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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

July 1, 2014 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Cloudy Morning

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 1, 2014 is “Cloudy Morning.”

About This Song

“Cloudy Morning” was written in 1958 by Marvin Fisher (music) and Joseph Allen McCarthy, Jr. (lyrics). This song is favorite of jazz and cabaret performers including Julie London, Peggy Lee and Carmen McRae.

About This Version

Today’s song is from Tony Bennett’s album Here’s To The Ladies, in which he sings songs that are strongly identified with female singers. “Cloudy Morning” is for Carmen McRae, who recorded it in 1965 on her album Second To None. The liner notes for Here’s To The Ladies says this about Carmen McRae:

Carmen was an original. She played such sensible piano that she became her own finest accompanist. She was a great musician with impeccable taste–and courage in finding new songs to sing.

I’ve been a Carmen McRae fan for years. The first version of “A New York State Of Mind” that I ever heard was by her on her 1971 album Ms. Magic. 40+ years later, that version still thrills me as does most of her work.

http://open.spotify.com/track/14vvYjnv03hHNyCLGy1qWZ
“Cloudy Morning,” as well as the album Here’s To The Ladies, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Here's To The Ladies, Joseph McCarthy, Marvin Fisher

July 20, 2013 By Suzanne 1 Comment

Song of the Day: I’m Always Chasing Rainbows

The song of the day for Saturday, July 20, 2013 is “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows.”

About This Song

Today’s song is from the 1918 musical Oh, Look! In the original production, “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” stopped the show at virtually every performance. It’s a beautiful ballad that has been consistently performed for nearly one hundred years. “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” was written by Joseph McCarthy and Harry Carroll.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” in 1960; the recording appeared on Bennett’s wildly successful album I Left My Heart in San Francisco, released in 1962. The arrangement is by Frank DeVol. This version is able to reference the 1918 feel of the song, while still sounding completely modern. In other words, another example of one of the things that Tony Bennett does better than anyone else: honoring the American songbook and continually introducing it to new generations of listeners.

http://open.spotify.com/track/0cW8ANEW6wtCf7I8P1qnrZ
“I’m Always Chasing Rainbows,” as well as the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available from iTunes.

 

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Frank DeVol, Harry Carroll, Joseph McCarthy, Oh Look!

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