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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

April 4, 2025 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Out of This World

The song of the day for Friday, April 4, 2025, is “Out of This World.”

About This Song

“Out of This World” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1945 movie of the same name. Out Of This World starred Eddie Bracken; however Bing Crosby dubbed the vocals for Bracken and introduced the song. Alec Wilder was a fan of “Out of This World”, praising its ethereal quality and the excellent lyrics by Mercer.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Out of This World” on October 15, 1964, with an outstanding jazz quartet: Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums).

“Out of This World,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Elvin Jones, Harold Arlen, Herbie Hancock, Johnny Mercer, Ron Carter, Stan Getz, Tony Bennett

October 15, 2024 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Have You Met Miss Jones?

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 15, 1964 is “Have You Met Miss Jones?”.

About This Song

“Have You Met Miss Jones?” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart in 1937 for the musical revue I’d Rather Be Right. It’s one of their sweetest and most charming love songs, as the young man who is introduced to Miss Jones and falls in love immediately. In addition to Bennett’s recording, other significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Have You Met Miss Jones?” on October 15, 1964, with a remarkable quartet: Herbie Hanok on piano; Stan Getz on tenor sax; Ron Carter on bass; and Elvin Jones on drums. The songs were originally released on an album called Jazz, which was released in 1987. What I do know is that I dearly wish there were enough of these recordings for a full album. The songs they recorded were released in 2011 on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, available online.

Jazz journalist Ted Gioia remarked about this collaboration soon after Bennett’s death on July 21, 2013:

Something amazing happened on May 25, 1964, at least if you’re a jazz fan. On that day, Tony Bennett walked into a New York studio with Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Elvin Jones. Just thinking about it makes my heart palpitate.

But here’s the rub: they only recorded one track. Later that year, that same ensemble returned to the studio, and recorded three more songs.

In other words, they never had enough music to release an entire album—which makes me moan and groan, because this would have been one of the classic jazz vocal albums of the century. At least we have a taste of this music to savor.

“Have You Met Miss Jones?,” as well as , is available on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights Vol. 1.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Elvin Jones, Herbie Hancock, Larry Hart, Richard Rodgers, Ron Carter, Stan Getz, Ted Gioia, Tony Bennett

May 24, 2024 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Danny Boy

The song of the day for Saturday, May 25, 2024, is “Danny Boy.”

About This Song

The music for “Danny Boy” is “Londonderry Air,” a tune popular in the Irish diaspora. It was first collected in 1885, but pre-dates that quite a bit; it is referred to as an “ancient air.” The lyrics were written by a Bath lawyer named Frederic Weatherly. The song is widely sung on Irish holidays.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Danny Boy” sixty years ago today, on May 25, 1964. Bennett recorded several songs with Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor saxophone), Ron Carter (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums). All of the recordings they made are excellent and are worth a listen.

“Danny Boy,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Elvin Jones, Fred Weatherly, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Stan Getz, Tony Bennett

April 13, 2024 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Day Dream

The song of the day for Saturday, April 13, 2024, is “Day Dream.”

About This Song

“Day Dream” was written in 1941 by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington, with lyrics by John LaTouche. Acknowledged to have been written solely by Strayhorn, “Day Dream” is a lovely song with a strong Strayhorn touch, enhanced by the thoughtful lyrics by John LaTouche. The first recording was in 1941 and featured Johnny Hodges on saxophone and Billy Strayhorn on piano. Other notable recordings include this one by Tony Bennett, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Day Dream” on May 24, 1964, with Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums). The group made several recordings, which were included in Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, released in the 2011 Tony Bennett Complete Collection.

“Day Dream,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Elvin Jones, Herbie Hancock, John Latouche, Rarities Outtakes & Other Delights Vol. 1, Ron Carter, Stan Getz

October 14, 2023 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Just Friends

The song of the day for Sunday, October 15, 2023, is “Just Friends.”

About This Song

“Just Friends” was written by John Klenner and Sam M. Lewis in 1934. It’s been a popular jazz standard, including vocal versions by Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Charlie Parker, and Chet Baker. The song, both the music and the lyrics, seem more modern than most songs written in the early 1930s and for that reason, it has received interesting jazz treatments and found itself quite at home with bebop stylings.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Just Friends” on October 15, 1964 (59 years ago today), with an amazing jazz quartet: Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums). This recording and several other recordings made with this quartet remained unreleased until 2012 when they were included in Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, which was included in Bennett’s Complete Collection box set.

“Just Friends,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Elvin Jones, Herbie Hancock, John Klenner, Outtakes & Other Delights Vol. 1, Rarities, Ron Carter, Sam M. Lewis, Stan Getz, Tony Bennett

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