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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

October 27, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Judy

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 28, 2020, is “Judy.”

About This Song

“Judy” was written by Hoagy Carmichael and Sammy Lerner in 1929. Written in the early part of Carmichael’s career, “Judy” is love song that some thought was a little too worldly-wise; in fact, even though written in 1929, it wasn’t published until 1934. Early recordings came from the Dorsey Brothers, Lionel Hampton, and Bob Chester. Other recordings include those by Louis Prima, Frankie Laine, and, of course, Tony Bennett. It is said to have been a favorite song of the young performer Frances Gumm, who changed her name to Judy Garland.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Judy” in 1964 for his album When Lights Are Low. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon and played by his trio. The trio consisted of Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on bass.

Judy – 2011 Remaster

Listen to Judy – 2011 Remaster on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.

“Judy,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billy Exiner, Hal Gaylord, Hoagy Carmichael, Ralph Sharon, Sammy Lerner, Tony Bennett, When Lights Are Low

May 25, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Playlist of the Week: Tony Sings Johnny Mercer

The playlist of the week for May 26, 2019, is Tony Sings Johnny Mercer.

Some of Tony’s finest recordings have been of songs with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Here are a few of my favorites:

Tony Sings Johnny Mercer

Tony Bennett has always admired lyrics written by Johnny Mercer.

To learn more about one of these songs, click on its link.

Day In, Day Out, composed by Rube Bloom
Skylark, composed by Hoagy Carmichael
I Thought About You, composed by Jimmy Van Heusen
Laura, composed by David Raksin
I Remember You, composed by Victor Schertzinger
One For My Baby (and One More For the Road), composed by Harold Arlen
That Old Black Magic, composed by Harold Arlen
I Wanna Be Around, addtional lyrics by Sadie Vimmerstedt, composed by Johnny Mercer
Trav’lin’ Light, composed by Trummy Young and Jimmy Mundy

Filed Under: Playlist of the Week Tagged With: David Raksin, Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael, Jimmy Mundy, Johnny Mercer, Rube Bloom, Trummy Young, Victor Schertzinger

October 5, 2016 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Skylark

The song of the day for Thursday, October 6, 2016 is “Skylark.”

About This Song

Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer wrote “Skylark” in 1941. Mercer is said to have worked on the lyrics for “Skylark” for over a year. It is also said that he wrote the lyrics to express his feelings for Judy Garland, with whom he had an affair before her marriage to Billy Rose. Whether true or not, the song and the lyrics are outstanding and it easily became a jazz and popular standard.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Skylark” in 1959 for the album Tony Sings For Two. However, it was not released on the original album but was added for its first CD release.

Skylark

Skylark, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“Skylark,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer, Tony Sings for Two

March 29, 2015 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Skylark

The song of the day for Sunday, March 29, 2015 is “Skylark.”

Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer
Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer

About This Song

“Skylark” was written in 1941, with music by Hoagy Carmichael and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Mercer is said to have worked on the lyrics for “Skylark” over a year. It is also said that he wrote the lyrics to express his feelings for Judy Garland, with whom he had been involved. Whether true or not, the song and the lyrics are outstanding and it easily became a jazz and popular standard.

About This Version

Today’s song, “Skylark,” while recorded at the October 28, 1959 session with the rest of the songs on Tony Sings For Two, was not released on the original LP release of the album. It was first heard on Bennett’s first box set: Forty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett in 1991. “Skylark” was added as a bonus track to the re-release of Tony Sings For Two on CD in 1995.

I love this song and I really love this recording.

This wraps up our examination of Tony Sings For Two. I hope you enjoyed listening to these fine songs again as much I did. I’ve got something special planned for April, so stayed tuned!

Skylark – Remastered

Skylark – Remastered, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“Skylark,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer, Tony Sings for Two

November 22, 2014 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Johnny Mercer Week Conclusion

We wrap up Johnny Mercer Week on the same day that we honor the anniversary of the birth of Hoagy Carmichael, who was born on November 23, 1899 in Bloomington, Indiana.

Of the several songs they wrote together, my favorite is “Skylark,” which was published in 1941. Johnny Mercer is said to have worked on the lyrics for “Skylark” over a year. It is also said that he wrote the lyrics to express his feelings for Judy Garland, with whom he had been involved. Whether true or not, the song and the lyrics are outstanding and it easily became a jazz and popular standard.

This Tony Bennett recording of “Skylark” is from the 1961 album with Ralph Sharon Tony Sings For Two.

Skylark – Remastered

Skylark – Remastered, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

Johnny Mercer

In 1942, Mercer co-founded Capitol Records, with Buddy DeSylva and Glen Wallichs. The studio was quite successful, with artists including Nat Cole, Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Dean Martin and more. Mercer made enough money that he was able to return to Savannah and pay back the remaining funds owed to those who had lost money when his father’s business had gone under.

Like many composers and singers, the musical landscape began to change drastically for Mercer in the 1950s as popular music drifted to rock and the jazz idiom was bebop. That said, some of his best work was done in the 1950s and 1960s, including the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers for MGM and Li’l Abner and Saratoga on Broadway.

In the 1960s, he wrote the lyrics some of his most beloved songs, including “Moon River” and “Days of Wine and Roses.” And, of interest to Tony Bennett fans, the story of “I Wanna Be Around” is a classic. You read about that here. In 1964, Ella Fitzgerald recorded a volume of his music for her Verve songbook series, the only volume devoted to a lyricist.

Johnny Mercer died on June 25, 1976 in California from an inoperable brain tumor. He is buried in hometown of Savannah at the Bonaventure Cemetery.

He will always be remembered as one of America’s greatest and most successful lyricists.

Mercer’s papers and archives were donated to Georgia State University. You can find out more about the Johnny Mercer Collection here.

The Johnny Mercer Foundation is his official website. The foundation serves educators, researchers and songwriters.

Hoagy Carmichael

As we said earlier, Hoagy Carmichael was born on this day in 1899. During his career, he was a composer, pianist, singer, bandleader and even an actor — I saw him in the Humphrey Bogart/Lauren Bacall movie To Have and Have Not just recently and he was a natural.

His canon includes favorites including “Skylark,” “Stardust,” “The Nearness of You” and “In The Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening.”

Carmichael died in California on December 27, 1981 and is buried in his home town of Bloomington.

His papers and archives were donated to his alma mater, Indiana University, which established The Hoagy Carmichael Collection and the Hoagy Carmichael Room to display elections. You can read about and explore the collection here.

His official website, created by his son, can be found at hoagy.com.

Filed Under: About His Collaborators Tagged With: Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer Week, Remembering Hoagy Carmichael, Skylark

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