Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra Archives | The Year of Tony Bennett

About This Song

“Tangerine” was written by Victor Schertzinger and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 movie The Fleet’s In, which starred Dorothy Lamour, William Holden, Eddie Bracken and introduced Betty Hutton. The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, with vocalists Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberly, made a very successful recording in 1942.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Tangerine” in July 1995 for Here’s To The Ladies. Bill Holman wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

In Here’s To The Ladies, Tony Bennett celebrated the great female vocalists of the 20th century. Today, we are honoring Helen O’Connell, who recorded “Tangerine” with Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra. Helen O’Connell was born on May 23, 1920, and grew up in Toledo, Ohio. She joined the Jimmy Dorsey orchestra in 1939, leaving the group after her marriage in 1943. She resumed her career in 1951. She continued to perform, with her last performance just a month before her death in 1993.

“Tangerine,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the Jimmy Dorsey, Helen O’Connell, and Bob Eberly 1942 recording of “Tangerine.”

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 25, 2026, is “Give Me The Simple Life.”

About Today

Tony Bennett’s first full-length album, Cloud 7, was released 71 years ago on February 25, 1955. I wrote this description of Cloud 7 for my Tony Bennett discography:

Cloud 7 was Tony Bennett’s first full-length studio album. Having signed with Columbia Records in 1950, he had turned out a number of hit singles including”Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “Sing You Sinners,” “Cold, Cold Heart” and “Because of You.” Cloud 7 was the album that he had wanted to make–-a solid jazz long-playing album with a solid group of jazz musicians. Jazz critic Thom Jurek said that “The mood is nocturnal, elegant, amorous, hip.” As a first album by a young singer (Bennett was not even 30 when he made Cloud 7), it’s a remarkable album that defined Bennett not only as a vastly popular singer, but a jazz artist with impeccable taste and a true vision of his own artistry.

About This Song

“Give Me The Simple Life” was written by Rube Bloom and Harry Ruby for the 1946 film Wake Up and Dream, which starred John Payne and June Haver. Bing Crosby and Benny Goodman each recorded the song in 1945.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Give Me The Simple Life” on December 22, 1954, for his album Cloud 7, released in 1955. Charles Panely, who played trumpet on the album, wrote the arrangement.

“Give Me The Simple Life,” as well as Cloud 7, is available on Apple Music.

We’ve got Bing Crosby’s 1945 recording of today’s song with Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra: