The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Won’t Dance

The song of the day for Sunday, January 31, 2021, is “I Won’t Dance.”

About This Song

“I Won’t Dance” was originally written in 1934 by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein, for a London musical called Three Sisters, though the show was a flop and was quickly forgotten. The following year, a film of Roberta was made, and the song was re-purposed, this time with lyrics by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields.

About This Version

With The Bill Charlap Trio, Tony Bennett recorded “I Won’t Dance” for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Charlap wrote the arrangement.

I Won’t Dance

Listen to I Won’t Dance on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2015.

“I Won’t Dance,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up

The song of the day for Saturday, January 30, 2021, is “Pick Yourself Up.”

About This Song

“Pick Yourself Up” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the film Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It was used in the early part of the film where Astaire pretends to not be able to dance and asks for Ginger Rogers as his dance instructor just so he could dance with her. This song has been widely recorded, including those by Nat King Cole, Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Pick Yourself Up” with The Bill Charlap Trio for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. It swings quite nicely.

Pick Yourself Up

Listen to Pick Yourself Up on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2015.

“Pick Yourself Up,” as well as The Silver Lining, is available from Apple Music.

We’ve got some great videos today:

Here’s Astaire and Rogers from Swing Time

Last June, singer Tony DeSare created this fabulous All-Star Jazz Collab for the Actors Fund version of “Pick Yourself Up.” It was a fundraiser for the Actors Fund and much needed as actors have not been able to work since the pandemic began. I find myself returning to this video often, as it always makes me feel happy!

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Song of the Day: Yesterdays

The song of the day for Friday, January 29, 2021, is “Yesterdays.”

About This Song

“Yesterdays” was written by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach for the 1933 Broadway musical Roberta where it was introduced by Irene Dunne. Roberta was made into a film in 1935. The Kern-Harbach score for Roberta also included “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” and “Let’s Begin,” which Tony Bennett recorded in 1957 for his third album, The Beat of My Heart.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Yesterdays” for his 1966 album A Time For Love. Ralph Sharon did the arrangement and led the Ralph Sharon Trio. It’s an especially fine arrangement and Hal Gaylord’s bass was very good.

Yesterdays – 2011 Remaster

Listen to Yesterdays – 2011 Remaster on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1966.

“Yesterdays,” as well as A Time For Love, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Thursday, January 28, 2021, is “All The Things You Are.”

About This Song

“All The Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it to be one of Kern’s finest songs and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “All The Things You Are” in 1962 at his concert at Carnegie Hall, an abbreviated version of which was released on a 4-LP set as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. The 1997 reissue on 2 CDs included the full concert. Ralph Sharon arranged and conducted the orchestra.

All The Things You Are (From “Very Warm For May”) – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962

Listen to All The Things You Are (From “Very Warm For May”) – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962 on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1962.

“All The Things You Are,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 27, 2021, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

Composer Jerome Kern was born on January 27, 1885. As I write this, I am listening to the version of today’s songs and am struck by the timeless quality of this song. It’s just as relevant now as when it was written 85 years ago and will be relevant for generations to come.

We’ll be celebrating Jerome Kern for the rest of the week.

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 film Swing Time. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the year; Dorothy Fields was the first woman to win an Oscar for songwriting.

Fields remarked

The first time Jerry played that melody for me I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.

It’s a magnificent love song that has found a strong position as a jazz standard, with recordings by Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Mel Tormé, and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “The Way You Look Tonight” in 1977 for the movie My Best Friend’s Wedding; the exquisite piano is from Ralph Sharon.

I had several choices of versions of today’s song to feature, but the version Bennett recorded for My Best Friend’s Wedding is the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard and so I feature it today.

The Way You Look Tonight

Listen to The Way You Look Tonight on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2012.

“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as the song collected on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2, is available from Apple Music.

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