The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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

The song of the day for Monday, November 13, 2017 is “The Folks That Live On The Hill.”

About This Song

This song 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. This song has a classic Kern melody and an even more classic Hammerstein lyric.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Folks That Live On the Hill” in 1989 for his autobiographical album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist. It was arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

The Folks That Live On The Hill

Listen to The Folks That Live On The Hill on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1990


“The Folks That Live On The Hill,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep the Music Playing

The song of the day for Saturday, October 28, 2017 is “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep the Music Playing” was written in 1982, with music by Michel Legrand and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the movie Best Friends. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and, of course, Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” in 1986 for The Art of Excellence. Jorge Calandrelli did the arrangement.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

Listen to How Do You Keep The Music Playing? on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1986


“How Do You Keep the Music Playing,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available from iTunes.

About Today

For our Saturday video, we have the wonderful duet of today’s song with Tony and Aretha Franklin, as the recorded this song in Detroit for Duets II.

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Song of the Day: Don’t Wait Too Long

The song of the day for Friday, October 20, 2017 is “Don’t Wait Too Long.”

About This Song

“Don’t Wait Too Long” was written by Sunny Skylar. This song concerns a relationship between a younger and older person (“you are the summer and I am the autumn”) and the realization that the time together may not be as long as they’d wish. Other recordings of this song are by Frank Sinatra (1965, September of My Years) and Blossom Dearie (1964, May I Come In).

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded “Don’t Wait Too Long” twice: the first time in 1963 for The Many Moods of Tony and again in 2014 as a solo on Cheek to Cheek. Today I’m featuring the 2014 version; it’s a lovely arrangement by Jorge Calandrelli and beautifully sung by Mr. Bennett.

Don"t Wait Too Long

Listen to Don"t Wait Too Long on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2014


“Don’t Wait Too Long,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Saturday, May 13, 2015 is “Body and Soul.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Body and Soul” was written in 1930, with music by Johnny Green and lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour and Frank Eyton.

Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, says that Body and Soul “is the granddaddy of jazz ballads, the quintessential torch song, and the ultimate measuring rod for tenor sax players of all generations. Even in the new millennium, this 1930 composition continues to serve as the cornerstone of the repertoire.”

Louis Armstrong recorded the song first, followed in the 1930s by recordings from primarily white society bands, such as those led by Paul Whiteman. That said, some early recordings by jazz artists including Benny Goodman and especially Art Tatum started to cement this song as a serious jazz standard (in fact, it’s rated #1 on the jazzstandards.com website). However, the Coleman Hawkins recording from 1939 is widely acknowledged to have made the song a true jazz standard. The Hawkins recording was followed by great jazz recordings by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Art Pepper, Dave Brubeck and many more. Fine vocal recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Today, we’re featuring Mr. Bennett’s first recording of “Body and Soul,” recorded in 1989 for his autobiographical album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, released in 1990. The arrangement is by Jorge Calandrelli.

Body and Soul

Listen to Body and Soul on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1990


“Body and Soul,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available from iTunes.

About Today

It’s YouTube Saturday. This Saturday, I’m happy to present the video of the recording of “Body and Soul” with Amy Winehouse, recorded in 2011 for Duets II. This was her last recording; she passed away a few months later from alcohol poisoning. This recording won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance; the album Duets II won the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

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Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Saturday, November 26, 2016 is “Body and Soul.”

About This Song

“Body and Soul” was written in 1930, with music by Johnny Green and lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, and Frank Eyton.

Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, says that “Body and Soul”

is the granddaddy of jazz ballads, the quintessential torch song, and the ultimate measuring rod for tenor sax players of all generations. Even in the new millennium, this 1930 composition continues to serve as the cornerstone of the repertoire.

Louis Armstrong recorded the song first, followed in the 1930s by recordings from primarily white society bands, such as those led by Paul Whiteman. That said, some early recordings by jazz artists including Benny Goodman and especially Art Tatum started to cement this song as a serious jazz standard (in fact, it’s rated #1 on the jazzstandards.com website). However, the Coleman Hawkins recording from 1939 is widely acknowledged to have made the song a true jazz standard. The Hawkins recording was followed by great jazz recordings by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Art Pepper, Dave Brubeck and many more. Fine vocal recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “Body and Soul” in 1989 for the album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, which was released in 1990. The arrangement is by Jorge Calandrelli.

Body and Soul

Listen to Body and Soul on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1990


“Body and Soul,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available from iTunes.

About Today

For our traditional Saturday video, here are Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse, recording “Body and Soul” in the studio. This recording won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Tony Bennett, Amy Winehouse - Body and Soul (from Duets II: The Great Performances)

Tony Bennett performing Body and Soul with Amy Winehouse from Duets II: The Great Performances Listen to Tony Bennett: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/listenYD Subscribe to the official Tony Bennett YouTube channel: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/subscribeYD Follow Tony Bennett: Facebook: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followFI Instagram: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followII Twitter: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followTI Website: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followWI Spotify: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followSI YouTube: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/subscribeYD Chorus: I tell you I mean it I"m all for you body and soul I can"t believe it It"s hard to conceive it That you turn away romance Are you pretending It looks like the ending And less I could have one more chance to prove, dear #TonyBennett #AmyWinhouse #Body&Soul #DuetsII