The song of the day for Thursday, May 17, 2018 is “Blue Moon.”

About This Song

“Blue Moon” was written in 1933 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. This song first appeared in the 1934 film Manhattan Melodrama, though with a completely different lyric. These lyrics by Lorenz Hart seems about perfect to me.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blue Moon” for the 1976 album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet that plays on the two Rodgers and Hart albums (the other being Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers and Hart) that Bennett released in the 1970s. The quartet feature Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a perfect sound for these songs, written in the 1930s and 40s. I don’t miss the piano or drums at all.

“Blue Moon,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.