The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 2, 2020, is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was written by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell in 1928, It was originally a vaudeville song; the Rudy Valle recording made the song quite popular and a nice, up-tempo jazz number. Nat King Cole had a major hit with this song in 1940.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sweet Lorraine” in 1965, though it was not part of the rest of the sessions for If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. In March 1965, Tony Bennett and Bobby Hackett were appearing live in Chicago and decided to record this song in tribute to Nat King Cole, who had died a month earlier. Hackett played the ukulele (not the cornet, which was his instrument) and Hackett’s friend, Joe Marsala, played clarinet.

“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 11, 2020, is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was written in 1928 by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish. The song was originally a vaudeville song; the Rudy Valle recording made the song quite popular and a nice, up-tempo jazz number. Nat King Cole had a major hit with this song in 1940.

About This Version

I’ll let Tony tell the story about this recording:

That album, If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set, also included a song that’s always been very special to me: “Sweet Lorraine.” I dedicated it to Nat Cole, who had died a month earlier in April 1965. I was heartbroken when I heard that Nat had passed away. Bobby Hackett and I were working at the Palmer House in Chicago, and it seemed appropriate to pay tribute by recording Nat’s signature tune while we were in his hometown. Bobby, whose instrument was normally cornet, surprised us all by playing ukulele on this record; his buddy Joe Marsala played clarinet.

“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set , is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Friday, July 19, 2019, is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was written in 1928 by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish. It was originally a vaudeville song; the Rudy Valle recording made the song quite popular as a nice, up-tempo jazz number. Nat King Cole had a major hit with this song in 1940.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sweet Lorraine” in 1965; it was released on his album If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set. Bennett tells this story in his autobiography, The Good Life:

That album [If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set] also included a song that’s always been very special to me: “Sweet Lorraine. I dedicated it to Nat Cole, who had died a month earlier in April 1965. I was heartbroken when I heard that Nat had passed away. Bobby Hackett and I were working at the Palmer House in Chicago, and it seemed appropriate to pay tribute by recording Nat’s signature tune while we were in his hometown. Bobby, whose instrument was normally cornet, surprised us all by playing ukulele on this record; his buddy Joe Marsala played clarinet.

Sweet Lorraine

Sweet Lorraine, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 20, 2017 is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was written in 1928 by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish. It was originally a vaudeville song; the Rudy Valle recording made the song quite popular and a nice, up-tempo jazz number. Nat King Cole had a major hit with this song in 1940.

About This Version

This lovely recording is from Bennett’s 1965 album If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set. It features Bobby Hackett on the ukulele and Hackett’s friend Joe Marsala on clarinet. It’s a very nice recording.

Sweet Lorraine

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965


“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 6, 2014 is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was composed by Cliff Burwell with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. The song was published in 1928 and quickly became a jazz standard. Rudy Vallee, accompanied by Burwell, recorded the song in 1928. Other early recordings included those by Isham Jones and Teddy Wilson. Later recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Art Tatum, Chet Baker, Coleman Hawkins and, most famously, Nat “King” Cole.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Tony Bennett’s 1965 album If Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. I’ll let Tony Bennett tell the story (from The Good Life):

That album also included a song that’s always been very special to me: “Sweet Lorraine.” I dedicated it to Nat Cole, who had died a month earlier in in April 1965. I was heartbroken when I heard that Nat had passed away. Bobby Hackett and I were working at the Palmer House in Chicago, and it seemed appropriate to pay tribute by recording Nat’s signature tune while we were in his hometown. (Bobby, whose instrument was normally cornet, surprised us all by playing ukulele on this record; his buddy Joe Marsala played clarinet.)

http://open.spotify.com/track/50XojfSBJJQ75bAFowNyGZ
“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as the album If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available from iTunes.