The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: My Heart Tells Me

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 7, 2015 is “My Heart Tells Me.”

About This Song

“My Heart Tells Me” was written in 1943, with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Mack Gordon. The ballad was written for the movie Sweet Rosie O’Grady, which starred Betty Grable. In fact, Grable introduced the song while sitting in bathtub filled with bubbles as part of a performance in a somewhat naughty beer hall show. The song has been widely recorded by artists including Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Harry James, Glenn Miller, Dorothy Collins and Charlie Parker.

About This Version

Today’s song is the third cut on our album of the month, Cloud 7. It was recorded on December 22, 1954 and was arranged by the trumpet player, Charles Panely. It’s the first real ballad on the album and Bennett gives a restrained but emotionally complete performance.

My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?)

Listen to My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1955


“My Heart Tells Me,” as well as Cloud 7, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Somebody

The song of the day for Friday, July 25, 2014 is “Somebody.”

About This Song

“Somebody” was written for the 1960 Jerry Lewis movie Cinderfella by Harry Warren with lyrics by Jack Brooks. The song was introduced by Jerry Lewis in the movie.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Somebody” in October, 1960 in the same session as Ramona; it was released that same month. Glenn Osserdid the arrangement and Mitch Miller was the producer. Miller’s last year as Bennett’s producer was in 1960. By 1961, Ernie Altschuler was his producer, starting with the album My Heart Sings.

Today’s song was a special request from one this blog’s most loyal readers. I am always happy to honor requests from readers. If there is a song you’d like me to feature, write a comment and let me know. I’d be more than happy to feature that song.

http://open.spotify.com/track/5hUABkii5zStvuYGM1OF3M
“Somebody,” as well as all the of the songs on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 6, is available on iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Jeepers Creepers

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 14, 2014 is “Jeepers Creepers.”

About This Song

“Jeepers Creepers” was written for the 1938 movie Going Places by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer, 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” for his 1959 album with Count Basie and His Orchestra, Basie/Bennett. The songs on the album were arranged by Ralph Sharon and produced by Teddy Reig. I have a strong fondness for this album because it’s just so much fun to listen to, not in the least because of this particular song.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3ZrWSg01u6dfXiNnMjT3hv
“Jeepers Creepers,” as well as the songs on Basie/Bennett, is available on iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Lullaby of Broadway

The song of the day for Saturday, April 26, 2014 is “Lullaby of Broadway.”

About This Song

“Lullaby of Broadway” was written in 1935 by Harry Warren and Al Dubin for the film musical The Gold Diggers of 1935. This song is one of Warren’s most popular songs, with recordings by Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day and Bette Midler. It was used in the 1980 Broadway production 42nd Street and was sung by Jerry Orbach (whom your author had the great privilege of seeing in this production).

About This Version

“Lullaby of Broadway” is one of Bennett’s more often-recorded songs, starting with The Beat of My Heart in 1957 to the 1962 Carnegie Hall Concert and the 1964 Live at the Sahara concert. Today’s version is from his second album with the Count Basie Orchestra, In Person!, released in 1959.

http://open.spotify.com/track/6m8EJtG9ESWAMzwCtutmjy
“Lullaby of Broadway,” as well as the album In Person!, is available from iTunes.

And yes, it’s Saturday again. Here is Tony Bennett singing “Lullaby of Broadway” with Dixie Chicks from Duets: An American Classic.

Many thanks to Tony Bennett and VEVO for making a whole new crop of videos available on YouTube.

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Song of the Day: My Heart Tells Me

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 9, 2014 is “My Heart Tells Me.”

About This Song

“My Heart Tells Me” was written by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Mack Gordon, for the 1943 movie Sweet Rosie O’Grady. The movie starred Betty Grable, who in fact introduced the song while sitting in bathtub filled with bubbles as part of a performance in a somewhat naughty beer hall show. The song has been widely recorded by artists including Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Harry James, Glenn Miller, Dorothy Collins and Charlie Parker.

About This Version

Tony Bennett selected this song for his first album, Cloud 7, released in 1955. Having spent the first five years of his contract Columbia recording hit singles, Cloud 7 was the album that he had wanted to make — a solid jazz long-playing album with a solid group of jazz musicians. Jazz critic Thom Jurek said that ”The mood is nocturnal, elegant, amorous, hip.” As a first album by a young singer (Bennett was not even 30 when he made Cloud 7), it’s a remarkable album that defined Bennett not only as vastly popular singer, but a jazz artist with impeccable taste and true vision of his own artistry.

“My Heart Tells Me” was arranged by Charles Panely and featured Chuck Wayne on guitar.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7ETUKFxsrPTyVM8MsbcDmj
“My Heart Tells Me,” as well as the album Cloud 7, is available from iTunes.

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