The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Thou Swell

The song of the day for Sunday, May 2, 2021, is “Thou Swell.”

About Today

Lyricist Lorenz Hart was born on May 2, 1895, in New York to Jewish immigrant parents. While studying journalism at Columbia University in 1919, he was introduced to Richard Rodgers and the rest was history. Hart died in 1943.

About This Song

“Thou Swell” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart 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” for the 1977 album Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart, recorded on Bennett’s on Improv label.

Thou Swell

Listen to Thou Swell on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1973.

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

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Song of the Day: Blue Moon

The song of the day for Thursday, January 14, 2021, is “Blue Moon.”

About This Song

“Blue Moon” was written in 1933 by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart. The song 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” with The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet for the first of their two Rodgers and Hart albums: Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, released in 1976 on Bennett’s Improv Label.

Blue Moon

Listen to Blue Moon on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.

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

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Song of the Day: Manhattan

The song of the day for Thursday, December 10, 2020, is “Manhattan.”

About This Song

Written for the 1925 Garrick Gaieties, “Manhattan” is an early song by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart. The song was introduced by Sterling Holloway. The song made its first film appearance the following year in a short entitled Makers of Melody. The song has remained popular up to today and is frequently recorded by jazz and popular singers. In addition to Bennett’s recording, “Manhattan” has been recorded by Blossom Dearie, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, and Dinah Washington. It is often used in films, including Silent Movie, Mighty Aphrodite, and The English Patient.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Manhattan” for the 1976 album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs. He was accompanied by The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, consisting of Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a lovely sound for these Rodgers and Hart songs.

Manhattan

Listen to Manhattan on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.

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

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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

Listen to Blue Moon on Spotify. Tony Bennett · 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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