The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy

Well, someone made me very happy today  and so the song of the day for Thursday, June 6, 2013 is “Make Someone Happy.”

About This Song

“Make Someone Happy” is from the 1960 musical Do Re Mi, by Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Do Re Mi concerns a guy, a bit of a loser and a con, who goes into the juke box business with some gangster pals.  “Make Someone Happy” was introduced by John Reardon and Nancy Dussault.

This song was a favorite of Jimmy Durante’s; his version was used in the 1993 film Sleepless in Seattle. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand and Perry Como.

About This Version

Today’s live version comes from the newly released Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, released last week. Tony Bennett is accompanied by the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7LmGma0lhICYYOsCdZT3yG
“Make Someone Happy,” as well as the Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 album, is available from iTunes.

And for some extra happiness, here’s is the wonderful Jimmy Durante singing our song of the day:

Make Someone Happy

Jimmy Durante · As Time Goes By: The Best Of Jimmy Durante · Song · 2008

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got Just About Everything

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 9, 2013 is I’ve Got Just About Everything.

About This Song

This song was written by Bob Dorough, a bebop and cool jazz pianist and composer. Born in 1923, Dorough served in a Special Services Army Band Unit. After the war, he attended the University of North Texas and then headed for New York. Dorough is probably best known for his work on the 1970s series Schoolhouse Rock. He also co-wrote one of my favorite Dave Frishberg songs, I’m Hip. Dorough still performs regularly near his home in Pennsylvania and he maintains an active website as well.

About This Version

I’ve been listening to a lot of Tony Bennett’s music from the first half of the 1960s the past few weeks, especially his album with just him and Ralph Sharon, Tony Sings For Two, and his 1964 album with the Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon, Billy Exiner, and Hal Gaylord), When Lights Are Low. I really enjoy hearing Bennett sing with a small combo and When Lights Are Low is a real treat. I’ve Got Just About Everything is from this album. Longer than the average song length at just over six minutes, it contains some nice instrumental work by Sharon, Exiner and Gaylord.

http://open.spotify.com/track/32ne5iCh5B7geOvcX8PQsu
I’ve Got Just About Everything, as well as the full When Lights Are Low album, is available from iTunes.

And, if you’re in the mood, here’s Dave Frishberg and Bob Dorough singing I’m Hip. (Even though this is on YouTube, there isn’t any video, just the audio.)

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Song of the Day: When Lights Are Low

The song of the day for Thursday, February 28, 2013 is When Lights Are Low.

About This Song

When Lights Are Low is true jazz standard. It was written in 1936 by the great trumpet player and band leader Benny Carter along with Spencer Williams. Miles Davis recorded it in 1956 and it has been recorded by noted jazz artists including Herbie Mann, Kenny Burrell, Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, and, of course, Benny Carter.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded When Lights Are Low in 1964 for his album of the same name. I’m very fond of this album: it contains a number of very fine jazz songs, such as On Green Dolphin Street, and one of my favorite Tony Bennett songs: The Rules of the Road. Also, in an era of recording where too many good singers were, in my opinion, singing arrangements that suffered from what I call the Melanchrino Strings effect, When Lights Are Low uses just the very fine Ralph Sharon Trio, with Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums. The album was produced by Ernie Altschuler, who produced albums for Bennett in the 1960s.

But I also picked this song for another reason: I love hearing Tony Bennett laugh. And this recording catches him chuckling a few times–at 0:36 and again at 3:24. I love that we get to hear him enjoying singing this song so much.

This song, as well as the entire album, is a joy.

http://open.spotify.com/track/68QorBXufCVCBxzgpAd2Uc
When Lights Are Low, as well as the album When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.