The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 24, 2023, 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 1930 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics 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 listen to. Significant recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Gigi Gryce, Tony Bennett, and Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” in May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Ralph Burns did the arrangement. Clayton Cameron was exceptional on the drums for this recording.

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

We’ve got two additional recordings of “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” that you might enjoy.

Ivie Anderson on vocals on Ellington’s 1932 recording:

Next is Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington’s recording from The Great Reunion, recorded in 1963. Armstrong sings the verse, which is wonderful and almost never heard:

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

The song of the day for Friday, January 6, 2023, 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. 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 listen to. Significant recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Gigi Gryce, Tony Bennett, and Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sings “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing,” featuring his drummer Clayton Cameron live on April 12, 1994, for MTV Unplugged.

Here’s the original recording by Duke Ellington and Ivie Anderson from 1932.

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Song of the Day: She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)

The song of the day for Sunday, April 3, 2022, is “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good).”

About This Song

“She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” was written in 1941 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. This song’s actual title is “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good). It was written for Ivie Anderson, who sang it in a revue called Jump For Joy. Anderson also recorded the song in 1941 with saxophonist Johnny Hodges which was well-received. The song has been widely recorded.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” in 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good),” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ivie Anderson original version with Ellington.

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

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 2, 2022, is “It Don’t Mean a Thing”

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. 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 Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “It Don’t Mean a Thing” for their 2014 album Cheek To Cheek. Marion Evans wrote the very fine arrangement.

“It Don’t Mean a Thing,” as well as Cheek To Cheek is available on Apple Music.

We’ve also got the Ivie Anderson vocal with Duke Ellington. It’s hot and it swings!

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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 Tuesday, April 27, 2021, is “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” in 1931, with lyrics 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 Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” in 1999 for his album dedicated to Duke Ellington, Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, which was released in the centenary year of Ellington’s birth. Ralph Burns wrote the very swinging arrangement.

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 are a lot of fantastic recordings of this song; I’ve narrowed it down to three.

First is Ellington’s original recording, featuring 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 · 2018.

Next is Louis Armstrong and Ellington, who got together for The Great Summit in 1961. I love this recording because of Armstrong singing the verse.

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.

And finally, I just discovered this video of Ella Fitzgerald yesterday and it’s just great!

Ella Fitzgerald - It Don"t Mean a thing (If it ain"t got that swing) [1974]

Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Pass and others performing this Duke Ellington"s and Irving Mills" song in London, in 1974. This live date was recorded at Ronnie Scott"s Jazz Club in Soho. Note the fun she makes in the beginning of the song and also while singing it. Ella was and still is majestic.

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