The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Blue Moon

The song of the day for Sunday, November 1, 2020, is “Blue Moon.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote “Blue Moon” in 1933. Although written in 1933, “Blue Moon” first appeared in the 1934 film Manhattan Melodrama, though with a completely different lyric.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Blue Moon” in 1973 with The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, which featured Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. It was released on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs in 1976 on Bennett’s Improv label.

Blue Moon

Tony Bennett · Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook · Song · 1973

“Blue Moon,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: You Took Advantage of Me

The song of the day for Thursday, October 22, 2020, is “You Took Advantage of Me.”

About This Song

“You Took Advantage of Me” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1928 musical Present Arms. The song quickly found itself a popular standard and has been recorded many times, including those by Bing Crosby with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “You Took Advantage of Me” in 1961 for the album My Heart Sings. The album was arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns, who also arranged Hometown, My Town (a favorite of your blogger). Burns worked with Bennett on and off up to his work on Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool in 1999.

“You Took Advantage of Me,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

The song of the day for Monday, September 7, 2020, is “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.”

About This Song

“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” written by Richard Rodgers and Larry (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.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” in 1959 with Ralph Sharon in a remarkable recording session: just Bennett and Sharon with a briefcase full of sheet music. They would pull out a song and record in one or two takes. They recorded 16 songs that day, 12 of which were released on Tony Sings For Two. The album was released in 1961.

“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Wish I Were In Love Again

The song of the day for Thursday, July 23, 2020, is “I Wish I Were In Love Again.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote “I Wish I Were In Love Again” 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, Frank Sinatra, and Audra McDonald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Wish I Were In Love Again” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“I Wish I Were In Love Again,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Thou Swell

The song of the day for Monday, July 6, 2020, is “Thou Swell.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote “Thou Swell” for the 1927 musical A Connecticut Yankee, based on the Mark Twain novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. “Thou Swell” is one of the more charming songs from the musical, as the lyrics feature a combination of modern and medieval language: “thine eyes are cute too” and “I’d feel so rich in a hut for two.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Thou Swell” in 1973, featuring the somewhat unusual, but quite perfect, The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on cornet, Barnes on guitar, Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s not often you see a group with piano or drums, but for these Rodgers and Hart songs, the sound is absolutely perfect. “Thou Swell” was released in 1977 on Tony Bennett Sings More Rodgers and Hart.

“Thou Swell,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from Apple Music.