The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

The song of the day for Monday, June 30, 2014 is “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.”

About This Song

“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” was written for the 1928 show Lew Leslie’s Blackbird Review by Jimmy McHugh (music) and Dorothy Fields (lyrics). It’s been a popular jazz song since that time with many fine recordings, including those by Ukulele Ike, Louis Armstrong, Doris Day, Marlene Dietrich, Duke Ellington, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald and many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” in 1956 for his second full-length album, Tony. All the songs on the album were arranged and conducted by Ray Conniff.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3sNVXE2W8TtHcL1otaUdxq
“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” as well as the album Tony, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: On The Sunny Side Of The Street

Willie Nelson is celebrating his 81st birthday today and The Year of Tony Bennett is pleased to join in the celebration of one of America’s greatest singers and composers. In honor of his birthday, the song of the day is “On the Sunny Side of the Street.”

About This Song

Today’s song was written by Jimmy McHugh, with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, in 1930. It was introduced in Lew Leslie’s International Revue. It was an instant jazz standard and has remained popular up to today, with both instrumental and vocal recordings of great stature. Duke Ellington recorded it 1938 with vocalist Ivie Anderson. Instrumental recordings include those Dizzy Gillespie, Art Tatum, Count Basie, Lester Young and Dave Brubeck. Vocal recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Frankie Laine, Judy Garland, Doris Day and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Today’s version is, of course, the duet with Tony and Willie Nelson from the 2011 Duets II. Willie also plays the sweet guitar on this version.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4hkfBXwxJnCWRf9sDZvtkr
“On The Sunny Side Of The Street,” as well as the album Duets II, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: On the Sunny Side of the Street

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 12, 2014 is “On the Sunny Side of the Street.”

About This Song

“On The Sunny Side of the Street” was written by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields in 1930. It was introduced in Lew Leslie’s International Revue. The song was one of the first in a series of cheerful songs to try to cheer people up over the Great Depression. It has proven popular with singers, who love the wonderful Fields lyrics, and jazz players, who love McHugh’s swingy tune.

About This Version

Today’s version of “On the Sunny Side of the Street” is from Bennett’s 1967 album Tony Makes It Happen! This song, as well as the entire album, was arranged and conducted by Marion Evans. Howard Roberts produced the album.

We choose this song, in part, as it is one of the four songs that k.d. lang sang last night in her Broadway debut in After Midnight.

http://open.spotify.com/track/6hINWgC3EgCfjis27zY9Gq
“On the Sunny Side of the Street,” as well as the album Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: On The Sunny Side of the Street

The song of the day for Monday, September 2, 2013 is “On the Sunny Side of the Street.”

About This Song

“On the Sunny Side of the Street” was written in 1930 for Lew Leslie’s International Revue, with music by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. The song quickly became a jazz standard and was recorded by Billy Holiday, Frank Sinatra, and Willie Nelson. In addition to this recording, Tony Bennett also recorded it as a duet with Willie Nelson on Duets II.

About This Version

Today’s version is from one my favorite of Tony’s albums from the late 1960s: the 1967 Tony Makes It Happen! The entire album was arranged and conducted by Marion Evans and was produced by Howard Roberts. The entire album is really terrific, but other standouts include “The Lady’s In Love With You,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and “Old Devil Moon.” Highly recommended by the opinionated author at The Year of Tony Bennett.

http://open.spotify.com/track/6hINWgC3EgCfjis27zY9Gq
“On The Sunny Side of the Street,” as well as the album Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from iTunes and Amazon.com.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Exactly Like You

The Song of the Day for October 29, 2012 is Exactly Like You.

About Exactly Like You

Exactly Like You was written for the 1930 Broadway show Lew Leslie’s International Review by Jimmy McHugh, with lyrics by Dorothy Fields.  They also wrote On The Sunny Side Of The Street for the same show. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and went on to become a jazz and popular standard. It has been recorded by everyone from Cab Calloway to Frank Sinatra to Django Reinhardt and Anita O’Day.

About This Version

Exactly Like You is the first track on Tony Bennett’s and k.d. lang’s celebration of the songs of Louis Armstrong, A Wonderful World. The album won the  2003 Grammy award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.