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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

May 4, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves Broadway

The playlist of the week starting May 5, 2019, is Tony Loves Broadway.

Tony Loves Broadway

Many of Bennett’s early successes were Broadway songs. This year’s Tony Award nominations have me in a Broadway kind of mood

About These Songs

Just in Time from Bells Are Ringing — 1956: Jule Styne, Adolph Green, Betty Comden
Stranger in Paradise from Kismet — 1953: Alexander Borodin, Robert Wright, George Forrest
Lazy Afternoon from The Golden Apple — 1954: Jerome Moross, John Treville Latouche
All the Things You Are from Very Warm For May — 1939: Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein
Some Other Time from On the Town — 1944: Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green, Betty Comden
Baby, Dream Your Dream from Sweet Charity — 1966: Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields
The Party’s Over from Bells Are Ringing — 1956: Jule Styne, Adolph Green, Betty Comden

Filed Under: Playlist of the Week Tagged With: Adolph Green, Alexander Borodin, Betty Comden, Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields, George Forrest, Jerome Kern, Jerome Moross, John Treville Latouche, Jule Styne, Leonard Bernstein, Oscar Hammerstein, Robert Wright, Tony Bennett

June 25, 2014 By Suzanne 1 Comment

Song of the Day: Lazy Afternoon

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 25, 2014 is “Lazy Afternoon.”

About This Song

“Lazy Afternoon” is from the 1954 Broadway musical The Golden Apple, with music by Jerome Moross and lyrics by John LaTouche. The musical is modern retelling of parts of The Iliad and The Odyssey and is set in Washington State at Mt. Olympus. “Lazy Afternoon” was introduced by Kaye Ballard and Jonathan Lucas.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “Lazy Afternoon” on his second jazz album The Beat of My Heart. Today’s version, though, is from his legendary 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall. I can’t think of a much better song on a warm summer day than this.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2EyE7Vrfj2A8LDtyAHR06l
“Lazy Afternoon,” as well Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: 1962 Carnegie Hall Concert, Jerome Moross, John Latouche, The Golden Apple, Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall 1962

July 4, 2013 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Lazy Afternoon

The song of the day for Thursday, July 4, 2013 is “Lazy Afternoon.”

About This Song

Lazy Afternoon was written for the 1954 musical The Golden Apple by Jerome Moross and John LaTouche. The Golden Apple uses mythological Greek characters from Ulysses but set in the state of Washington (at Mount Olympia, of course) in the United States. This song, as well as the entire score, is quite beautiful. “Lazy Afternoon” was introduced by Kaye Ballard in the original production.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “Lazy Afternoon” in 1957 for his third album, The Beat of My Heart. Today’s version is from his (brilliant, masterful, incredible, perfect) 1962 performance at Carnegie Hall.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2EyE7Vrfj2A8LDtyAHR06l
“Lazy Afternoon,” as well as the complete Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall album, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Jerome Moross, John Latouche, The Golden Apple, Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall 1962

November 5, 2012 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Lazy Afternoon

The Song of the Day for Monday, November 5, 2012 is Lazy Afternoon.

About Lazy Afternoon

Lazy Afternoon was written for the 1954 musical The Golden Apple, which uses mythological Greek characters from Ulysses but set in the state of Washington (at Mount Olympia, of course) in the United States.  The music was written by  Jerome Moross, with lyrics by John Treville Latouche.

The Golden Apple is interesting not only because of its unusual premise, but that it was sung-through musical, along the lines of Porgy and Bess, Candide and The Most Happy Fella. Even though the score was very well received, it has been considered more of a “cult” musical and there was never an original cast album. Not until 2009 was the complete piano-vocal score published. The song was introduced in the original production by Kaye Ballard, and became a jazz standard. In addition to Mr. Bennett’s recording, it has also been recorded by artists such as Eartha Kitt, Sarah Vaughan, John Coltrane, George Shearing,  June Christy, and Joe Henderson, among others.

Correction: The original cast album of the 1954 production of The Golden Apple is available and may be purchased at Amazon.com and other retailers. My apologies.

About This Version

This version comes from Tony Bennett’s 1962 Carnegie Hall concert.   It’s beautifully sung by Mr. Bennett in that concert.  The recording for the Carnegie Hall concert is available as double CD and for download at iTunes. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves the music of Tony Bennett.  I’ve said it before, and shall say again, that it’s one of the finest live recordings ever made.  From the Carnegie Hall website:

He had the Carnegie Hall audience in the palm of his hand throughout this marathon concert. Accompanied by an outstanding lineup that included Al Cohn on tenor saxophone, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Candido Camero on percussion, and his longtime pianist Ralph Sharon, Bennett worked his way through 44 songs and medleys. The original vinyl release featured just 28 tracks on a double album. It was not until the 1997 CD release that fans could experience the full program.

I chose this song today simply because I was listening to this album in the car today and was struck immediately by what a wonderful song it is and how beautifully it is sung.  And not bad way to ease into a Monday.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Jerome Moross, John Latouche, The Golden Apple

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