The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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A New Album?

Your author has spent most of today working on The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography and listening to Totally Tony on SirusXM today, though every day is a Totally Tony day at The Year of Tony Bennett.

Just now, in a very nice interview with Tony, interspersed with songs from his entire catalog, Bennett just announced that he and k.d. lang are preparing to do another album. I loved their work on Wonderful World and look forward to their new work.

tonydk

This is a very fine interview. Right now, they’re talking about the legendary CBS 30th Street Studio, where Tony Bennett recorded virtually all of his recordings up to 1970.

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Song of the Day: What A Wonderful World

The song of the day for Sunday, June 16, 2013 is “What a Wonderful World.”

About This Song

“What a Wonderful World” was written in 1967 by Bob Thiele and George Weiss Davis. Louis Armstrong released it as a single that same year and the song has associated with Armstrong ever since. That recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

About This Version

Today’s version is the lovely duet with k.d. lang from  their 2002 album A Wonderful World. The orchestral arrangements are by Peter Matz with musical direction by Lee Musiker.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1I1nwFdcQIvMGMqLVsa5NO
“What a Wonderful World,” as well as the album A Wonderful World, is available from iTunes.

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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.