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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

October 30, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: It Don’t Mean a Thing

The song of the day for Saturday, October 31, 2020, is “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”

About This Song

“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” was written by Duke Ellington in 1931; the lyrics are by Irving Mills. This song was one of the first songs to use the word “swing” in the title and this song certainly defined what it meant to swing. Ellington recorded the song with Ivie Anderson on vocals and it was an immediate hit. It has been widely recorded since it was written and the song is a lot of fun to play and to listen to. Significant recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Gigi Gryce, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, and
Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” for his album of Duke Ellington songs, Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, released in 1999 (the centennial anniversary of Ellington’s birth). The arrangement is by Ralph Burns, who worked first with Bennett in 1959 for Hometown, My Town. It features great guitar from Gray Sargent and great drumming from Clayton Cameron. It does swing!

It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)

Listen to It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.

“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from Apple Music.

There two other versions of this song that I just love, so I’m adding them to today’s post.

First, is the original Ellington recording in 1931 with Ivie Anderson on vocals:

It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)

Listen to It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) on Spotify. Duke Ellington · Song · 2000.

Next, is Ellington and Louis Armstrong from The Great Summitt, recorded in 1961. This recorded also has the verse, which you almost never hear.

It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) – 1990 Remaster

Listen to It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) – 1990 Remaster on Spotify. Louis Armstrong · Song · 2001.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bennet Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Ivie Anderson, Louis Armstrong, The Great Summit, Tony Bennett

October 4, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart

The song of the day for Monday, October 5, 2020, is “I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart.”

About This Song

“I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart” was written in 1938 by Duke Ellington; the lyrics were written by Irving Mills, Henry Nemo, and John Redmond. It was a major hit for Ellington, reaching #1 on the charts. In addition to his own recording that year, other recordings by Benny Goodman and Mildred Bailey were made that year and were extremely popular as well. In 1952 Ellington named this song as one of his eleven favorites.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart” in 1967 for his album Tony Makes It Happen! Marion Evans arranged the album and conducted as well. Like all of the work Evans did for Bennett, the arrangement is just great.

“I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart,” as well as Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Duke Ellington, Henry Nemo, Irving Mills, John Redmond, Marion Evans, Tony Bennett, Tony Makes It Happen!

September 17, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: It Don’t Mean A Thing

The song of the day for Friday, September 18, 2020, is “It Don’t Mean A Thing.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “It Don’t Mean a Thing” in 1931, lyrics are attributed to Irving Mills. It was one of the first songs to use the word “swing” in the title and this song certainly defined what it meant to swing. Ellington recorded the song with Ivie Anderson on vocals and it was an immediate hit. It has been widely recorded since it was written and the song is a lot of fun to play and to listen to. Significant recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Gigi Gryce, Tony Bennett, and Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “It Don’t Mean a Thing” in 1999 for the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The terrific arrangement is by Ralph Burns.

“It Don’t Mean A Thing,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from Apple Music.

I just got the vinyl LP of The Great Summit, which brought Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong together for the first time. I can’t get enough of their recording of this song, in large part because it includes the verse.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Louis Armstrong, Ralph Burns, The Great Summit, Tony Bennett

September 11, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Tony Live! Moonglow

The song of the day for Saturday, September 12, 2020, is “Moonglow.”

About This Song

“Moonglow” was written in 1933 by Will Hudson and Irving Mills, with lyrics by Eddie DeLange. It’s been a popular song since it was written. The first recordings were by Joe Venuti and His Orchesta, Ethel Waters, and The Benny Goodman Orchestra. Later recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Artie Shaw.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and guest k.d. lang recorded “Moonglow” in 1994 for Bennett’s MTV Unplugged live performance. This led to a long-term collaboration of the two singers, including one of my favorites, A Wonderful World, consisting of songs associated with Louis Armstrong.

“Moonglow,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day, Tony Live! Tagged With: Eddie DeLange, Irving Mills, k d lang, MTV Unplugged, Tony Bennett, Will Hudson

June 11, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Solitude

The song of the day for Friday, June 12, 2020, is “Solitude.”

About This Song

“Solitude” was written in 1934 by Duke Ellington; the lyrics by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills were added later (as they were for most of Ellington’s compositions).

One of his masterpieces, Ellington is said to have written “Solitude” in twenty minutes at the recording session, as they were one number short (Ted Gioia in The Jazz Standards). It’s a very strong song for both vocalists and instrumentalists. Ellington made over a hundred recordings of this song. Other great recordings include those by Paul Robeson, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Billy Eckstine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Solitude” in 1996 for his album devoted to songs sung by Billie Holiday: Tony Bennett on Holiday. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Solitude,” as well as Tony Bennett on Holiday, is available from Apple Music.

If you have time to listen to two songs today, here’s Billie Holiday’s version, recorded and released on the Clef label in 1952 and re-released on Verve in 1956.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Eddie DeLange, Irving Mills, Jorge Calandrelli, Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett On Holiday

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