The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)

The Song of the Day for October 16, 2012 is One For My Baby (And One More For The Road).

About One For My Baby

This  is one of the great American songs, written by Harold Arlen (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics). One For My Baby was written for movie The Sky’s The Limit (1943) and was introduced by Fred Astaire. Like most songs by either Arlen or Mercer, this song has been recorded many, many times by American singers ranging from Astaire to Lena Horne to Lou Rawls to Iggy Pop to Willie Nelson.

The last few times I’ve seen Mr. Bennett in concert, he and Lee Musiker at piano are having a great time with this song. It’s a real joy to hear Tony Bennett sing it live.

About This Version

Today’s version is the duet that Tony Bennett sang with John Mayer on Duets II. Today is John Mayer’s birthday, and the Year of Tony Bennett wishes him a very happy birthday.

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Song of the Day: One For My Baby

The Song of the Day for September 27, 2012 is One For My Baby.

About One For My Baby

This song was written by two of the greatest songwriters who ever lived: Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, for the 1943 film musical The Sky’s The Limit and was introduced by Fred Astaire. It is a very well-known standard and has been recorded by many jazz and popular singers, including Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Frankie Laine, Lena Horne, Marlene Dietrich, Rosemary Clooney and Sammy Davis, Jr. Even the songwriters, both of whom were excellent singers, made recordings of One For My Baby.

Mr. Bennett first recorded this song as a single in 1957. He recorded it again for the 1992 Perfectly Frank and as a duet with John Mayer on Duets II.

About This Version

We choose this live version, as we are still in the thrall of attending two Tony Bennett concerts in two days. Tony Bennett and Lee Musiker seem to be having a lot of fun performing this song in concert.

This version is from the 1962 Carnegie Hall Concert. Make it one for my baby and one more for the road.

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got the World on a String

It’s been too long since we’ve featured a Harold Arlen song. Actually, I can’t go for more than a few days without listening to some Harold Arlen songs. For August 26, 2012, the Song of the Day is I’ve Got the World on a String.

About I’ve Got the World on a String

I’ve Got the World on a String was written by Harold Arlen (music) and Ted Koehler (lyrics)  for the 1932 Cotton Club Review and was introduced by Cab Calloway and Bing Crosby. Like most Arlen songs, it’s been recorded by many great singers including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Sarah Vaughn. The song is heavily identified with Frank Sinatra, who recorded in 1953.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song three times: on the 1960 Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen,  his 1962 Carnegie Hall Concert, and for the 1992 Perfectly Frank. All three versions are great. Today we feature the Carnegie Hall performance.

 

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Song of the Day: One For My Baby

The Song of the Day is One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)

About One For My Baby

The Song of the Day for August 22, 2012 is one of the great American songs, written by Harold Arlen (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics). One For My Baby was written for movie The Sky’s The Limit (1943) and was introduced by Fred Astaire. Like most songs by either Arlen or Mercer, this song has been recorded many, many times by American singers ranging from Astaire to Lena Horne to Lou Rawls to Iggy Pop to Willie Nelson.

About This Version

Of all the singers identified with this song, Frank Sinatra is most associated with One For My Baby. He recorded it several times, starting in 1943 and ending in 1993 for his Duets album. Tony Bennett recorded as a single in 1957. Today’s version is from his sublime album Perfectly Frank, his tribute to his great friend Frank Sinatra.

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A Sleeping Bee

The Song of the Day is the glorious A Sleeping Bee, written by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote. It was written for the musical House of Flowers, based on the short story by Truman Capote; Harold Arlen wrote music and lyrics and Truman Capote wrote the book and lyrics. It’s a lovely song and we’re happy to present it as the Song of the Day. Tony Bennett first recorded A Sleeping Bee 1959 for Tony Bennett Sings for Two, his wonderful album with Ralph Sharon.