The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg wrote “Last Night When We Were Young” in 1935. Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” to be one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song … (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.” Yip Harburg has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.” All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included on his wonderful album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Last Night When We Were Young” in 1992 for the album Perfectly Frank. Playing with Bennett is The Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass and Joe Barbera on drums.’

Perfectly Frank won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Performance.

Last Night When We Were Young

Listen to Last Night When We Were Young on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: We’ll Be Together Again

The song of the day for Friday, August 16, 2019, is “We’ll Be Together Again.”

Pianist Bill Evans was born on August 16, 1929, 90 years ago. I wish he was still with us.

Today and for the next few days, we’ll be playing songs recorded by Tony Bennett and Bill Evans in 1975 for The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album and in 1976 for Together Again.

About This Song

“We’ll Be Together Again” was written in 1945 by Carl T. Fischer and singer Frankie Laine. Fischer was Frankie Laine’s pianist and musical director. Fischer asked Laine to write the lyrics, which he, quite nicely. In addition to the recording by Tony Bennett and Bill Evans, this song has been recorded by Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra and, of course, Frankie Laine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “We’ll Be Together Again” in June 1975 in Berkeley, California at Fantasy Records, Evans’s label. It was released in 1975 on their first album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

We"ll Be Together Again

Tony Bennett, Bill Evans · The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (Expanded Edition) · Song · 1975

“We’ll Be Together Again,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes.

In honor of Bill’s birthday, I’d like to present his solo recording of the theme from film The Bad and the Beautiful, which was released on Together Again. During a break, Evans was working on this song and Tony loved it so much that he insisted that it be recorded and released on their second album. I’m very glad he did.

The Bad And The Beautiful - Remastered 2003

Listen to The Bad And The Beautiful - Remastered 2003 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Bill Evans · 1977

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Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Monday, February 15, 2015 is “The Man That Got Away.”

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away” written by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, in 1953 for the Judy Garland version of A Star Is Born, co-starring James Mason. Garland’s performance of the song is legendary in film history, with 27 takes in three days, three separate sessions, and two different directors. The filmed scene is brilliant and made the song a huge hit for Garland, who sang it in most of her concerts.

The song is ranked #11 on the American Film Institute’s list of best movie songs. For reasons that completely evade me, “Three Coins In A Fountain” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Oh well, to each his/her own.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Man That Got Away” in 1959 with Ralph Sharon on their extraordinary album of standards Tony Sings For Two. Recorded in one session, with just Bennett and Sharon and a briefcase of sheet music, one of the greatest albums of songs from the American Songbook was recorded. Every time I listen to this album, which I do frequently, I am amazed all over again by the artistry and heart in every note.

The Man That Got Away

Listen to The Man That Got Away on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Harold Arlen

Harold Arlen was born 111 years ago today on February 15, 1905 in Buffalo, New York and was son of a cantor. Rather than summarize his life and amazing career, I would like to point you to his official website haroldarlen.com, managed by his son Sam Arlen. The site has many wonderful resources and information about our songwriter of the month.

So far this year, we’ve looked at Jerome Kern, born in 1885, and Harold Arlen, born in 1905. I can only speak for myself, but the songs by these two greats sound, in almost all cases, just as fresh and relevant and they did when they were written some 50 to 80 years ago. I grew up listening to these songs (thanks Mom) and except for a brief college flirtation with late 1960s rock music, the American Songbook has been my touchstone for my entire life.

Naturally, it’s no wonder that I fell in love with the voice of Tony Bennett, who has devoted his professional life to these wonderful songs that I, and many others, love so much.

So, Happy Birthday to Harold Arlen.

As our song of the day is “The Man That Got Away,” here’s a little something special.

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