The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Jeepers Creepers

The song of the day for Thursday, February 11, 2021, is “Jeepers Creepers.”

About This Song

“Jeepers Creepers” was written by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer for the 1938 movie Going Places, which featured Louis Armstrong as a trumpet-playing horse trainer. It has been recorded by Bing Crosby and, of course, Louis Armstrong.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Jeepers Creepers” in 1959 for his album with Count Basie and His Orchestra, Basie/Bennett. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Jeepers Creepers – 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to Jeepers Creepers – 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Count Basie · Song · 1959.

“Jeepers Creepers,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 21 2020, is “There Will Never Be Another You.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating the birth of William James “Count” Basie, who was born on July 21, 1904, in Red Hook, New Jersey. We can’t imagine American jazz without Count Basie.

About This Song

“There Will Never Be Another You” was written in 1942 by Harry Warren and Max Gordon for the movie Iceland. The song has become a serious jazz standard and has had many fine recordings, including Bennett’s 1959 recording with Count Basie and his 1962 improvisation with Dave Brubeck at the White House Sessions. Other significant recordings include those by Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There Will Never Be Another You” in 1959 with Count Basie and His Orchestra for their second album, In Person!. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangment.

“There Will Never Be Another You,” as well as In Person!, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Saturday, June 27, 2020, is “There Will Never Be Another You.”

About This Song

“There Will Never Be Another You” was written in 1942 by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon for the movie Iceland, starring Sonja Henie and John Payne. The song was introduced in the movie by Joan Merrill. Amazingly, this beautiful song was not nominated for an Academy Award. No matter. The song has become a serious jazz standard and has had many fine recordings, including Bennett’s 1959 recording with Count Basie and his 1962 improvisation with Dave Brubeck at the White House Sessions. Other significant recordings include those by Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There Will Never Be Another You” in 1971 in concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, playing with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert was released on the album Get Happy. The arrangement was by Torrie Zito; the same arrangement as the one Zito did for Tony’s 1968 album Yesterday I Heard The Rain.

“There Will Never Be Another You,” as well as Get Happy, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Sunday, March 15, 2020, is “There Will Never Be Another You.”

About This Song

“There Will Never Be Another You” was written in 1942 by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon for a Sonja Henie vehicle called Iceland, starring Miss Henie and John Payne as a U.S. Marine stationed in Iceland during World War II. The song was introduced in the movie by Joan Merrill. Amazingly, this beautiful song was not nominated for an Academy Award. No matter. The song has become a serious jazz standard and has had many fine recordings, including Bennett’s 1959 recording with Count Basie and his 1962 improvisation with Dave Brubeck at the White House Sessions. Other significant recordings include those by Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and The Dave Brubeck Trio recorded “There Will Never Be Another You” in an unplanned jam session after both artists had finished their sets. The fantastic result was taped and released on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

I hope you’ve enjoyed our examination of Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962. Check in next week as we look at his Vegas show: Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On.

“There Will Never Be Another You,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962, is available from iTunes.

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Tony Live! Lullaby of Broadway

The song of the day for Saturday, March 7, 2020, is “Lullaby of Broadway.”

About This Song

“Lullaby of Broadway,” written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, was introduced in the 1935 movie Gold Diggers of 1935; it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It is one of the great show biz anthems. The 1980 Broadway musical 42nd Street featured Jerry Orbach singing the song (a performance of which your author was able to see and from a very good seat).

About This Version

Welcome back to our trip to Tony’s live performances in August 1962 at the White House Sessions, at the invitation of President Kennedy.

After Tony Bennett and the Ralph Sharon Trio finished their set, Dave Brubeck was invited back on stage for a jam session. Participating in this session were Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello.

The first song in this set was “Lullaby of Broadway,” included on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

“Lullaby of Broadway,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962, is available from iTunes.

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