The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Moonglow

The song of the day for Sunday, May 5, 2013, is Moonglow.

About This Song

Moonglow was written in 1933 by Will Hudson and Irving Mills, with lyrics by Eddie DeLange. First recorded in 1933 by Joe Venuti and his Orchestra, Moonglow has remained popular over the years. It has been recorded by Art Tatum, Billie Holiday, Ethel Waters and Benny Goodman.

About This Version

This recording of Moonglow is the first time that Tony Bennett and k.d. lang sang together. The duet was beautiful and has led to the two performers working together on several albums, including A Wonderful World.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2K0zDMWf0q0jg05QRnwCPU
Moonglow, as well as the full MTV Unplugged live album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: If We Never Meet Again

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 26, 2013 is If We Never Meet Again.

About This Song

If We Never Meet Again was written ca. 1936 by Louis Armstrong and Horace Gerlach. Armstrong recorded this song in April 1936.

About This Version

To the best of my knowledge, Tony Bennett’s first and only recording of this delightful song was his duet with k.d. lang for their 2002 A Wonderful World album. Every song that Bennett and lang have recorded together has been magical; this song is no exception.

If We Never Meet Again

Listen to If We Never Meet Again on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, k.d. lang · 2002

If We Never Meet Again, as well as the full A Wonderful World album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: What A Wonderful World

The Song of the Day for Saturday, November 3, 2012 is What A Wonderful World.

About What A Wonderful World

This song was written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss. Louis Armstrong recorded it 1968 and his recording of this song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Other people have recorded this song, but Louis Armstrong has always and will always own it completely. The Tony Bennett / k.d. lang duet of this song is a tribute to Louis Armstrong.

About This Version

Today is the last day of k.d. lang week on The Year of Tony Bennett. It’s been difficult to select the seven songs that represent the ongoing collaboration of these two artists, but I had no trouble in choosing this song.  I do believe it’s their finest duet of all the songs they’ve recorded together. But they have also given us Louis Armstrong. I treasure this song and I hope you will to.  When they sing together, you believe that they’ve been singing together their entire lives. Again: it’s a treasure.

And here is Mr. Armstrong. You were right, Pops.

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Song of the Day: Blue Velvet

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes k.d. lang a very happy birthday and features her duet with Tony Bennett, Blue Velvet, as the song of the day for November 2, 2012.

About Blue Velvet

Blue Velvet was written in 1950 by Bernie Wayne and Lee Morris. Although Tony Bennett did not record the song first, his 1951 recording, arranged by Percy Faith, was the first recording of the song that was a hit.  Tony Bennett’s version of the song was used several films, including The Last Picture Show and Raging Bull. The song also inspired David Lynch’s 1986 film Blue Velvet, which starred Isabella Rossellini.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang sang Blue Velvet for the 2011 Duets II. This version was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

And again, a very happy birthday to k.d. lang!

 

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Song of the Day: Exactly Like You

The Song of the Day for October 29, 2012 is Exactly Like You.

About Exactly Like You

Exactly Like You was written for the 1930 Broadway show Lew Leslie’s International Review by Jimmy McHugh, with lyrics by Dorothy Fields.  They also wrote On The Sunny Side Of The Street for the same show. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and went on to become a jazz and popular standard. It has been recorded by everyone from Cab Calloway to Frank Sinatra to Django Reinhardt and Anita O’Day.

About This Version

Exactly Like You is the first track on Tony Bennett’s and k.d. lang’s celebration of the songs of Louis Armstrong, A Wonderful World. The album won the  2003 Grammy award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.