The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Tony Live! Steppin’ Out With My Baby

The song of the day for Sunday, September 6, 2020, is “Steppin’ Out.”

About This Song

“Steppin’ Out With My Baby” was written by Irving Berlin for the 1948 film musical Easter Parade, which starred Fred Astaire and Judy Garland. The score of Easter Parade won the Academy Award for Best Original Music Score.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sings “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” from his 1994 live performance on MTV Unplugged.

“Steppin’ Out With My Baby,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Let’s Face The Music And Dance

The song of the day for Monday, August 31, 2020, is “Let’s Face The Music And Dance.”

About This Song

“Let’s Face the Music and Dance” was written in 1936 for the film Follow the Fleet with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The Astaire – Rogers dance to this song is considered one of their best. It has also been recorded by singers including Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Let’s Face The Music And Dance” for his 1987 album Bennett/Berlin. Bennett arranged the song for this album.

“Let’s Face The Music And Dance,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from Apple Music.

Of course I’m including the video of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers from Follow The Fleet. I’m not some kind of monster.

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Song of the Day: Isn’t This a Lovely Day?

The song of the day for Monday, July 20, 2020, is “Isn’t This a Lovely Day?”

About This Song

This delightful song was written by Irving Berlin in 1935 for the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat. In the film, Astaire and Rogers are caught in a rainstorm while sitting in an outdoor gazebo. The song was introduced by Fred Astaire. This song has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Diana Krall, Jeri Southern, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Isn’t This a Lovely Day?” in 1987 for his album Bennett/Berlin. Bennett did his own arrangement.

“Isn’t This a Lovely Day?,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from Apple Music.

In 1962, Fred Astaire made an album with pianist Oscar Peterson named Fred Astaire Sings & Swings Irving Berlin. I heard this recording last Saturday on John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey’s Radio Deluxe program and wanted to share it too. The very nice tenor saxophone solo was by Flip Phillips.

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Tony Live! I Love a Piano

The song of the day for Sunday, July 19, 2020, is “I Love a Piano.”

About This Song

Written in 1915, “I Love A Piano” was one of Berlin’s ragtime style songs. It was introduced in the 1915 Broadway musical Stop! Look! Listen!, where it was sung by Harry Fox. It as recorded in 1915 by Billy Murray, but did not catch on immediately, due in part, I’m sure, to the fact that home phonographs may not have been as prevalent as they were a few decades later. Berlin included it in the 1948 movie Easter Parade with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland and since then the song has been well-received.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “I Love a Piano” at his 1994 MTV Unplugged concert. It gave him a chance to introduce his pianist and musical director, Ralph Sharon.

“I Love a Piano,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Got Lost In Her Arms

The song of the day for Thursday, July 9, 2020, is “I Got Lost in Her Arms.”

About This Song

“I Got Lost In Her Arms” is from Irving Berlin’s wonderful 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, which starred Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton. The song’s actual title is “I Got Lost in His Arms” and was introduced by Miss Merman.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Got Lost In Her Arms” in 1986 for The Art of Excellence. The album was Bennett’s first album after returning to the Columbia Label.

“I Got Lost in Her Arms,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available from Apple Music.

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