The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Who Can I Turn To

The song of the day for Thursday, August 14, 2014 is “Who Can I Turn To.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Who Can I Turn To,” was written in 1964 by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley for The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd, which opened in London’s West End that year. It was brought to Broadway by producer David Merrick. This recording was a big help in revving up interest in the production for its Broadway opening.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Who Can I Turn To” was arranged by George Siravo, as was the entire album. The album was produced by Ernie Altschuler and was recorded at the CBS 30th Street Studio. He and Bill Evans used this song on their first album, The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album.

About This Day

Tony Bennett recorded this song exactly fifty years ago on August 14, 1964. Click on the date to read more about the session at our sister site, The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography.

Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)

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“Who Can I Turn To,” as well as the album of the same name, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Who Can I Turn To

The song of the day for Thursday, November 21, 2013 is “Who Can I Turn To.”

About This Song

“Who Can I Turn To” was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley for the 1969 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint — The Smell of the Crowd. Although Shirley Bassey made the initial recording of this song, it was Tony Bennett’s version that charted and helped to bring the musical to Broadway, where it had a good run.

About This Version

Today’s version is an alternate version (specifically take #6) from the 1977 album by Tony Bennett and Bill Evans: Together Again. While I completely understand why this version was not the one chosen for the initial release of Together Again, I find a great deal of goodness in these alternate versions, if for no other reason that in listening to the version initially released along with the alternate versions, we begin to get a feel for the level of experimentation and improvisation that went on between these two great artists during these recording sessions.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4v8H0VmQ5ovzOuOTY6miEm
“Who Can I Turn To,” as well as The Complete Tony Bennett Bill Evans Recordings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Who Can I Turn To

The song of the day for Monday, July 8, 2013 is “Who Can I Turn To.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Who Can I Turn To,” was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley for the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Who Can I Turn To” in 1964 just as producer David Merrick was getting ready do a national tour of The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd. Because of the great popularity of this song and the album, the interest in the stage production grew and the tour was a big success. Merrick opened the show on Broadway in 1965.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2FXk3LhwfbziRcCg8Rp0fN
“Who Can I Turn To,” as well as the album Who Can I Turn To, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: If I Ruled the World

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 2, 2013 is “If I Ruled the World.”

About This Song

“If I Ruled the World” was written by Leslie Bricusse and Cyril Ornadel in 1963 for their 1963 musical Pickwick, based on Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers. Pickwick originally opened in London and was mounted on Broadway in 1965. “If I Ruled the World” quickly became a standard for popular singers and was recorded by James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Sammy Davis Jr., and, of course, Tony Bennett.

About This Version

As the saying goes: What do you mean if?

Tony Bennett recorded “If I Ruled the World” for his 1965 album If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set. I have written before about how much I admire this album and have loved it since it entered my household when I was a teenager. From the beautiful and dramatic picture of Rio de Janiero on the cover, this album promises a lot and delivers even more.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7LImTa7vwDT3dDFBzq5wfw
“If I Ruled the World,” as well as the album If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)

The Song of the Day for October 9, 2012 is Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me).

About Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)

From the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, Who Can I Turn To was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. It was first recorded by Shirley Bassey, but the recording wasn’t popular.  Tony Bennett then recorded the song and that version became a hit and helped to transfer the musical from London to Broadway.

About This Version

We feature Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) as we prepare for Viva Duets, as Mr. Bennett is singing this song with Gloria Estefan.

Mr. Bennett recorded the song for his 1964 album, Who Can I Turn To. The song was arranged and conducted by George Siravo and the album produced by Ernie Alstchuler, featuring the Ralph Sharon Trio [with Billy Exiner (d) and Hal Gaylord(b)] along with an orchestra.

Mr. Bennett also recorded the song with Bill Evans for Together Again and as duet with Queen Latifah on Duets II.

Today’s version is the original, as compiled on Fifty Years – The Artistry of Tony Bennett.

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