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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

March 15, 2015 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: A Sleepin’ Bee

The song of the day for Sunday, March 15, 2015 is “A Sleepin’ Bee.”

About This Song

“A Sleepin’ Bee” was written by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by 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

Today’s song is the eighth song on our album of the month, Tony Sings For Two and our second song by Harold Arlen. Rodgers and Hart — Harold Arlen — Yip Harburg — Gus Kahn: the quality and integrity of the songs on this album are astounding and this one is no exception.

A Sleepin" Bee

Listen to A Sleepin" Bee on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.

“A Sleepin’ Bee,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

Here’s Diahann Carroll, who introduced “A Sleepin’ Bee” in its original production, singing today’s song.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Diahann Carroll, Harold Arlen, House of Flowers, Tony Sings for Two, Truman Capote

December 22, 2014 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Don’t Like Goodbyes

The song of the day for Monday, December 22. 2014 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 and has also been recorded by Frank Sinatra Barbra Streisand.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Like Goodbyes” from his wonderful 2004 album The Art of Romance. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli; the album was produced by Phil Ramone.

Don"t Like Goodbyes

Listen to Don"t Like Goodbyes on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.


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

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

May 16, 2014 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Don’t Like Goodbyes

The song of the day for Friday, May 16, 2014 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).

About This Version

Today’s song is from Tony Bennett’s 2004 masterful The Art of Romance and was beautifully arranged by Jorge Calandrelli. The Art of Romance was not the first Tony Bennett I listened to, but it most definitely is the album that won my heart; all the rest followed along soon afterwards. It will always be on my desert island list of CDs. The album was produced by Phil Ramone and features the quartet of Lee Musker on piano, Gray Sargent on guitar, Paul Langosch on bass and Clayton Cameron on drums.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7ja013Awl7wR2i93eNQcTW
“Don’t Like Goodbyes,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available from iTunes.

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

February 12, 2013 By Suzanne 1 Comment

Song of the Day: A Sleepin’ Bee

As part of Harold Arlen Week at The Year Of Tony Bennett, the song of the day for Tuesday, February 12, 2013 is A Sleepin’ Bee.

About A Sleepin’ Bee

In 1954, Harold Arlen collaborated with Truman Capote on the musical House of Flowers, based on the Capote novella of the same name. This production marked the Broadway debut of Diahann Carroll; the cast also included Pearl Bailey, Alvin Ailey, Geoffrey Holder, and Ray Walston.

house-of-flowers-broadway-movie-poster-1954-1020407584

Arlen wrote the music for the production; he and Capote wrote the lyrics. Out of the show came two songs that quickly became jazz and popular standards: Don’t Like Goodbyes and today’s song, A Sleepin’ Bee.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Bennett’s remarkable 1961 album Tony Sings For Two, with Tony accompanied only by pianist Ralph Sharon.

A Sleepin" Bee

Listen to A Sleepin" Bee on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.

A Sleepin’ Bee, as well as the full album Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Harold Arlen, House of Flowers, Ralph Sharon, Truman Capote

August 1, 2012 By Suzanne 1 Comment

A Sleeping Bee

The Song of the Day is the glorious A Sleeping Bee, written by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote. It was written for the musical House of Flowers, based on the short story by Truman Capote; Harold Arlen wrote music and lyrics and Truman Capote wrote the book and lyrics. It’s a lovely song and we’re happy to present it as the Song of the Day. Tony Bennett first recorded A Sleeping Bee 1959 for Tony Bennett Sings for Two, his wonderful album with Ralph Sharon.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Harold Arlen, House of Flowers, Ralph Sharon, Truman Capote

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