The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Good Life

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 29, 2014 is “The Good Life.”

About This Song

“The Good Life” (originally known as “La Belle Vie”) was written in 1962 by Sacha Distel, with lyrics by Jack Reardon, for the movie The Seven Capital Sins. Tony Bennett is the singer most widely identified with “The Good Life;” other good recordings include those by Betty Carter, Carmen McRae and Stephane Grappelli. It has been said that Distel wrote this song about Bridgette Bardot, who refused Distel’s marriage proposal in 1959.

We choose this song today in memory of Sacha Distel, who was born on this day, January 29, 1933 in Paris, France. He was a prominent French singer and guitarist. Distel’s uncle, Ray Ventura, was a jazz promoter and so the young Distel was exposed to jazz music at an early age. He worked with Dizzy Gillespie and other American jazz artists in France in the late 1940s. Sacha Distel had a notable career as a composer and entertainer in Europe and America.

Sacha Distel died on July 22, 2004 at the age of 71.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Good Life” for his 1963 album I Wanna Be Around. Though recorded by many singers, the song is strongly identified with Tony Bennett.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4MVvSNPOUd2z70vkkNCbLr
“The Good Life,” as well as the album I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 21, 2014 is “I Wanna Be Around.”

About This Song

The story of “I Wanna Be Around” is legendary in the music business. Sadie Vimmerstedt, who lived in Youngstown, Ohio, was a big fan of Johnny Mercer’s music. She wrote the opening line ‘I want to be around to pick up the pieces, when somebody breaks yours heart’ and felt it sounded like a Johnny Mercer song. She mailed a letter to ‘Johnny Mercer, Songwriter, New York.’ The post office forwarded the letter to ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), who got the letter to Mercer.
Mercer wrote the melody himself and completed the lyrics for “I Wanna Be Around” in 1959 and asked Tony Bennett to record it, which he did in 1962. Mercer gave 50% of the profits to Ms. Vimmerstedt, which made her a wealthy woman and enabled her to retire and travel the world. Tony Bennett recounts in his autobiography The Good Life that she sent him postcards from her travels.

It is one of the great songs in the American Songbook.

About This Version

I can hear you now … she’s been playing a lot of Johnny Mercer lately; it’s true–I have been. Mercer, Arlen, Rodgers and Hart, and “The Rules of the Road” are all on the list of songs and songwriters that I just cannot resist.

Today’s version of “I Wanna Be Around” is the original. Tony Bennett recorded this version in 1962; it was released as a single in 1962 and featured for his 1963 album of the same name. This album also contains another of his great hits: “The Good Life” (stayed tuned; this song is coming up soon). It was arranged and conducted by Marty Manning and was produced by Ernie Altschuler.

I Wanna Be Around...

Listen to I Wanna Be Around... on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1963

“I Wanna Be Around,” as well as the album of the same name, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got Your Number

The song of the day for Thursday, August 22, 2013 is “I’ve Got Your Number.”

About This Song

Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh wrote “I’ve Got Your Number” in 1962 for the musical Little Me, starring Sid Caesar and Virginia Martin, who introduced this song.

About This Version

“I’ve Got Your Number” is from Tony Bennett’s 1963 album I Wanna Be Around. The song was arranged by Marty Manning with a great big band sound … the trombones at the beginning get me each and every time I listen to this song. The album was produced by Ernie Altschuler.

Today’s version is by request from this blog’s earliest and most devoted fan. Nick, you take care of yourself!

http://open.spotify.com/track/3pXVyrs7lh9X5tSgcASIUB
“I’ve Got Your Number,” as well as the album I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes and Amazon.com.

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Song of the Day: The Good Life

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 20, 2013 is “The Good Life.”

About This Song

It is said that Sacha Distel wrote “The Good Life” after his relationship with Bridgette Bardot ended when she refused his proposal of marriage. I don’t know if this is true or not, but it’s a great story. The song was written in 1962 for the movie The Seven Capital Sins, with lyrics by Jack Reardon. The original French title was “La Belle Vie.”

About This Version

Today’s song comes from Tony Bennett’s 1963 album I Wanna Be Around. In addition to today’s iconic song, the album also contains the Johnny Mercer-Sadie Vimmerstedt song “I Wanna Be Around,” as well as many other fine songs. “The Good Life” was arranged by Marty Manning and produced by Ernie Altschuler.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4MVvSNPOUd2z70vkkNCbLr
“The Good Life,” as well as the album I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: It Was Me

The song of the day for Sunday, June 23, 2013 is “It Was Me.”

About This Song

If there is a more perfect song to bring summer to life, I don’t know what it is. “It Was Me” was written by Gilbert Becaud  as “C’etait Moi,” with English lyrics by Norman Gimbel. It’s a beautiful love song that brings memories of summers past and, maybe, to come.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Was Me” for his 1963 album I Wanna Be Around. National Public Radio’s Melissa Block interviewed Tony Bennett about his favorite summer song, “It Was Me,” in 2009. Click here to listen to the story.

http://open.spotify.com/track/27SCZ5Gnb7YxnzoBJo2sZJ
“It Was Me,” as well as the entire I Wanna Be Around album, is available from iTunes.