The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Close Enough For Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 1, 2020, is “Close Enough For Love.”

About Today

We were saddened to learn this morning that the composer and arranger Johnny Mandel had died at the age of 94. Mr. Mandel worked with Tony Bennett several times over the years, perhaps most famously for Bennett’s recording of “The Shadow of Your Smile,” from The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. Johnny Mandel had a very successful career, starting out as an arranger for big bands before composing for films and television programs.

No Title

If Johnny Mandel had just composed “The Shadow of Your Smile” – one of the most beautiful songs I have been honored to record – it would have been enough to earn his standing as one of the finest composers of our time. https://t.co/20TCwAJ7oU

Obituaries:

About This Song

Johnny Mandel and Paul Williams wrote “Close Enough For Love” in 1979. It was first recorded by Peggy Lee on her album of the same name. Although Mandel and Williams are well-known for their work as film composers, this song was not composed for film. It is a favorite of jazz vocalists; in addition to the Peggy Lee and Tony Bennett recordings, it has also been recorded by Shirley Horn and Andy Williams.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Close Enough For Love” in 2004 for his album The Art Of Romance. Mr. Mandel arranged and conducted the orchestra.

“Close Enough For Love,” as well as The Art Of Romance, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Remember You

The song of the day for Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14, 2020, is “I Remember You.”

About This Song

“I Remember You” was written in 1941 by Victor Schertzinger and Johnny Mercer. It was first used in the 1942 movie The Fleet’s In (directed by the composer Schertzinger), where it was introduced by Dorothy Lamour. It is said that Mercer wrote the lyric for Judy Garland, with whom he was said to be in love. The song has been widely recorded over the decades and remains popular today. Notable recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Chet Baker, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall, and Dinah Washington.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Remember You” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance. It was arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel.

Your author loves this album so much. It’s the album that turned me from a fan of Tony’s to the blogger I am today, full of love and admiration for Tony Bennett. Whenever I want to “convert” someone to Tony, I give them this album. If you haven’t listened to it lately, I suggest that Valentine’s Day is a great day to give it a listen.

“I Remember You,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Shadow of Your Smile

The song of the day for Monday, February 10, 2020, is “The Shadow of Your Smile.”

About This Song

“The Shadow of Your Smile” was written by Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster in 1965 for The Sandpiper, starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It was filmed, beautifully, in Big Sur on the California coastline. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Shadow of Your Smile” in 1965; the song was included in The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. It was arranged and conducted by its composer, Johnny Mandel. The recording features Jimmy Rowles on piano.

“The Shadow of Your Smile,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Where Do You Start

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 22, 2020, is “Where Do You Start.”

About This Song

“Where Do You Start,” written in 1987, is one of the great songs from
Alan and Marilyn Bergman, with a beautiful melody by Johnny Mandel. This song has had many beautiful recordings: Nancy Lamott, Shirley Horn, Rosemary Clooney, Barbra Streisand, the Brad Mehldau Trio, Annie Ross, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Where Do You Start” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance. Composer Johnny Mandel wrote the arrangement.

On a personal note–I’d been a fan of Tony’s for quite a while. But the release of The Art of Romance coincided with the purchase of my first iPod. Literally, I could not stop listening to the album for many weeks–on the bus, at work, after I got home–thanks to that iPod, I could listen to the album, anytime, anywhere. I fell in love with The Art of Romance and in love with Tony Bennett.

“Where Do You Start,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Remember You

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 1, 2019, is “I Remember You.”

About This Song

“I Remember You” was written in 1941 by Victor Schertzinger and Johnny Mercer. This song was first used in the 1942 movie The Fleet’s In (directed by the composer Schertzinger), where it was introduced by Dorothy Lamour. It is said that Mercer wrote the lyric for Judy Garland, with whom he was said to be in love. The song has been widely recorded over the decades and remains popular today. Notable recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Chet Baker, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall, and Dinah Washington.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Remember You” in 2004 for the album The Art of Romance. It was arranged by Johnny Mandel.

“I Remember You,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available from iTunes.

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites