An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett
The song of the day for Tuesday, August 2, 2022, is “Blue Moon”
“Blue Moon” was written in 1933 by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart. The tune first appeared in the 1934 film Manhattan Melodrama, though with a completely different lyric.
Tony Bennett recorded “Blue Moon” on on June 19, 1957, and released the following year as a single. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
“Blue Moon” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 5 is available on Apple Music.
The song of the day for Monday, April 25, 2022, is “I Could Write a Book.”
“I Could Write a Book” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the Broadway musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Gene Kelly and Leila Ernst. This has always been an interesting song. Today it’s considered a lovely romantic number, but in the context of the musical, it’s sung as a phony love song in order to woo the innocent ingenue. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Carter, Anita O’Day, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Tony Bennett recorded “I Could Write a Book” in 1973 with the Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, which feature Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. The recording was released in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.
“I Could Write a Book,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings is available on Apple Music.
The song of the day for Sunday, March 13, 2022, is “I Wish I Were In Love Again.”
“I Wish I Were In Love Again” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1937 musical Babes in Arms. It was a favorite song of Judy Garland, who recorded it in 1940. Other recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra.
Tony Bennett recorded this version of “I Wish I Were In Love Again” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
“I Wish I Were In Love Again,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.
The song of the day for Friday, February 11, 2022, is “Bewitched.”
“Bewitched,” written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, was one of the hit songs from the 1940 musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Vivienne Segal. Notable recordings are by Benny Goodman, Mel Tormé, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. Alec Wilder admired the lyric and the verse, but found the song “notey.” In spite of being notey, it’s a cornerstone of the American Songbook.
Tony Bennett recorded “Bewitched” on October 28, 1959, with an arrangement by Ralph Sharon. It was released in 1961 on the album Tony Sings For Two.
Tony Sings For Two is a remarkable album for Bennett, who tells the story in his autobiography, The Good Life:
I always wanted to be unpredictable, and so for my next project, I decided to go in the opposite direction from the big orchestral albums I’d been doing lately and cut an intimate piano-vocal album with Ralph Sharon. We booked time in the studio and pored through music books, trying one tune after another. The arrangements were spontaneous, and we finished each song in one or two takes. In one afternoon we laid down sixteen tunes—which must be some kind of record—twelve of which made it onto the album, which became 1961’s Tony Sings for Two, Mitch Miller showed up at the start of these sessions, furious that I was really going through with it. When he saw that there was no dissuading me, he turned to Frank Laico and said, “I’m leaving. I can’t support this.” Tony Sings for Two turned out to be one of my finest records ever.
“Bewitched,” as well as Tony Sings For Two is available on Apple Music.
The song of the day for Thursday, February 10, 2022, is “Mountain Greenery.”
Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote “Mountain Greenery” in 1926 for one of their earliest musicals, The Garrick Gaieties, where it was introduced by Sterling Holloway. It had two recordings in 1926: one by Roger Wolfe Kahn and the other by Frank Crumit. In later years, this song was recorded by Bing Crosby, Mel Tormé, Ella Fitzgerald, and Tony Bennett.
Tony Bennett recorded “Mountain Greenery” in 1973 with The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, featuring Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. Two albums with this quartet were released in 1977: Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs and Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers and Hart. These were combined later on Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook.
I love the recordings that Bennett did with the quartet; it’s a lovely sound for these Rodgers and Hart songs and I find that I don’t miss piano and drums.
“Mountain Greenery,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook is available on Apple Music.