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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

April 10, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Don’t Like Goodbyes

The song of the day for Monday, April 11, 2022, is “Don’t Like Goodbyes.”

About This Song

“Don’t Like Goodbyes” was written by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Arlen and Truman Capote, for the 1954 Broadway musical House of Flowers, based on Capote’s novella of the same name. The song was introduced by Pearl Bailey. While the musical was not well-reviewed, the Arlen-Capote score is quite wonderful, including not only today’s song but the exquisite “A Sleepin’ Bee,” which Tony Bennett has recorded twice (in 1959 for Tony Sings For Two and at the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert). “Don’t Like Goodbyes” has been recorded by Pearl Bailey, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Like Goodbyes” in 2004 for his wonderful album The Art of Romance. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Don’t Like Goodbyes,” as well as The Art of Romance is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Harold Arlen, House of Flowers, Jorge Calandrelli, The Art of Romance, Tony Bennett, Truman Capote

February 12, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Album of the Week: Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen

The album of the week starting on February 12, 2022, is Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen.

Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen was Tony Bennett’s first album dedicated to a composer and that composer was one of his favorites: Harold Arlen. The orchestral arrangements are quite beautiful. Bennett remembers this album in The Good Life:

Later on that year I did my first, and for many years my only, songbook album, A String of Harold Arlen. The son of a cantor, Harold grew up in Buffalo. He became the musical director of the Cotton Club and originally wrote many jazz compositions. But his pop songs were dramatic and right up my alley. Arlen was known for the jazzy quality of his melodies, but Mitch thought it would be novel to give his songs a lush, symphonic treatment. He brought in Glenn Osser, a veteran record and show orchestrator, and his charts were just right. I felt free singing to Glenn’s arrangements. We used a big orchestra of mainly classical players, and they really enjoyed the recording session. That’s the only album I ever made where the musicians actually applauded after each take.

 

Album Facts

Release Date March 30, 1961
Label Columbia
Producer Mitch Miller
Vocals Tony Bennett
Arrangements Glenn Osser

Listen to Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen

You can also listen to Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen on:

  • Apple Music
  • Amazon Music player
  • Qobuz
  • YouTube Music
  • Pandora

Filed Under: Album of the Week Tagged With: Come Rain or Come Shine, For Every Man There's a Woman, Fun to be Fooled, Glenn Osser, Harold Arlen, House of Flowers, I've Got the World on a String, It Was Written in the Stars, Let's Fall In Love, Mitch Miller, Over the Rainbow, Right As Rain, This Time's the Dream's On Me, Tony Bennett, What Good Does It Do, When the Sun Comes Out

June 11, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: A Sleepin’ Bee

The song of the day for Saturday, June 12, 2021, is “A Sleepin’ Bee.”

About This Song

“A Sleepin’ Bee” was written by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote for the 1954 musical House of Flowers, based on the Capote novella. Set in Haiti, the production featured a trio of steel drummers (more precisely known as pannists) from Trinidad.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “A Sleepin’ Bee” at his 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962, as captured on Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall. Bennett had previously recorded “A Sleepin’ Bee” in 1959 with Ralph Sharon for their album Tony Sings For Two.

A Sleepin" Bee (From "House Of Flowers") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to A Sleepin" Bee (From "House Of Flowers") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1962.

“A Sleepin’ Bee,” as well as Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Harold Arlen, House of Flowers, Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, Truman Capote

September 23, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Don’t Like Goodbyes

The song of the day for Thursday, September 24, 2020, is “Don’t Like Goodbyes.”

About This Song

“Don’t Like Goodbyes” was written by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Arlen and Truman Capote, for the 1954 Broadway musical House of Flowers, based on Capote’s novella of the same name. The song was introduced by Pearl Bailey. While the musical was not well-reviewed, the Arlen-Capote score is quite wonderful, including not only today’s song but the exquisite “A Sleepin’ Bee,” which Tony Bennett has recorded twice (in 1959 for Tony Sings For Two and at the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert). “Don’t Like Goodbyes” has been recorded by Pearl Bailey, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Like Goodbyes” for his 2004 album The Art of Romance. Jorge Calendrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Don’t Like Goodbyes,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Harold Arlen, House of Flowers, Jorge Calendrelli, The Art of Romance, Tony Bennett, Truman Capote

June 14, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: House of Flowers

The song of the day for Monday, June 15, 2020, is “House Of Flowers.”

About This Song

“House Of Flowers” was written by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Truman Capote, for the 1954 Broadway musical of the same name, based on a Truman Capote short story. Set in Haiti, the cast included Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll, Ray Walston, Geoffrey Holder, and Alvin Ailey. The score featured a steel-drum trio from Trinidad.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “House Of Flowers” for his 1961 album em>Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen; the album was arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser. It was the first Bennett album to pay tribute to a composer.

“House Of Flowers,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Glenn Osser, Harold Arlen, House of Flowers, Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, Truman Capote

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