The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Monday, May 5, 2014 is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

“That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. It had its first recording that year by the Glenn Miller Orchestra and was also used in the 1942 movie Star Spangled Rhythm. Fans of Marilyn Monroe might remember her singing this song in the 1956 film Bus Stop. It has been widely recorded by jazz and popular musicians steadily since written. Some of the best recordings include those by Johnny Mercer, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan, Shirley Horn, Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton.

About This Version

Today’s version is from the recently released Bennet & Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 and is an improvisation by Bennett with Dave Brubeck, Joe Morello on drums and Eugene Wright on bass. This version swings very nicely and is a real delight to listen to.

http://open.spotify.com/track/0NTxPntOPk44Boyl985eAV
“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennet & Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962, is available at iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Remember You

The song of the day for Friday, April 4, 2014 is “I Remember You.”

About This Song

“I Remember You” was written in 1941 for the movie The Fleet’s In. The music is by Victor Schertzinger and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. In the film, the song was introduced by Dorothy Lamour, with Bob Eberly, Helen O’Connell and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. It is said that Johnny Mercer wrote the song for Judy Garland, who he was in love with, and presented it to her the day after her marriage to David Rose. True or not, this beautiful song does put one in mind of loves that are lost, but always remembered.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song for his wonderful 2004 album The Art of Romance, which is (to this writer anyway), one of his finest albums. The wonderful arrangement is by Johnny Mandel. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3osJ7xPsn1UhfRVDcHN7zf
“I Remember You,” as well as the album The Art of Romance, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Blues in the Night

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 2, 2014 is “Blues in the Night.”

About This Song

“Blues in the Night” was written in 1941 for the film of the same name by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. Arlen wrote the music first and wrote a true blues song. Johnny Mercer, who later wrote the lyrics, drew on his southern heritage to write the exceptional blues lyrics. It’s said that while Mercer was working on the lyric, he had scribbled “my momma done tol’ me” in the margin of his notes. Arlen saw that and thus a great lyric was born.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Blues in the Night” isn’t the original version Bennett recorded in 1957 for The Beat of My Heart, but the 2001 version from Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. This version features the Ralph Sharon Quartet, with Paul Langosch on bass, Clayton Cameron on drums and Gray Sargent on guitar. It’s a terrific arrangement; nice and tight with great work from all four musicians.

http://open.spotify.com/track/60oEw14Ucnko8skELizX71
“Blues in the Night,” as well as the album Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Thought About You

The song of the day for Friday, March 7, 2014 is “I Thought About You.”

About This Song

“I Thought About You” was composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer in 1939. The lyrics are said to have been inspired by a train trip. Gene Lees, author of Portrait of Johnny: The Life of John Herndon Mercer, quotes Mercer:

I can remember the afternoon that he wrote it. He (Van Heusen) played me the melody. I didn’t have any idea, but I had to go to Chicago that night. I think I was on the Benny Goodman program. And I got to thinking about it on the train. I was awake, I couldn’t sleep. The tune was running through my mind, and that’s when I wrote the song. On the train, really going to Chicago.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Thought About You” for his 1992 album Perfectly Frank. The song was arranged by Ralph Sharon, with the Ralph Sharon Trio (Paul Langosch on bass, Joe LaBarbera on drums) accompanying Bennett.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3ly3nRfuPcNWEpHRv1AOJ7
“I Thought About You,” as well as the album Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Skylark

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 18, 2014 is “Skylark.”

About This Song

“Skylark” was composed by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was published in 1941. Mercer is said to have worked on the lyrics for “Skylark” over a year. It is also said that he wrote the lyrics to express his feelings for Judy Garland, with whom he had been involved. Whether true or not, the song and the lyrics are outstanding and it easily became a jazz and popular standard.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Skylark” in 1959 with Ralph Sharon in the recording session for their album Tony Sings For Two. “Skylark” was not included on the original release of the album, but was included in a later CD re-release.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7eTuu6v2Fu0BX0wRur4wmS
“Skylark,” as well as the album Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.