The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Lullaby of Broadway

The song of the day for Sunday, January 5, 2020, is “Lullaby of Broadway.”

About Today

Every weekend for the rest of 2020, I’ll be featuring recordings of Tony’s live performances, in order by date. I hope you enjoy Tony Live!

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 musical 42nd Street featured Jerry Orbach singing the song. (I only mention this as I had the good fortune to see this show soon after it opened and Mr. Orbach was wonderful!)

About This Version

Tony Bennett opened his legendary 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall with “Lullaby of Broadway.” The concert was recorded and was released as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. Ralph Sharon was the musical director for this show and wrote the arrangements.

“Lullaby of Broadway,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Boulevard of Broken Dreams

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 17, 2019, is “The Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”

About This Song

Harry Warren and Al Dubin wrote “The Boulevard of Broken Dreams” in 1933 for the movie Moulin Rouge, where it was sung by Constance Bennett. Although numerous artists have recorded “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (including Bing Crosby in 1944), this song is very strongly identified with Tony Bennett. In fact, his demo record of “The Boulevard of Broken Dreams” was heard by Mitch Miller and got Bennett his first recording contract with Columbia Records.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “The Boulevard of Broken Dreams” for his 1990 album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist. Bennett is accompanied by The Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

The Boulevard of Broken Dreams

The Boulevard of Broken Dreams, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“The Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: With Plenty of Money and You

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 26, 2019, is “With Plenty of Money and You.”

About This Song

“With Plenty of Money and You” was written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin for the Gold Diggers of 1937, starring Dick Powell and Joan Blondell and choreographed by Busby Berkeley. Interestingly, the score for the film was to have been written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg, but Berkeley didn’t like what they had written and brought in Warren and Dubin for this song and several other songs. Some Arlen and Harburg songs were used in the film as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “With Plenty of Money and You” in 1959 for his album with Count Basie and His Orchestra: Basie Swings/Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

With Plenty of Money and You – 1990 Remix / Remaster

With Plenty of Money and You – 1990 Remix / Remaster, a song by Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell on Spotify

“With Plenty of Money and You,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Boulevard of Broken Dreams

The song of the day for Sunday, January 6, 2019, is “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”

About This Song

Harry Warren and Al Dubin wrote “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” in 1933 for the movie Moulin Rouge, where it was sung by Constance Bennett. Although numerous artists have recorded “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (including Bing Crosby 1944), this song is strongly identified with Tony Bennett. In fact, his demo record of “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” was heard by Mitch Miller and got Bennett his first recording contract with Columbia Records.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” for his 1990 album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist. Jorge Calendrelli wrote the arrangement.

The Boulevard of Broken Dreams

The Boulevard of Broken Dreams, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Monday, December 31, 2018, 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. It’s ironic that one of Harry Warren’s most beautiful songs was written for a minor 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 recorded this version of “There Will Never Be Another You” in 1962 with Dave Brubeck, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello. After Bennett and Brubeck did their individual sets at this concert, they came back onstage for a few improvised numbers, including “There Will Never Be Another You.” Thankfully, all of this was taped. Alas, the tapes were thought to be long-lost. Soon after Dave Brubeck passed in 2012, the tapes were found in Columbia’s classical music section. Columbia released Bennett/Brubeck: The White House, Live 1962 in 2013.

There Will Never Be Another You – Live

There Will Never Be Another You – Live, a song by Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck Trio on Spotify

“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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