The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Thursday, May 2, 2024, is “I Could Write a Book.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating Lorenz Milton Hart, who was born 129 years ago on May 2, 1895. Larry Hart, the lyricist for today’s song, worked with Richard Rodgers starting in 1919, a partnership that continued until Hart’s death on November 22, 1942, from alcoholism. Their last new show was Jupiter, which opened in mid-1942. In 1943, they had guided a revival of A Connecticut Yankee, which opened in November 1943. Hart did not show up on opening night. He was found ill in his hotel room and died a few days later.

About This Song

“I Could Write a Book” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the Broadway musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Gene Kelly and Leila Ernst. This has always been an interesting song. Today it’s considered a lovely romantic number, but in the context of the musical, it’s sung as a phony love song in order to woo the innocent ingenue. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Carter, Anita O’Day. and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Could Write a Book” in July 1973 with The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet for the album Tony Bennett sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

“I Could Write a Book,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Thou Swell

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 2, 2023, is “Thou Swell.”

About Today

Today is the anniversary of the birth of Lorenz Hart who, with Richard Rodgers, wrote some of greatest songs in American Songbook. Hart was born in New York City on May 2, 1895. He met Rodgers in 1919 while attending Columbia University. In their 20 year partnership, they wrote the scores for 26 Broadway musicals, including Babes In Arms, The Boys From Syracuse, Pal Joey, and On Your Toes. Hart died from alcholism on November 22, 1943.

About This Song

“Thou Swell” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart in 1927 for the Broadway musical A Connecticut Yankee, based on the Mark Twain novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. “Thou Swell” is one of more charming songs from the musical, as the lyrics feature a combination of modern and medieval language: “thine eyes are cute too” and “I’d feel so rich in a hut for two.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Thou Swell” in July 1973 with The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on trumpet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. “Thou Swell” was released in 1977 on Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart on Bennett’s Improv label.

Bennett wrote in The Good Life: The Autobiography of Tony Bennett:

My main focus in late 1973 became the brilliant trumpet playing of Ruby Braff. I’d known Ruby since 1951 when I first played Chicago. Ruby heard George Barnes and Bucky Pizzarelli playing at the St. Regis Hotel in New york, and he sat in with the two guitarists. He loved the way that combination sounded, and suggested to George that they start a group. They gradually worked out a lineup of two guitars, a trumpet, and a bass.

When I first heard about this group, I had to check them out. I thought they were great, and Ruby said to me, “Why don’t come and sing a couple of tunes with us, and relax for a while.” I did two special concerts at Alice Tully Hall in New york. Ruby and George played the first half instrumentally, and then I came out in the second half and sing with them–two entire evenings of Rodgers and Hart. Two weeks later I recorded twenty-four Rodgers and Hart songs with Ruby and George, with Frank Laico as engineer. It was later released as Tony Bennett: The Rodgers & Hart Songbook.

“Thou Swell,” as well as Tony Bennett: The Rodgers & Hart Songbook is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Could Write A Book

The song of the day for Monday, May 2, 2016 is “I Could Write A Book.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote “I Could Write A Book” for the 1940 Broadway musical Pal Joey. This has always been an interesting song. Today it’s considered a lovely romantic number, but in the context of the musical, it’s sung as a phony love song in order to woo the innocent ingenue. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Carter, Anita O’Day and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Could Write A Book” in 1976 for Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers and Hart Songs. The lovely accompaniment is from the Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, which featured Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a lovely sound.

I Could Write A Book

Listen to I Could Write A Book on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004


“I Could Write A Book,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

About Today

We’re featuring “I Could Write A Book” to celebrate the 121st anniversary of the birth of the lyricist of the song, Lorenz Hart.

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Song of the Day: Thou Swell

The Year of Tony Bennett remembers Lorenz Hart, who was born on this day in New York in 1895. In honor of Mr. Hart, the song of the day for Friday, May 2, 2014 is “Thou Swell.”

About This Song

“Thou Swell” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1927 Broadway musical A Connecticut Yankee, based on the Mark Twain novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. I’ve always loved “Thou Swell” because of the lyric — the delightful play of modern and medieval terminology: ‘thou swell,’ ‘a hut for two’ and my favorite ‘thine eyes are cute too.’

About This Version

Today’s recording is from Bennett’s Improv album Tony Bennett Sings… More Great Rodgers & Hart, released in 1973. It features the Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on cornet, Barnes on guitar, Wayne Wright on guitar and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a wonderful sound for the Rodgers and Hart songs that I never tire of.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3QNOMECmFdjw2MeT8AXdKW
“Thou Swell,” as well as all of the songs recorded by Tony Bennett’s Improv label, is available from iTunes.