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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

December 20, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

The song of the day for Wednesday, December 21, 2022, the eighth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

About This Song

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was written by Hugh Martin (who was born in my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, and attended the same college I did) and Ralph Blaine in 1943 for the 1944 film Meet Me In St. Louis. The song was introduced by Judy Garland, who sang it to her very young sister, played by Margaret O’Brien.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in 2004 for his album with The Count Basie Big Band, A Swingin’ Christmas, released in 2008.

In a Twitter conversation in November 2012, Tony Bennett said that “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is his favorite Christmas song. (It’s mine too.)

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the clip from Meet Me In St. Louis, with Judy Garland and Margaret O’Brien.

Filed Under: Song of the Day, The 12 Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas Tagged With: A Swingin' Christmas, Hugh Martin, Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Meet Me In St. Louis, Ralph Blane, The Count Basie Big Band, Tony Bennett

December 18, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

The song of the day for Sunday, December 19, 2021, the sixth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

About This Song

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane and was introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 movie Meet Me In St. Louis. In a Twitter conversation in November 2012, Tony Bennett said that “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is his favorite Christmas song. It’s mine too.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” for his 2008 album A Swingin’ Christmas,” which featured The Count Basie Big Band.

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas is available on Apple Music.

Today we have a clip from Meet Me In St. Louis, with Judy Garland singing today’s song to a very young Margaret Hamilton:

Filed Under: Song of the Day, The 12 Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas Tagged With: A Swingin' Christmas, Hugh Martin, Judy Garland, Meet Me In St. Louis, Ralph Blane, The Count Basie Big Band, Tony Bennett

December 18, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

On the sixth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, the song of the day for is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

About This Song

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was written by Hugh Martin for the 1944 film Meet Me In St. Louis, where it was sung by Judy Garland to Margaret O’Brien. In a Twitter conversation in November 2012, Tony Bennett said that “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is his favorite Christmas song. It’s mine too.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in 2004 for his 2008 album A Swingin’ Christmas. Mr. Bennett is accompanied by his quartet, featuring Lee Musiker on piano, Gray Sargent on guitar, Paul Langosch on bass, and Harold Jones on drums. It’s a wonderful arrangement.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Listen to Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2008.

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available from Apple Music.

Here’s the lovely scene from Meet Me In St. Louis

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas | Meet Me In St. Louis | Warner Archive

Meet Me In St. Louis (1944) #WarnerArchive #WarnerBros #MeetMeInStLouis Divided into a series of seasonal vignettes, starting with Summer 1903, it relates the story of a year in the life of the Smith family in St. Louis, leading up to the opening of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (more commonly referred to as the World"s Fair) in the spring of 1904.

Filed Under: Song of the Day, The 12 Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas Tagged With: A Swingin' Christmas, Gray Sargent, Harold Jones, Hugh Martin, Judy Garland, Lee Musiker, Meet Me In St. Louis, Paul Langosch, The 12 Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Tony Bennett

December 23, 2019 By Suzanne 1 Comment

Song of the Day: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 24, 2019, is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

About This Song

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was written in 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. Hugh Martin, like your author, is from Birmingham, Alabama and, also like your author, attended Birmingham-Southern College.

It was introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 movie Meet Me In St. Louis. In a Twitter conversation in November 2012, Tony Bennett said that “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is his favorite Christmas song.

It’s my favorite Christmas song too.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in 2004 for the album A Swingin’ Christmas, which was released in 2008, The album featured The Count Basie Orchestra.

As a Judy Garland fan, I have to offer her original recording from Meet Me In St.Louis:

About Today

Boy, am I glad to be back! I wound up in the hospital once again with pneumonia. I’m over the pneumonia, but I am still recovering physically from the ordeal. I’m told this to be expected, so I’m trying to be patient. Meanwhile, I’m hobbling around on a walker, which I need right now but can’t wait to put that thing in the closet.

In order to put in new carpet and flooring in my apartment, they had to pack up all of my stuff and move it out. Except for the kitchen not being affected as it’s all off the floor, it’s like moving in all over again. I’m going to take advantage of the situation to do a little Marie Kondo. But unlike Marie, all books and music bring joy!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: A Swingin' Christmas, Hugh Martin, Judy Garland, Meet Me In St. Louis, Ralph Blane, The Count Basie Orchestra

December 14, 2018 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

The song of the day for Saturday, December 15, 2018, is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
Today is the second day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas.

About This Song

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was written by Hugh Martin in 1944 for the film Meet Me In St. Louis. The song was introduced by Judy Garland and sung to a very young Margaret O’Brien, who won a special Academy Award for a juvenile actor.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” for his album with the Count Basie Big Band: A Swingin’ Christmas, released in 2008.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Our video today is Judy Garland singing today’s song to Margaret O’Brien from Meet Me in St. Louis.

Judy Garland – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

From the movie “Meet me in St. Louis” (1944). Con Subtitulos en Español

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: A Swingin' Christmas, Hugh Martin, Judy Garland, The Count Basie Big Band, Tony Bennett

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