The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Remember You

The song of the day for Monday, May 13, 2013 is I Remember You.

About This Song

I Remember You was written by Victor Shertzinger (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics) in 1941. It was used in the 1942 film The Fleet’s In, where it was sung by Dorothy Lamour, with Bob Eberly and Helen O’Connell and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. In addition to composing all the music for the film, Shertzinger also directed the movie.

The song has been popular over the years, with recordings by Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat Cole, and Doris Day.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded I Remember You for his 2004 album, The Art of Romance. The song was beautifully arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel. The Art of Romance is a personal favorite of this author and this song is one of the reasons why. And, as our regular readers know, I can’t go too long without featuring a Johnny Mercer song.

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

By 1 Comment

Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The Song of the Day for April 19, 2013 is I Wanna Be Around.

About I Wanna Be Around

The story behind this song is legendary. A woman from Ohio named Sadie Vimmerstedt was a fan of Johnny Mercer. She came up with the first two lines of the song and thought they sounded like a Mercer lyric. She famously mailed a letter with those two lines to “Johnny Mercer, Songwriter, Los Angeles, California.”

Mercer agreed, and went on to write the melody and remaining lyrics for I Wanna Be Around. He asked Tony Bennett to record the song, which Bennett did in October, 1962. It was the foundation for his 1963 album of the same name.

Johnny Mercer gave 50 percent of the royalties from the song to Ms. Vimmerstedt, which allowed her to retire and travel the world.

About This Version

This version is from Bennett’s great album of the same name: I Wanna Be Around.
http://open.spotify.com/track/1smChL3Aq1U9DZA83LuDtp

By Leave a Comment

That Old Black Magic bossa nova style

One of the great Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer songs, That Old Black Magic was sung in the Tony Bennett – Dave Brubeck concert that will be released in May on Bennet & Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 CD. To my knowledge, this recording of Old Black Magic is the only song from that concert that has ever been released.

Here’s that recording of That Old Black Magic – bossa nova style.

That Old Black Magic

Listen to That Old Black Magic on Spotify. Song · Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett · 2003

By 2 Comments

Song of the Day: Jeepers Creepers

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 19, 2013 is Jeepers Creepers.

About This Song

Jeepers Creepers was written by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer for the 1938 movie Going Places. Starring Dick Powell, the movie concerns a wild racehorse named Jeepers Creepers; his trainer was played by Louis Armstrong. Only if the trainer played the song on his trumpet or sang it to the horse would the horse allow himself to be ridden. And, apparently, much hilarity ensued. The cast was pretty good, including Ronald Reagan, Eddie Anderson and Maxine Sullivan. This song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Tony Bennett’s album with Count Basie and His Orchestra: Basie/Bennett. It’s a great swinging arrangement by Ralph Sharon and Tony sounds like he’s having a lot of fun singing it.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3ZrWSg01u6dfXiNnMjT3hv
Jeepers Creepers, as well as the full Basie/Bennett album, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Remember You

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 27, 2013 is I Remember You.

About This Song

I Remember You was written in 1941, with music by Victor Schertzinger and lyrics by Johnny Mercer.

the-fleets-in-william-holden-dorothy-everett

It was introduced in the 1942 movie The Fleet’s In, where it was introduced by Dorothy Lamour, along with Bob Eberly and Helen O’Connell with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.

About This Version

As you might have already figured out, I can’t go more than a couple of weeks without featuring a Johnny Mercer song. Tony Bennett has only recorded I Remember You once, for his 2004 The Art of Romance.  This album is one of my favorites as is this song. And the cover photo of Mr. Bennett is wonderful!

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