The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Thou Swell

The song of the day for Monday, July 6, 2020, is “Thou Swell.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote “Thou Swell” for the 1927 musical A Connecticut Yankee, based on the Mark Twain novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. “Thou Swell” is one of the more charming songs from the musical, as the lyrics feature a combination of modern and medieval language: “thine eyes are cute too” and “I’d feel so rich in a hut for two.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Thou Swell” in 1973, featuring the somewhat unusual, but quite perfect, The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on cornet, Barnes on guitar, Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s not often you see a group with piano or drums, but for these Rodgers and Hart songs, the sound is absolutely perfect. “Thou Swell” was released in 1977 on Tony Bennett Sings More Rodgers and Hart.

“Thou Swell,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! Watch What Happens

The song of the day for Saturday, July 3, 2020, is “Watch What Happens.”

About Today

Today, our Tony Live! series moves to Buffalo, New York in May 1977. Tony Bennett, Marian McPartland, and a lot more talented musicians did a show at the Statler Hilton’s Downtown Club in Buffalo. Accompanying Tony was Torrie Zito on piano, John Guiffrida on bass, and Joe Cocuzzo on drums.

About This Song

“Watch What Happens” was composed by Michel Legrand for the lovely 1964 French film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. The film’s director and screenwriter, Jacques Demy, wrote the original lyrics. Norman Gimbel wrote the English lyrics. Bennett’s first recording of “Watch What Happens” was made for his 1965 album If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. It was the first recording of the song with the Gimbel lyrics.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version in May 1977 in Buffalo, New York; the show also featured Marian McPartland and a fine jazzband, led by cornettist Jimmy McPartland. The show was released on Bennett’s Improv label as Tony Bennett, The McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music and was included as a CD in the 2011 Complete Collection. Currently, it is available on The Complete Improv Recordings.

“Watch What Happens,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Blue Moon

The song of the day for Thursday, March 5, 2020, is “Blue Moon.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote “Blue Moon” in 1933. Although written in 1933, “Blue Moon” first appeared in the 1934 film Manhattan Melodrama, though with a completely different lyric. I can’t imagine any lyric other than the one we all know; it’s quite perfect.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blue Moon” in July 1973, and released it in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs. He’s accompanied by The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, featuring Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. With neither piano or drums, the sound is perfect for the Rodgers and Hart songs.

“Blue Moon,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: This Can’t Be Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 16, 2019, is “This Can’t Be Love.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote this song for the 1938 Broadway musical The Boys From Syracuse. It is one of their most joyous and least ironic love songs. Both Benny Goodman and Eddy Duchin recorded the song in the late 1930s. In addition to Tony Bennett’s fine recording here, “This Can’t Be Love” has also been recorded by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “This Can’t Be Love” for his first album of Rodgers and Hart songs, Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs. He recorded his Rodgers and Hart songs with the The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, wiht Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass.

“This Can’t Be Love,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings The Rodgers & Heart Songbook, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got Five Dollars

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 18, 2019, is “I’ve Got Five Dollars.”

About This Song

“I’ve Got Five Dollars” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1931 musical America’s Sweetheart, where it was introduced by Ann Sothern and Jack Whiting. Notable recordings include those by Ella Fitzgerald, Jeri Southern, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got Five Dollars” in 1973 with The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, which consisted to Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. The recording was released in 1977 on Tony Bennett Sings More Rodgers and Hart.

“I’ve Got Five Dollars,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available from iTunes.

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