The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Get Happy

The song of the day for Monday, March 2, 2020, is “Get Happy.”

About This Song

“Get Happy” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the 1930 The Nine-Fifteen Revue, where it was introduced by Ruth Etting. Most people today are more familiar with Judy Garland’s wonderful song and dance performance in the 1950 movie Summer Stock.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Get Happy” in 1968 for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. The arrangement was written by Torrie Zito.

“Get Happy,” as well as Yesterday I Heard the Rain, is available from iTunes.

Here’s Judy Garland singing and dancing to “Get Happy” from the 1950 movie Summer Stock.

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Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 11, 2020, is “The Man That Got Away.”

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away,” by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin, was written for Judy Garland for the 1954 version of A Star Is Born, with James Mason. Her performance of the song is legendary in film history, with 27 takes in three days, three separate sessions, and two different directors. The filmed scene is brilliant and made the song a huge hit for Garland, who sang it in most of her concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Man That Got Away” on October 28, 1959, with Ralph Sharon. Bennett and Sharon recorded 14 songs that one day. The album, Tony Sings For Two, was released in January 1961.

“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

I must admit that I was so happy to see Renee Zellweger win the Academy Award for her portrayal of Judy Garland in the film Judy. In honor of Renee and Judy Garland, here’s the famous clip from A Star is Born.

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Song of the Day: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 24, 2019, is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

About This Song

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was written in 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. Hugh Martin, like your author, is from Birmingham, Alabama and, also like your author, attended Birmingham-Southern College.

It was introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 movie Meet Me In St. Louis. In a Twitter conversation in November 2012, Tony Bennett said that “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is his favorite Christmas song.

It’s my favorite Christmas song too.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in 2004 for the album A Swingin’ Christmas, which was released in 2008, The album featured The Count Basie Orchestra.

As a Judy Garland fan, I have to offer her original recording from Meet Me In St.Louis:

About Today

Boy, am I glad to be back! I wound up in the hospital once again with pneumonia. I’m over the pneumonia, but I am still recovering physically from the ordeal. I’m told this to be expected, so I’m trying to be patient. Meanwhile, I’m hobbling around on a walker, which I need right now but can’t wait to put that thing in the closet.

In order to put in new carpet and flooring in my apartment, they had to pack up all of my stuff and move it out. Except for the kitchen not being affected as it’s all off the floor, it’s like moving in all over again. I’m going to take advantage of the situation to do a little Marie Kondo. But unlike Marie, all books and music bring joy!

Merry Christmas to you all!

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Song of the Day: By Myself

The song of the day for Saturday, October 12, 2019, is “By Myself.”

About This Song

“By Myself” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1937 musical Between the Devil, where it was introduced by Jack Buchanan. Another great Schwartz-Dietz song from Between the Devil was “I See Your Face Before Me.” “By Myself” was used in the 1953 Fred Astaire film, The Band Wagon.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “By Myself” in 1958 fo the album Hometown, My Town, released in 1959. Ralph Burns arranged and conducted all of the songs on this short, but quite exceptionally fine album.

“By Myself,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.

It’s been two weeks since I saw the film Judy and I’m still in a Judy Garland mode. Thanks to The Judy Garland Experience and YouTube, I am happy to present this video of Judy Garland singing “By Myself” on her own television show in 1964. I’m still kind of amazed at how much sound she was able to deliver, being only 4 feet, 11 inches tall. Her exit at the end of the song is, quite literally, the most powerful things I’ve ever seen in on a stage.

If you’re still in the mood for some more Judy, here’s “The Man That Got Away.” You’re welcome.

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The Judy Garland Show with Guests Tony Bennett and Dick Shawn

As you might imagine from the playlist I posted yesterday, I’m still reveling in all things Judy Garland, which caused me to poke around on YouTube to see what I might enjoy viewing.

I came across this episode of The Judy Garland Show, with guests Tony Bennett and Dick Shawn. It aired on December 15, 1963.

I’ve shared before Tony and Judy singing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” before, but there’s a lot more of Tony, including two songs with the Ralph Sharon Trio and the whole production number with Tony and Judy leading up to “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

I just finished watching the entire video and it’s a real joy. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.