The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: If I Ruled The World

The song of the day for Saturday, February 7, 2015 is “If I Ruled The World.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “If I Ruled The World, ” was written by Cyril Ornadel and Leslie Bricusse for the 1963 West End musical Pickwick, based on Dicken’s The Pickwick Papers. Harry Secombe, the British actor, originated the role of Pickwick and his version of this song charted at #18 in the UK. The production opened in New York in 1965 on Broadway. Tony Bennett’s was one of the earliest American recordings and the song reached #34 on the US pop singles charts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “If I Ruled The World” in 1965 for If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, our album of the month. As the world tour goes, we move from Brazil to London.

In his autobiography The Good Life, Bennett relates:

I had the honor of singing “If I Ruled The World” at a command performance for the Queen Mother of England. After the song, Bobby Hackett, who was playing with me at that time, leaned over to me and whispered, “What do you mean ‘if’?”

Exactly.

If I Ruled the World

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965

“If I Ruled The World,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Yes, it’s Saturday and it’s our day for a video. I was able to find this video of Tony Bennett singing today’s song on television in 1966. I hope you enjoy it!

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Who Can I Turn To

The song of the day for Saturday, January 3, 2015 is “Who Can I Turn To.”

About This Song

“Who Can I Turn To” was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley for the 1964 British musical The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd. Producer David Merrick saw the production in London and decided to bring it to America, starting first with a nationwide tour. Around that time, Tony Bennett made this recording, which was a hit for him; this helped bring attention to the musical and helped ensure its success in the US.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song in 1964 for his album of the same name, released that same year. It was arranged and conducted by George Siravo; the album was produced by Ernie Altschuler.

Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)

Listen to Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


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

About Today

Once again, it’s Saturday and that means it’s Video Saturday on The Year of Tony Bennett.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: If I Ruled The World

The song of the day for Thursday, December 11, 2014 is “If I Ruled The World.”

About This Song

Written by Cyril Ornadel and Leslie Bricusse, “If I Ruled The World” was written in 1963 for the London musical Pickwick, based on Dicken’s The Pickwick Papers. Harry Secombe, the British actor, originated the role of Pickwick and his version of this song charted at #18 in the UK. The production opened in New York in 1965 on Broadway; Bennett’s recording was the first American recording.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “If I Ruled The World” in 1965 for his album If I Ruled The World: Song For The Jet Set, which is one of my favorite albums since that day in 1965 when my parents brought it home. The album has a beautiful photograph of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil that enchanted me; I remember listening to this album while looking at the photograph. I have yet to make my trip to Brazil to see it in person, though… Oh sorry, back on track … the arrangement is by Don Costa.

I’m not sure if I have this story completely right, but I do know that Tony Bennett sang this song in London in 1971, a concert that was captured on Get Happy with The London Philharmonic Orchestra. As he started to sing the song (at rehearsal, perhaps), Bobby Hackett, the great cornet player, said to Bennett “What do you mean if?” Exactly.

If I Ruled the World

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965


“If I Ruled the World,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

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)

Listen to Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


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

By Leave a Comment

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.

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites