The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Prelude to a Kiss

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 16, 2019, is “Prelude to a Kiss.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Prelude to a Kiss,” was written in 1938 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Gordon and Irving Mills.

Ted Gioia in The Jazz Standards notes that in the late 1930s, having practically invented swing music, “… at this juncture, he does the exact opposite. The Duke uses his fame and great artistic freedom to become more ambitious, more experimental, less beholden to the formulas of swing music. … ‘Prelude To A Kiss’ from 1938 is a case in point.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Prelude to a Kiss” in 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington Hot and Cool. Joel Smirnoff is the featured violin soloist for this recording, which was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

Prelude To A Kiss

Prelude To A Kiss, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Prelude to a Kiss,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot and Cool, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Prelude To A Kiss

The song of the day for Monday, April 4, 2016 is “Prelude To A Kiss.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Prelude To A Kiss” in 1938, with lyrics by Irving Gordon and Irving Mills.

Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, notes that in the late 1930s, Ellington having practically invented swing music, “… at this juncture he does the exact opposite. The Duke uses his fame and great artistic freedom to become more ambitious, more experimental, less beholden to the formulas of swing music. … ‘Prelude To A Kiss’ from 1938 is a case in point.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Prelude To A Kiss” in 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The exquisite violin is from Joel Smirnoff.

Prelude To A Kiss

Tony Bennett · Bennett Sings Ellington / Hot And Cool · Song · 1999


“Prelude To A Kiss,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Me, Myself and I

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 7, 2015 is “Me, Myself and I (Are All In Love With You).”

About This Song

“Me, Myself and You” was written in 1937 by Irving Gordon with lyrics by Allan Roberts and Alvin S. Kaufman. Billie Holiday made one the earliest recordings of the song and made is popular. It has also been recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, Lester Young and Ruby Braff.

About This Version

Today’s song is the fourth song on Tony Bennett On Holiday. I love Bennett’s version on this recording. With just Sharon’s piano for accompaniment, it recalls the feel of the 1930s perfectly.

Me, Myself And I(Are All In Love With You)

Listen to Me, Myself And I(Are All In Love With You) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1997

“Me, Myself and I,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from iTunes.

About Billie Holiday’s Version

Billy Holiday recorded “Me, Myself and I” on June 15, 1937; the recording was listed as by Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra. The orchestra consisted of Buck Clayton (trumpet), Edmond Hall (clarinet), Lester Young (tenor sax), James Sherman (piano), Freddie Green (guitar), Walter Page (bass), and Jo Jones (drums). There were two recordings that day: MX 21249-2 was released in Vocalion 3593 in 1937 on the flip side of “Without Your Love”; MX 21249-1 was released on Columbia CL-6129, a 10″ LP called Billie Holiday Sings released in 1950.

She sang it again the following week, June 23, 1937, on a live broadcast from the Savoy Ballroom with Count Basie and His Orchestra.

Here’s the original version as released in 1937 on the Vocalion label, as collected on the 3-CD Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday.

Me, Myself and I - Take 1

Listen to Me, Myself and I - Take 1 on Spotify. Song · Billie Holiday · 1933

“Me, Myself and I,” as well as Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Prelude to a Kiss

The song of the day for Friday, September 5, 2014 is “Prelude to a Kiss.”

About This Song

“Prelude to a Kiss” was written by Duke Ellington in 1938 with lyrics by Irving Gordon and Irving Mills. Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, notes that in the late 1930s, Ellington, having practically invented swing music, “… at this juncture he does the exact opposite. The Duke uses his fame and great artistic freedom to become more ambitious, more experimental, less beholden to the formulas of swing music. … ‘Prelude To A Kiss’ from 1938 is a case in point.” It’s one his loveliest ballads.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Prelude to a Kiss” for 1999 album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, which won the Grammy award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance. This recording features Joel Smirnoff on violin and Gray Sargent on guitar. It’s an exquisite recording of a beautiful song.

Prelude To A Kiss

Tony Bennett · Bennett Sings Ellington / Hot And Cool · Song · 1999


“Prelude to a Kiss,” as well as the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Me, Myself and I

The song of the day for February 9, 2014 is “Me, Myself and I.”

About This Song

“Me, Myself and I” was written in 1937 by Irving Gordon, with lyrics by Allen Roberts and Alvin S. Kaufman. This song had several successful recordings in 1937, including those by Billie Holiday and Benny Goodman. This song has also been recorded by Ruby Braff, Lester Young and, of course, Tony Bennett.

About This Version

I had a request for another song from Tony Bennett’s On Holiday album (based on that listener’s enjoyment of “Trav’lin’ Light” from earlier in the week) and was happy to provide. I chose “Me, Myself and I” not only because it’s a terrific song and a great recording by Tony Bennett, but because I think it’s important for us all to remember that Billie Holiday sang all kinds of songs, not just the torch songs so often associated with her. Today’s song is an example of that.

Like the rest of the songs from Tony Bennett On Holiday, this song features Ralph Sharon on piano, with the orchestra arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4qryy6FjSy0Muh50xUbLL9
“Me, Myself and I,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from iTunes.

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