The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 14, 2014 is “Make Someone Happy.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Make Someone Happy” was composed by the great Jule Styne with lyrics from the equally great Adolph Green and Betty Comden. The song is from their 1960 Broadway musical Do, Re, Mi. The original production starred Phil Silvers, who goes into the jukebox business with some gangsters. Finally he realizes that he has all he needs in his marriage. “Make Someone Happy” was sung by John Reardon and Nancy Dussault in the original production. Silvers’ wife was played by Nancy Walker. I’d love to see a cast like that in a Broadway musical again.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang an upbeat version of this song in 1962 at the Bennett and Brubeck concert for the White House interns; this album was recently released as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962. Today’s version is from Bennett’s second album with Bill Evans: Together Again. Both versions are great; the second one breaks my heart a little, though. Which I really like once in a while.

Make Someone Happy - Remastered 2003

Listen to Make Someone Happy - Remastered 2003 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Bill Evans · 2009


“Make Someone Happy,” as well as the album Together Again, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Party’s Over

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 12, 2014 is “The Party’s Over.”

About This Song

“The Party’s Over” is from the 1956 Broadway musical Bells Are Ringing, which featured a brilliant score with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The song was introduced by the great star of the show, Judy Holliday.

I must confess that I just heard the news about the death of Robin Williams and am feeling so sad. So, I hope you don’t mind a somewhat sad song on a beautiful summer day.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Party’s Over” for his wonderful (and sometimes overlooked) 1959 album Hometown, My Town. The album was arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns, bringing a muscular jazz motif to the orchestral score. All of the songs on this album are brilliantly arranged by Burns.

The Party"s Over

Listen to The Party"s Over on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1959

“The Party’s Over,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Time After Time

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 21, 2014 is “Time After Time.”

About This Song

“Time After Time” was composed in 1947 by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Sammy Cahn. The song was written for the film It Happened In Brooklyn an was introduced by Frank Sinatra and also by Kathryn Grayson, who sang it later in the film. The song is a wonderful ballad with a beautiful theme. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder said this of the song:

It’s a strong, pure, dramatic, uncluttered, unselfconscious melody. It bespeaks personal involvement and great warmth. I know of no other ballad by Styne equal to it. I’d have been proud to have written it.

High praise, indeed.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded “Time After Time” several times, most recently for his 1992 album Perfectly Frank; he also sang it at The Sahara in Las Vegas, captured on the recently released Tony Bennett Live at The Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964. However, today’s version is his first, recorded in 1958 for his fourth 12″ LP record Long Ago … And Far Away. It’s early Tony Bennett and it’s wonderful. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and features Frank DeVol and His Orchestra. DeVol did all the arrangements for the album.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2kpmZe4Cpm1gIWAZa8ZU0J
“Time After Time,” as well as the album Long Ago And Far Away, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Party’s Over

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 5, 2014 is “The Party’s Over.”

About This Song

“The Party’s Over” was written in 1956 by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, for the Broadway musical Bells Are Ringing.It starred Judy Holliday, who introduced the song. Other recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Nat “King” Cole and Doris Day.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Party’s Over” for his 1959 album Hometown, My Town. This was one of the earliest concept albums; it tells the story of a young man and his love of New York: dreaming of living in Manhattan, finding love and, in the end, losing that love. The album was arranged by Ralph Burns and features Ralph Sharon on piano. I’ve always felt that Tony Bennett completely found his voice as a jazz singer on this album. It’s one of his finest albums and deserves a listen by any Tony Bennett fan.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1fybSs6gewxKZyojiAHsNB
“The Party’s Over,” as well as the album Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy

The song of the day for Thursday, February 6, 2014 is “Make Someone Happy.”

About This Song

“Make Someone Happy” is from the 1960 musical Do Re Mi, by Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Do Re Mi concerns a guy, a bit of a loser and a con, who goes into the jukebox business with some gangster pals. ”Make Someone Happy” was introduced by John Reardon and Nancy Dussault.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Make Someone Happy” is from the second Tony Bennett and Bill Evans album “Together Again,” released in 1977 on Bennett’s Improv label. Like their first album, it was produced by Evans’ manager Helen Keane.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3YimtiKaG8qW9r4J9fSjAl
“Make Someone Happy,” as well as album Together Again, is available from iTunes. The Complete Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Recordings is also available from iTunes.

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