The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The song of the day for Monday, September 16, 2019, is “But Beautiful.”

About This Song

“But Beautiful” was written in 1947 by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke for Bing Crosby to sing in the 1947 movie The Road to Rio. The song has been widely recorded, including recordings by Bill Evans, Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Gregory Porter, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “But Beautiful” in 2014 for their album Cheek To Cheek, featuring an arrangement by Jorge Calandrelli. It’s a pleasure to present this recording. I feature this song often on this site, but always the recording that Tony made with Bill Evans for The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album. Both of these recordings are stunning.

“But Beautiful,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

I’d also like to include this video from the recording of “But Beautiful for Cheek To Cheek. Thre are many videos of Tony Bennett recording with duet partners, but this one is my absolute favorite. First, it’s a great illustration of how Tony likes to record, which is not as common these days. The video shows Tony and Lady Gaga in the recording studio, as well as Bennett’s quartet. These are all great musicians and it’s wonderful to see them. Note the exquisite guitar by Gray Sargent. Second, it’s meaningful to see these Tony and Lady Gaga work this song. “But Beautiful” is not your garden-variety love song, with lyrics like

Love is tearful, or it’s gay
it’s a problem or it’s play
It’s a heartache either way
but beautiful…

Even reading these lines tugs at my heart. Watching Tony and Lady Gaga sing this song is like watching the arc of a love affair.

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TONY BENNETT & LADY GAGA: CHEEK TO CHEEK - LIVE available now! iTunes: http://smarturl.it/CTCLiveiT Amazon DVD: http://smarturl.it/CheekDVDamz Amazon Blu-Ray: http://smarturl.it/CheekBluRayAmz CHEEK TO CHEEK album available now: iTunes: http://smarturl.it/CheekToCheek Google Play: http://smarturl.it/CheekToCheekGP Amazon MP3: http://smarturl.it/CheekToCheekAmz Amazon CD: http://smarturl.it/CheekToCheekCD http://cheektocheek.ladygaga.com/ http://www.ladygaga.com http://www.tonybennett.com

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Song of the Day:Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive

The song of the day for Friday, March 292, 2019, is “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive.”

About This Song

“Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive” was written in 1944 by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. This charming song was written in the style of sermon with the message of being positive is the key to happiness. Mercer is said to have heard a sermon by Father Divine, who said “you got to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.” And thus this memorable song was born. The song was first used in the 1944 movie Here Comes the Waves, starring Bing Crosby and Betty Hutton. Significant recordings include those by Bing Crosby, Kay Kyser, Artie Shaw, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dinah Washington.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive” in 1998 for his delightful album for children: The Playground. He is accompanied by the Ralph Sharon Quartet, featuring Sharon on piano, Clayton Cameron on drums, Paul Langosch on bass, and Gray Sargent on guitar.

Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive

Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive,” as well as The Playground, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Cold, Cold Heart

The song of the day for Saturday, July 28, 2018 is “Cold, Cold Heart.”

About This Song

“Cold, Cold Heart” was written in 1951 by the great Hank Williams. It’s said, though probably apocryphally, that Williams had a bitter argument with his wife and later told the family’s governess that his wife had a cold, cold heart. The song was written soon after. If the story isn’t true, then it should be.

About This Version

Tony Bennett’s 1951 recording of “Cold, Cold Heart” was a blockbuster and is quite well-known. Today, I’m featuring a lesser-known recording from 1970: just Tony Bennett with pianist John Bunch. It’s an exquisite recording that was released with the Tony Bennett Complete Collection box set on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1.

Cold, Cold Heart

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


“Cold, Cold Heart,” as well as other previously unreleased recordings on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

About Today

I have a couple of videos of today’s song.

First up, this Google Doodle from Valentine’s Day a few years ago, features Bennett’s original 1951 recording.

Next up is a video with singer Tim McGraw, from the 2006 album Duets: An American Classic. As always, Gray Sargent’s guitar is just perfect.

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Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The song of the day for Friday, June 8, 2018 is “But Beautiful.”

About This Song

This song was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke for Bing Crosby to sing in the 1947 movie The Road to Rio. The song has been widely recorded, including recordings by Bill Evans, Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Gregory Porter, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

I love this song and have featured it often and always feature the recording that Tony Bennett made with Bill Evans in 1975 for The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album. Today I’m very pleased to feature the very lovely duet of “But Beautiful” that Mr. Bennett made with Lady Gaga in 2014 for their album Cheek to Cheek.

But Beautiful

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“But Beautiful,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from iTunes.

I know it’s not Saturday, but this video of Tony and Lady Gaga is just too beautiful to pass up.

About Today

I so happy to hear Tony Bennett sing “But Beautiful” Wednesday night at his concert in Portland, with the brilliant guitar work of Gray Sargent. I had the great honor of getting to meet and have conversations with all four members of the quartet: Ton Ranier, Gray Sargent, Marshall Wood and Harold Jones. I have so much admiration for the work of this quartet and meeting them was so special. I also got to meet the jazz singer Donna Byrne, who opened for Tony Bennett on Wednesday. She’s a hell of a singer and a warm and nice person. Do check out her website–from the Music link on the menu, you can hear her wonderful voice. I particularly like “He Was Too Good To Me.”

My sincere thanks to Gray, Harold, Tom, Marshall and Donna for their warmth and kindness towards this blogger.

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The Tony Bennett Quartet

I can’t say enough about what a fine group of musicians comprise this quartet. They are all supremely talented, both as individuals and as a close, tight-knit group.

They will be performing at a local jazz club in Methuen, Massachusetts on April 10, along with singer Donna Byrne. I wish I could be there. If you live in the greater Boston area, you might want to head to Methuen on the 10th.

Tony Bennett Quartet (sans Tony) bound for Jocko’s Jazz in Methuen

It’s a rare bird. A first. The Tony Bennett Quartet will play a show without Bennett. On April 10 in Methuen, they’ll take the cabaret stage at Jocko’s Jazz, a Tuesday night staple for more than a decade at The Sahara Club and Restaurant.

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