The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Spring Is Here

The song of the day for Friday, April 20, 2017 is “Spring Is Here.”

About This Song

“Spring Is Here” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1938 film I Married An Angel, where it was introduced by Dennis King and Vivienne Segal. It’s one of Hart’s saddest lyrics, where the coming of Spring has no meaning, as his love is gone. But rather than a sad, depressing song, with the lovely melody by Rodgers, the song has sweet poignancy.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Spring Is Here” for his own Improv label in 1973. It was released in 1976 for Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs. For this album, Bennett worked with Ruby Braff – George Barnes Quartet, which featured Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. The quartet is a lovely sound for these Rodgers and Hart songs and one doesn’t miss the piano and drums at all.

Spring Is Here

Listen to Spring Is Here on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004


“Spring Is Here,” as well as all of the Improv label recordings, collected on The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Thou Swell

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 8, 2017 is “Thou Swell.”

About This Song

“Thou Swell” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart 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 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 for his album Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart, released in 1977. He is accompanied by the fantastic Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, featuring Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. The combination of Tony Bennett and this quartet is really remarkable.

Thou Swell

Listen to Thou Swell on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004


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

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Song of the Day: You Took Advantage Of Me

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 24, 2017 is “You Took Advantage Of Me.”

About This Song

Today we feature great Rodgers and Hart song from 1928, “You Took Advantage Of Me.” The song was written for the musical Present Arms. The song quickly found itself a popular standard and has been recorded many times, including those by Bing Crosby with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “You Took Advantage Of Me” in 1973 for his second album of Rodgers and Hart songs, Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers and Hart, released on Bennett’s own Improv label. His two Rodgers and Hart albums featured an unusual but incredibly effective quartet of musicians: George Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, Ruby Braff on cornet and John Guiffrida on bass. No piano and no drums, but the recordings are really sublime.

You Took Advantage Of Me

Listen to You Took Advantage Of Me on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004


“You Took Advantage Of Me,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

About The Secret Theme

Well, we’ve reached the end of the “secret theme” for January and no one guessed (or, more likely, guessed but decided not to mention it). The so-called secret was playing songs in alphabetical order by title, one song for each letter of the alphabet, though we did have to skip X and Z. Next month will feature the first entry for our theme of the year, Tony Bennett’s great collaborators. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun!

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Song of the Day: There’ll Be Some Changes Made

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 8, 2016 is “There’ll Be Some Changes Made.”

About This Song

“There’ll Be Some Changes Made” was written in 1921, with music by Benton Overstreet and lyrics by Billy Higgins, two African-American vaudeville performers. Ethel Waters had a hit recording of this song in late 1921; other early recordings include those by Marion Harris, Josie Miles, Fats Waller, and the Chicago Rhythm Kings. Later recordings include those by Billy Holiday, Peggy Lee and Tony Bennett. Even western singers have been drawn to the song by artists including Chet Atkins, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys and Pee Wee Russell’s Rhythmakers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There’ll Be Some Changes Made” in 1975 on his own Improv label for the album Tony Bennett Sings “Life Is Beautiful”, released in 1975. He is backed by the Torrie Zico Trio, consisting of Zito on piano, John Guiffrida on bass, and Chuck Hughes on drums.

There"ll Be Some Changes Made

Listen to There"ll Be Some Changes Made on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004


“There’ll Be Some Changes Made,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Lady Is Tramp

The song of the day for Saturday, July 2, 2016 is “The Lady Is Tramp.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote “The Lady Is A Tramp” for the Broadway musical Babes In Arms, where it was introduced by Mitzi Green. The song was meant as a spoof on the high society of New York, where the singer is clear about what she likes to do, no matter what everyone else is doing. “The Lady Is A Tramp” has been sung by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne. More recently, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga sang a duet of this song on their 2011 album “Duets II.”

About This Version

Today’s version of “The Lady Is A Tramp” was recorded in 1973 for the album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, released in 1975 on Bennett’s own Improv label. Accompanying Bennett on this album is the The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, featuring Braff on cornet, Barnes on guitar, Wayne Wright on guitar and John Guiffrida on bass. This quartet, with no piano or drums, is absolutely sublime for this body of Rodgers and Hart recordings.

The Lady Is A Tramp

Listen to The Lady Is A Tramp on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004


“The Lady Is Tramp,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

About Today

It’s Saturday and our video today is the great duet of “The Lady Is A Tramp” with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, from 2011. This version of our song of the day is by Marion Evans.