The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Moonglow

The song of the day for Friday, April 12, 2024, is “Moonglow.”

About Today

Thirty years ago today, April 12, 1994, Tony Bennett appeared live on MTV Unplugged. The performance was a huge hit in the ratings as was the album released later that year.

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 Orchestra, Ethel Waters, and The Benny Goodman Orchestra. Later recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Artie Shaw.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “Moonglow” live on April 12, 1994. It was the first time Tony Bennett and k.d. lang performed together. The MTV Unplugged album was released in June of that year. The songs from the televised concert were arranged by Tony Bennett and the Ralph Sharon Trio.

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

MTV Unplugged won the 1994 Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Tradition Pop Performance.

Here’s the video of their performance.

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Song of the Day: I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart

The song of the day for Saturday, March 30, 2024, 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, with lyrics by Irving Mills, Henry Nemo, and John Redmond. The song was a major hit for Duke Ellington, reaching #1 on the charts. In addition to his own recording that year, other recordings by Benny Goodman and Mildred Bailey were made and were extremely popular. 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” on January 27, 1967, featuring an arrangement by Marion Evans. It was released on Tony Makes It Happen!, which was released 57 years ago today on March 30, 1967.

“I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart,” as well as Tony Makes It Happen!, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 27, 2024, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

“Mood Indigo” was written in 1930 by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Irving Mills. Originally titled “Dreamy Blues,” Ellington wrote this song based on a theme by Barney Bigard, who is said to have learned it from his New Orleans clarinet teacher, Lorenzo Tio. Ellington wrote the song specifically for “microphone transmission” and it was first played on a 1930 radio broadcast. Audiences loved the song, so Irving Mills wrote the lyrics, changing the song’s name to “Mood Indigo.” The song has been widely recorded by instrumental and vocal artists, including Tony Bennett, Charles Mingus, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Mood Indigo” in May 1999 for his tribute album to Duke Ellington: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The album, released on September 28, 1999, coincided with what would have been Ellington’s centennial birthday year in 1999.

Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Mood Indigo,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ellington’s 1930 recording of “Mood Indigo.”

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Song of the Day: It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing)

The song of the day for Friday, March 1, 2024, 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 in 1931 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by 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 and Lady Gaga recorded “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing)” in 2014 for their album Cheek To Cheek, featuring an arrangement by Marion Evans. It features Joe Lovano on tenor sax and George Rabbi on trumpet.

“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing),” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available on Apple Music.

Cheek To Cheek won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Here’s the fantastic 1931 Ellington recording of “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing)” with Ivie Anderson on vocals.

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Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Sunday, September 24, 2023, is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Sophisticated Lady” in 1932 as an instrumental. Lyrics were added later by Mitchell Parish. Ellington is said to have been inspired to write this song by two of his grade school teachers, who toured Europe in the summers after teaching all year: “To me that spelled sophistication.” “Sophisticated Lady” was first recorded in 1933 on the flip side with Harold Arlen’s “Stormy Weather.” It is, of course, one of Ellington’s most popular and often-played songs. In addition to numerous recordings by Ellington over the years, the song has been recorded by Art Tatum, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hodges, Sarah Vaughan, and Glenn Miller.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sophisticated Lady” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

“Sophisticated Lady,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.