The song of the day for Wednesday, January 29, 2014 is “The Good Life.”
About This Song
“The Good Life” (originally known as “La Belle Vie”) was written in 1962 by Sacha Distel, with lyrics by Jack Reardon, for the movie The Seven Capital Sins. Tony Bennett is the singer most widely identified with “The Good Life;” other good recordings include those by Betty Carter, Carmen McRae and Stephane Grappelli. It has been said that Distel wrote this song about Bridgette Bardot, who refused Distel’s marriage proposal in 1959.
We choose this song today in memory of Sacha Distel, who was born on this day, January 29, 1933 in Paris, France. He was a prominent French singer and guitarist. Distel’s uncle, Ray Ventura, was a jazz promoter and so the young Distel was exposed to jazz music at an early age. He worked with Dizzy Gillespie and other American jazz artists in France in the late 1940s. Sacha Distel had a notable career as a composer and entertainer in Europe and America.
Sacha Distel died on July 22, 2004 at the age of 71.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “The Good Life” for his 1963 album I Wanna Be Around. Though recorded by many singers, the song is strongly identified with Tony Bennett.
http://open.spotify.com/track/4MVvSNPOUd2z70vkkNCbLr
“The Good Life,” as well as the album I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes.
