The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Ill Wind

The song of the day for Friday, December 8, 2023, is “Ill Wind.”

About This Song

“Ill Wind” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1934 for Arlen’s and Koehler’s last show at the Cotton Club, where it was sung by Adelaide Hall. This song has been recorded by Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Kenton, Audra McDonald, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ill Wind” in June 1996 for his album Tony Bennett On Holiday, a tribute to Billie Holiday. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Ill Wind,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available on Apple Music.

Billie Holiday recorded “Ill Wind” in 1956 for Verve Records.

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Song of the Day: The Folks That Live On The Hill

The song of the day for Sunday, November 19, 2023, is “The Folks That Live On The Hill.”

About This Song

“The Folks That Live On The Hill” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1937 movie High, Wide, and Handsome, where it was introduced by Irene Dunne. Bing Crosby recorded it that same year. Peggy Lee recorded it 1957 for her album The Man I Love; it was conducted by Frank Sinatra. Other recordings include those by Diana Krall, Jo Stafford and Nina Simone.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Folks That Live On The Hill” on May 18, 1989, for his album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, which was released in 1990. It was arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

“The Folks That Live On The Hill,” as well as AStoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 15, 2023, is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Sophisticated Lady” in 1932 as an instrumental. Lyrics were added later by Mitchell Parish. Ellington is said to have been inspired to write this song by two of his grade school teachers, who toured Europe in the summers after teaching all year. “To me that spelled sophistication.” “Sophisticated Lady” was first recorded in 1933 on the flip side with Harold Arlen’s “Stormy Weather.” It is, of course, one of Ellington’s most popular and often-played songs. In addition to numerous recordings by Ellington over the years, the song has been recorded by Art Tatum, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hodges, Sarah Vaughan, and Glenn Miller.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Sophisticated Lady” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The album was released to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of Ellington’s birth. The song was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli. Joel Smirnoff played the violin solo for this recording.

Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Sophisticated Lady,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Crazy She Calls Me

The song of the day for Saturday, October 28, 2023, is “Crazy She Calls Me.”

About This Song

“Crazy He Calls Me” was written in 1949 by Carl Sigman and Bob Russell. Billy Holiday recorded the song with an arrangement by Gordon Jenkins. While her version is the best-known, it has also been recorded by Linda Ronstadt, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, Sam Cooke, Tony Bennett, and Rod Stewart – the male versions changed to “Crazy She Calls Me.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Crazy She Calls Me” in June 1966 for his album Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1997. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

“Crazy She Calls Me,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Billie Holiday’s 1949 recording of today’s song:

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Song of the Day: I’m In Love Again

The song of the day for Friday, October 27, 2023, is “I’m In Love Again.”

About This Song

“I’m In Love Again” was written in 1964 by Cy Coleman, Peggy Lee, and Bill Schluger. It’s one of the several songs that Peggy Lee wrote with Cy Coleman. Miss Lee used as the title song for her 1964 album Miss Peggy Lee in Love Again!

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m In Love Again” in July 1995 for his album Here’s To The Ladies, arranged by Jorge Calandrelli. In this album, Bennett sings songs associated with the great female singers of the American Songbook, such as Judy Garland, Sarah Vaughan, Doris Day, and many others. This recording was for Miss Peggy Lee, who cowrote this song.

“I’m In Love Again,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available on Apple Music.