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 (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)

The song of the day for Sunday, May 19, 2024, 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. 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 It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” in May 1999 for his centennial tribute to Duke Ellington: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, featuring a very fine arrangement by Ralph Burns.

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

Here’s the original recording with Ivie Anderson:

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

The song of the day for Monday, July 31, 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 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 Bennet recorded “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” in May 1999 for his album dedicated to Ellington: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. It was arranged by Ralph Burns, who first with Bennett 40 years earlier for Hometown, My Town, in 1959.

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

Here’s the 1931 version with the amazing Ivie Anderson on vocals:

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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 Saturday, March 4, 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 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 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. Marion Evans wrote the excellent arrangement. 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.

Here’s the original Duke Ellington recording, with vocals by Ivie Anderson:

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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: