The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Strike Up The Band

The song of the day for Monday, May 31, 2021, is “Strike Up The Band.”

About This Song

“Strike Up the Band” was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1927 musical of the same name. Although Strike Up the Band was not a big hit on Broadway, the song became extremely popular. When Gershwin moved to Los Angeles, he was approached by UCLA to help with a fight song and so he contributed “Strike Up the Band for UCLA”, which is still played at all football and home basketball games at the university.

About This Recording

Tony Bennett recorded “Strike Up The Band” with Count Basie and His Orchestra in 1959 for his album Basie/Bennett. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

Strike up the Band (Strike up the Band) - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to Strike up the Band (Strike up the Band) - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959

“Strike Up The Band,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: They Can’t Take That Away From Me

The song of the day for Monday, May 17, 2021, is “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”

About This Song

“They Can’t Take That Away From Me” was written in 1936 by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1937 Fred Astaire – Ginger Rodgers movie Shall We Dance. Unlike most songs that Astaire introduced in his films, there was no dance number associated with “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” It is one of the Gershwins’ finest love songs. George Gershwin died just two months after this film was released.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” in 1967 for his album For Once In My Life. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

They Can"t Take That Away From Me

Listen to They Can"t Take That Away From Me on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1967

“They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” as well as For Once In My Life, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Hi-Ho

The song of the day for Saturday, May 15, 2021, is “Hi-Ho.”

About This Song

“Hi-Ho” was written in 1936 by George and Ira Gershwin. “Hi-Ho” has been called ‘Gershwin’s least known great song’ by blogger Walter Rimler. It was one of the first songs the Gershwin brothers wrote when they first came to Hollywood and slated for the movie Shall We Dance featuring Fred Astaire dancing in the streets of Paris. The song was cut due to concerns over the costs for filming the sequence. The song faded from then and was only published in 1967. Tony Bennett’s was the first recording of this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Hi-Ho” in 1968 for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

Hi-Ho

Tony Bennett · Yesterday I Heard The Rain · Song · 1968

“Hi-Ho,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Monday, February 15, 2021, is “The Man That Got Away.”

About Today

Today The Year of Tony Bennett begins a week dedicated to songwriter Harold Arlen, who was born as Hyman Arluck on February 15, 1905. The song of a cantor, Harold Arlen quickly became one of America’s best songwriters. We’ll spending this week exploring some of his songs.

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away” by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin was written for Judy Garland for the 1954 version of A Star Is Born, with James Mason. Her performance of the song is legendary in film history, with 27 takes in three days, three separate sessions, and two different directors. The filmed scene is brilliant and made the song a huge hit for Garland, who sang it in most of her concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Man That Got Away” on October 28, 1959, with Ralph Sharon. The singer and the pianist booked the studio for themselves–no other musicians. Sharon brought in a briefcase full of sheet music. They’d look at a song and decide if they wanted to record it. After finding the right key with Bennett, Sharon would work out an arrangement in just a few minutes and then they’d record the song.They recorded 16 songs in that session, 12 of which made it to the album Tony Sings For Two, which Columbia didn’t release until February 1961.

The Man That Got Away

Listen to The Man That Got Away on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from Apple Music.

How can I play “The Man That Got Away” with also including this video?

The Man That Got Away - A Star Is Born (1954)

Of course this is the original version that was written for Judy by Harold Arlen for the film A Star Is Born in 1954. Judy Garland is 32 years old here.

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Song of the Day: Fascinating Rhythm

The song of the day for Sunday, January 20, 2021, is “Fascinating Rhythm.”

About This Song

Written by George and Ira Gershwin in 1924 for the Broadway musical Lady Be Good, “Fascinating Rhythm” was introduced by Cliff Edwards and Fred and Adele Astaire. The Astaires also recorded the song in 1926 with Gershwin on the piano. “Fascinating Rhythm” was and still is, a jazz number. For that reason, it has never been out of favor with jazz artists, both vocal and instrumental.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Fascinating Rhythm” in 1958 with The Count Basie Big Band for the 1959 album In Person.

Fascinatin" Rhythm

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

“Fascinating Rhythm,” as well as In Person, is available from Apple Music.

Bennett first recorded “Fascinating Rhythm” on the Leslie label. Long thought to be lost, a copy of the record was found and was included in the 2011 Complete Collection Box Set.

Fascinatin" Rhythm

Tony Bennett · Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 · Song · 2012

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