The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Lost In The Stars

The song of the day for Saturday, January 1, 2016 is “Lost In The Stars.”

About This Song

“Lost in the Stars” by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson is from the 1949 musical of the same name, based on the 1948 novel by Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country. Set in South Africa in an era when apartheid seemed as if it would never end, the plot concerns a black priest whose son kills, in a robbery attempt, a white man who is a friend of his father. The priest sings this song at the end of the first act, in a complete crisis of faith.

About This Version

This song is a favorite of Tony Bennett and he’s recorded it several times; some may remember this song was used at the end of The Zen Of Bennett, which is you haven’t seen it, I strongly recommend that you do (it’s on Netflix streaming, by the way).

Today’s version was recorded in 1958 for his 1959 album with Count Basie and His Orchestra, In Person! The fine arrangement is by Ralph Sharon.

Lost In The Stars

Listen to Lost In The Stars on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1959


“Lost In The Stars,” as well as In Person!, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Firefly

The song of the day for Sunday, October 18, 2015 is “Firefly.”

About This Song

“Firefly” was written in 1958 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. It was written as an audition piece for the musical Gypsy; this was after Ethel Merman rejected the producer’s choice of a relatively young Stephen Sondheim to write the music and lyrics. The composing duties went to the great Jule Styne, who did insist on Sondheim for the lyrics.

About Today

It’s Sunday and hopefully most of us have a little extra time to listen to more than one recording today.

About These Versions

This song must be a favorite of Bennett’s as he’s recorded it six times, from 1958 to 2014!

There are two recordings from 1958: first as a single arranged by Ray Ellis and later that year with Count Basie, which is probably my favorite version of them all. Next up are two live recordings: 1962 at Carnegie Hall and 1964 at The Sahara. Finally are our two duet versions: 1998 with Kermit The Frog and 2014 with Lady Gaga. There’s a lot to choose from today!

1958-1

Firefly

Tony Bennett · The Columbia Singles, Vol. 5 · Song · 2011


“Firefly,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 5, is available from iTunes.

1958-2


“Firefly,” as well as In Person!, is available from iTunes.

1962

Firefly - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to Firefly - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


“Firefly,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

1964

Firefly - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964

Listen to Firefly - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“Firefly,” as well as Tony Bennett Live at The Sahara: From This Moment On, is available from iTunes.

1998

Firefly

Listen to Firefly on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Kermit the Frog · 1998


“Firefly,” as well as The Playground, is available from iTunes.

2014

Firefly

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · Cheek To Cheek (Deluxe) · Song · 2014


“Firefly,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Pennies From Heaven

The song of the day for Thursday, July 16, 2015 is “Pennies From Heaven.”

About This Song

“Pennies From Heaven” was written in 1936 by Arthur Johnson and Johnny Burke. This song was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name. It’s one of the classic Great Depression songs.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song in 1958 with Count Basie and His Orchestra for their second album, In Person!

Pennies from Heaven

Tony Bennett & Count Basie · The Complete Recordings (Bonus Track Version) · Song · 2013


“Pennies From Heaven,” as well as In Person!, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Firefly

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 9, 2014 is “Firefly.”

About This Song

“Firefly” was written in 1958 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. It was an audition number written for the upcoming musical Gypsy, starring Ethel Merman in one her greatest roles. The job of writing the score went to Jule Styne, with the lyrics by a very young Stephen Sondheim. I think I would have loved to hear what Coleman and Leigh might have done for Gypsy. Thankfully, we have this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded Firefly in August, 1958, arranged by Ray Ellis and released as single that same month. Today’s recording is from his second album with Count Basie and His Orchestra, In Person!, and was recorded just a few months later in December, 1958.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1LdR8g2RNMijylY5kS69Iq
“Firefly,” as well as the album In Person!, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Lullaby of Broadway

The song of the day for Saturday, April 26, 2014 is “Lullaby of Broadway.”

About This Song

“Lullaby of Broadway” was written in 1935 by Harry Warren and Al Dubin for the film musical The Gold Diggers of 1935. This song is one of Warren’s most popular songs, with recordings by Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day and Bette Midler. It was used in the 1980 Broadway production 42nd Street and was sung by Jerry Orbach (whom your author had the great privilege of seeing in this production).

About This Version

“Lullaby of Broadway” is one of Bennett’s more often-recorded songs, starting with The Beat of My Heart in 1957 to the 1962 Carnegie Hall Concert and the 1964 Live at the Sahara concert. Today’s version is from his second album with the Count Basie Orchestra, In Person!, released in 1959.

http://open.spotify.com/track/6m8EJtG9ESWAMzwCtutmjy
“Lullaby of Broadway,” as well as the album In Person!, is available from iTunes.

And yes, it’s Saturday again. Here is Tony Bennett singing “Lullaby of Broadway” with Dixie Chicks from Duets: An American Classic.

Many thanks to Tony Bennett and VEVO for making a whole new crop of videos available on YouTube.