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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

February 11, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: For Once In My Life

The song of the day for Friday, February 12, 2021, is “For Once In My Life.”

About This Song

“For Once In My Life” was written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Record’s Jobete publising company. This song not only found a success as a Motown song, with recordings by Stevie Wonder and Jean duShon, but also as a popular standard, starting with Tony Bennett’s recording in 1967. Thanks to Tony Bennett’s recording of the song, it’s been sung by other popular and jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “For Once In My Life” with Stevie Wonder in 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

For Once in My Life (with Stevie Wonder)

Listen to For Once in My Life (with Stevie Wonder) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2006.

“For Once In My Life” as well as Duets II, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Duets: An American Classic, Jorge Callandrelli, Orlando Murden, Ron Miller, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett

February 20, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: A Rainy Day

The song of the day for Friday, February 21, 2020, is “A Rainy Day.”

About This Song

“A Rainy Day” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz or the 1932 Broadway musical revue Flying Colors, which starred Clifton Webb, Patsy Kelly, Imogene Coca, and Buddy and Vilma Ebsen.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Rainy Day” in on January 10, 1986, for his album The Art of Excellence. The recording was arranged and orchestrated by Jorge Callandrelli and features the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

The Art of Excellence was Bennett’s first album upon his return to Columbia Records.

“A Rainy Day,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz, Joe LaBarbera, Jorge Callandrelli, Paul Langosch, Ralph Sharon, The Art of Excellence, Tony Bennett

June 10, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Time To Smile

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 11, 2019, is “Time To Smile.”

About This Song

“Time To Smile” was written in 1966 by Geoffrey Clarkson and Johnny Mercer. This song had long been thought lost and was only discovered in 2004; Bennett’s recording on The Art of Romance was the song’s debut.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Time To Smile” in 2004 for The Art of Romance. The arrangement is by Jorge Callandrelli and features Phil Woods on saxophone. Not only do I adore this album, I think the photograph of Mr. Bennett on the cover of the album is fantastic!

Time To Smile

Time To Smile, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Time To Smile,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Geoffrey Clarkson, Johnny Mercer, Jorge Callandrelli, The Art of Romance, Tony Bennett

October 30, 2012 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Because Of You

The Song of the Day for October 30, 2012 is Because Of You.

About Because Of You

Because Of You was written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein with lyrics by Dudley Wilkinson. The song was used in the 1951 film I Was An American Spy. Tony Bennett recorded this song in 1951 and it was his first major hit record. Mr. Bennett relates this story in his autobiography, The Good Life:

By the spring of 1951, I was told that if I didn’t get a hit soon I’d be dropped from the label. I went into Percy’s (Percy Faith) office and he said, “In this next session you really have to deliver. We have only three songs ready, so we need another song.” I remember that he looked through a bunch of sheet music on his desk, grabbed a song, and said, “Well, let’s do this one.” That song was “Because of You.” I was doing a lot of dramatic singing on my early records like “Sing You Sinners” and “Boulevard,” but Percy said to me, “Just relax. Use your natural voice and sing the song.” I took his advice.

When “Because of You” was released, the record company didn’t have much confidence in me. But then something interesting started happening; the record didn’t get on the radio right away, but people were playing it on jukeboxes so often that it started to build momentum, one nickel at a time. It was unusual for a song to become popular on jukeboxes before it got on the radio, but this one did. Listeners from all around the country began calling their local radio stations and requesting “Because of You,” and it reached number one on Billboard magazine’s pop chart on June 23, 1951. It stayed on the chart for thirty-two weeks-ten weeks at number one. I finally had my first major hit record. It was amazing. Everywhere I went that summer I heard the song blaring from car radios, and record stores set up speakers outside and played the song to attract customers. My family was thrilled, of course, and couldn’t stop telling me how proud they were that I had made it. It was wonderful.

Because Of You is one of Tony Bennett’s most beloved songs.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded this duet for Tony Bennett Duets – An American Classic. It’s really beautiful to hear these two wonderful singers, who are obviously so closely attuned to each other, sing this beautiful love song. The song is exquisitely orchestrated by Jorge Callandrelli and features the quartet of Lee Musiker (p), Gray Sargent (g), Paul Langosch (b) and Harold Jones (d).

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Arthur Hammerstein, Dudley Wilkinson, Gray Sargent, Harold Jones, Jorge Callandrelli, kd lang, Lee Musiker, Paul Langosch

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