

Listen to So In Love on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2021

“So In Love,” as well as Love For Sale is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’m Just a Lucky So and So

The song of the day for Friday, August 13, 2021, is “I’m Just a Lucky So and So.”

About This Song

“I’m Just a Lucky So and So” was written in 1945 by Duke Ellington and Mack David. A favorite song of Tony Bennett, “I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So” has also been recorded by Billy Eckstine, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded today’s song three times; today I’ve chosen his 1999 version for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Bennett recorded the album with The Ralph Sharon Quartet, featuring Sharon on piano, Gray Sargent on guitar, Paul Langosch on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums. Ralph Burns, who Bennett first worked with in 1950, wrote the arrangement.

I"m Just A Lucky So And So

Listen to I"m Just A Lucky So And So on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1999

“I’m Just a Lucky So and So,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool is available on Apple Music.

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