The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: From This Moment On

The song of the day for Thursday, August 24, 2017 is “From This Moment On.”

About This Song

Cole Porter originally wrote this song for his musical Out Of This World, but it was dropped from that production and was used in the 1948 Broadway musical Kiss Me Kate and also in the 1958 film version, featuring Anne Miller. She sang this song with a fantastic dance choreographed (and danced) by a young Bob Fosse. Doris Day recorded this song as a single in 1950; the Frank Sinatra 1957 recording for his A Swingin’ Affair! was instrumental in the popularity of this song. It has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne and Susannah McCorkle.

About This Version

Today’s recording is a special one from the Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 CD included in the 2011 Complete Collection and is now also, thankfully, available on iTunes. It was recorded live with Count Basie and His Orchestra in 1958 at the Latin Casino in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

From This Moment On

Tony Bennett · Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 · Song · 2012


“From This Moment On,” as well as all of the great songs on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

Even though it’s not Saturday video day, I cannot pass up an opportunity to present the dance number from the 1953 film version of Kiss Me Kate. Bob Fosse was impossibly young and wonderful. Any fan of Fosse will see all those Fosse traits in his portion of the dance.

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Song of the Day: From This Moment On

The song of the day for Monday, June 27, 2016 is “From This Moment On.”

About This Song

Cole Porter originally wrote this song in 1950 for his musical Out Of This World, but it was dropped. It was included in the 1953 film version of Kiss Me Kate in wonderful number that featured Anne Miller and was the basis for a fantastic dance choreographed (and danced) by a young Bob Fosse. The song was used in the 1999 Broadway stage revival of Kiss Me Kate. Doris Day recorded this song as a single in 1950; the Frank Sinatra 1957 recording for his A Swingin’ Affair! was instrumental in the popularity of this song. It has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne and Susannah McCorkle.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “From This Moment On” in 1964 at how show at The Sahara in Las Vegas. Premier Columbian recording engineer Frank Laico recorded the show in Las Vegas, but it wasn’t released until 2011 as part of the Tony Bennett Complete Colllection box set and in 2013 as Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara.

From This Moment On - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964

Listen to From This Moment On - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“From This Moment On,” as well as Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara, is available from iTunes.

Since I’ve missed a few Saturdays videos this monrth, I hope to make up for that with this clip from film version of Kiss Me Kate. Look for the very young Bob Fosse. The sound from the big Hollywood orchestra is first-rate.

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Song of the Day: The Cole Porter Medley

The song of the day for Thursday, June 9, 2016 is “The Cole Porter Medley.”

About This Song

This masterful medley of Cole Porter songs covers the full arc of Porter’s songs. For information about each of the songs in the medley, including lyrics, see The Cole Porter Medley entry in our companion discography.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded the Cole Porter Medley in 1975 for his Improv album Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful. The wonderful arrangement is by Torrie Zito.

Cole Porter Medley

Listen to Cole Porter Medley on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004


“The Cole Porter Medley,” as well as all of the songs released on Bennett’s own Improv label, is available from iTunes on The Complete Improv Recordings.

About Today

Today marks the 125th anniversary of Cole Porter, born on June 9, 1891 in Peru, Indiana.

Here are a few Cole Porter birthday presents!

A nice NPR story called Get To Know: The Cole Porter Songbook, with links to recordings.

A pretty nice film biography of Cole Porter called De-Lovely, starring Kevin Kline as Porter and Ashley Judd as his wife Linda, came out in 2004. Here are a few clips to whet your interest.

This clip of “Night and Day” features Kevin Kline and John Barrowman in rehearsal with a segue to the performance:

And “So In Love” featuring Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd (whose character is in the process of dying from lung cancer and knows she won’t live long enough to see the premiere and asks her husband to play the score for her)–and another segue. By the way, Kline is an accomplished pianist and played the piano in real-time while filming! No fake cut-aways to someone else’s hands!

I hear that the recent wave we had here in Portland is heading for the rest of country. So I offer up a favorite Cole Porter song from Kiss Me Kate.

In closing, stay cool and enjoy some great Cole Porter music today.

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Song of the Day: From This Moment On

The song of the day for Thursday, April 3, 2014 is “From This Moment On.”

About This Song

Cole Porter originally wrote “From This Moment On” in 1951 for a musical called Out Of This World, but it was cut from the production. The song was used in the 1953 film version of his hit musical Kiss Me Kate, but was not used in the original stage production.The film features the dancing and choreography of a very young Bob Fosse.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “From The Moment On” at his 1964 show at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas entitled The Moment of Truth. Although recorded in 1964, the concert wasn’t released until the 2011 Complete Collection box set. It was recently made available to download from iTunes.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2lXqNwREvh95S7R3Im1Pj7
“From This Moment On,” as well as Tony Bennett Live At The Sahara, is available from iTunes.

Here’s the number from the film, thanks to You Tube. The number features Ann Miller and Tommy Rall, Bobby Van and Jeanne Coyne, and Bob Fosse and Carol Haney.