The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Fascinating Rhythm

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 26, 2023, is “Fascinating Rhythm.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating the great George Gershwin, who was born in New York City on September 26, 1898.

About This Song

“Fascinating Rhythm” was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the Broadway musical Lady Be Good and was introduced by Cliff Edwards, and Fred and Adele Astaire. The Astaires also recorded the song in 1926 with Gershwin on piano. “Fascinating Rhythm” was, and still is, a jazz number. For that reason, it has never been out of favor with jazz artists, both vocal and instrumental.

About This Version

Today I’m featuring two versions of “Fascinating Rhythm.”

1949: Tony Bennett recorded “Fascinating Rhythm” in April 1949 for Leslie Records as a 78, with “Vieni Qui” on the flip side. The record helped make Bennett a success: Mitch Miller, a producer for Columbia Records, heard “Fascinating Rhythm,” along with a recording made later that year “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and decided to sign Bennett to Columbia in 1950.

2018: Tony Bennett and Diana Krall recorded a duet of Fascinating Rhythm” for his penultimate album, Love Is Here To Stay.

“Fascinating Rhythm,” as well as Love Is Here To Stay, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Fascinating Rhythm

The song of the day for Friday, April 22, 2022, is “Fascinating Rhythm.”

About This Song

“Fascinating Rhythm” was written by George and Ira Gershwin in 1924 for the Broadway musical Lady Be Good. It was introduced by Cliff Edwards and Fred and Adele Astaire. The Astaires also recorded the song in 1926 with Gershwin on piano. “Fascinating Rhythm” was and still is, a jazz number. For that reason, it has never been out of favor with jazz artists, both vocal and instrumental.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, singing as Joe Bari, recorded “Fascinating Rhythm,” along with “Vieni Qui,” on a 2-sided 78 rpm record on the Leslie Records label. While the record “went absolutely nowhere” (Tony’s description) it was a big deal for Bennett to have made the record at all and served as a great demo disk for the young singer. The record did go somewhere: Mitch Miller, producer for Columbia Records, heard “Fascinating Rhythm,” along with a recording made later that year “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and decided to sign Bennett to Columbia in 1950. This song, as well as many of Bennett’s very early recordings, is collected on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1.

“Fascinating Rhythm,” as well as the rest of the songs on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Fascinatin’ Rhythm

The song of the day for Saturday, March 16, 2019, is “Fascinatin’ Rhythm.”

About This Song

Written by George and Ira Gershwin in 1924 for the Broadway musical Lady Be Good, “Fascinating Rhythm” was introduced by Cliff Edwards and Fred and Adele Astaire. The Astaires also recorded the song in 1926 with Gershwin on piano. “Fascinating Rhythm” was and still is, a jazz number. For that reason, it has never been out of favor with jazz artists, both vocal and instrumental.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, then known as Joe Bari, recorded “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” in 1949 for Leslie Records. The flip side was the Italian song “Vieni Qui.” This was his first professional recording.

Fascinatin’ Rhythm – 2011 Remaster

Fascinatin’ Rhythm – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Fascinatin’ Rhythm,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

About Today

We started today’s post with Tony’s first recording of “Fascinatin’ Rhythm.” We end with a video of his most recent recording, from his 2018 album with Diana Krall: Love Is Here To Stay. They are accompanied by the very fine Bill Charlap Trio.

Tony Bennett, Diana Krall – Fascinating Rhythm

Listen to “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” off Tony Bennett & Diana Krall’s new album ‘Love Is Here To Stay” HERE: https://Verve.lnk.to/LoveIsHereToStay Official Music Video for “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” An unprecedented union of the two greatest living jazz singers, ‘Love Is Here To Stay’ celebrates Gershwin’s 120th anniversary with a new recording of timeless American popular standards and jazz repertoire.

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Song of the Day: Fascinatin’ Rhythm

The song of the day for Thursday, September 1, 2016 is “Fascinating Rhythm.”

About This Song

George and Ira Gershwin wrote “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” in 1924 for the Broadway musical Lady Be Good, “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” was introduced by Cliff Edwards and Fred and Adele Astaire. The Astaires also recorded the song in 1926 with Gershwin on piano. “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” was, and still is, a jazz number. For that reason, it has never been out of favor with jazz artists, both vocal and instrumental.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” in April 1949 for Leslie Records. It was released on a 78 rpm record with the song “Vieni Qui.” This 78 is, I believe, Tony Bennett’s first commercial recording.

Fascinatin" Rhythm

Listen to Fascinatin" Rhythm on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2012.


“Fascinatin’ Rhythm,” as well as all of the treats on Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Vieni Qui (Come To Me)

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 2, 2015 is “Vieni Qui (Come To Me).”

About This Song

Not much is known about this song, save that it was composed by George Simon with lyrics by Joe Ricardel.

About This Version

“Vieni Qui” was recorded in April, 1949 for Leslie Records and was released that year as a 78 RPM single, with “Fascinating Rhythm” on the other side. “Vieni Qui” was released in 2011 on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1. Bennett, singing as Joe Bari, sang with Pat Easton for this number.

Vieni Qui (Come to Me)

Listen to Vieni Qui (Come to Me) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2012.


“Vieni Qui,” as well as all of the songs on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

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