The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: There’s A Small Hotel

The song of the day for Friday, July 14, 2023, is “There’s A Small Hotel.”

About This Song

“There’s A Small Hotel” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1935. Originally it was written for Jumbo, but wound up be used in the 1936 musical On Your Toes, where it was introduced by Ray Bolger and Doris Carson. The song has been recorded by artists including Chet Baker, Josephine Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Della Reese, in addition to Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There’s A Small Hotel” in July 1973; it was released in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart.

“There’s A Small Hotel,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Manhattan

The song of the day for Thursday, July 13, 2023, is “Manhattan.”

About This Song

“Manhattan” was written in 1925 by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the Garrick Gaieties. The song made its first film appearance the following year in a short entitled Makers of Melody. It 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” in July 1973. The recording was released in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

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

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Song of the Day: The Lady is a Tramp

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 12, 2023, is “The Lady is a Tramp.”

About July 12/16

On July 12 and July 16, 1973, Tony Bennett and The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, recorded 24 Rodgers and Hart songs on Tony Bennett’s Improv label. Two weeks prior to these sessions, Bennett had appeared in concert with the quartet at Alice Tully Hall in New York. So, from the 12th to the 16th of July 2023, we’ll be featuring some of those recordings.

The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet consisted of Braff on trumpet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass.

About This Song

“The Lady is a Tramp” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1937 Broadway musical Babes In Arms, where it was introduced by Mitzi Green. The song was meant as a spoof on the high society of New York, where the singer is clear about what she likes to do, no matter what everyone else is doing. “The Lady Is A Tramp” has been sung by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lena Horne. More recently, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga sang a duet of this song on their 2011 album “Duets II.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Lady is a Tramp” in July 1973. It was released in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

“The Lady is a Tramp,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Bewitched

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 28, 2023, is “Bewitched.”

About Today

We are proud to honor songwriter Richard Rodgers, who was born on June 28, 1902, in New York City. Having written 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs, he was one of the most well-known American composers of the 20th century. Over his career, he partnered with Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein. His songwriting career began in 1920 with Poor Little Ritz Girl and ended in 1979 with I Remember Mama. His body of work was remarkable and his musicals are produced all over the world and often revived on Broadway. He was the first composer to win the coveted EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards) as well as the Pulitzer Prize. His legacy lives on, first by his daughter Mary Rodgers, and later her son Adam Guettel, who won Tony awards in 2005 for his musical The Light in the Piazza, capturing Best Score and Best Orchestration.

You can read more about Richard Rodgers on the Songwriters Hall of Fame website.

About This Song

“Bewitched” (sometimes called “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”) was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1940 Broadway musical Pal Joey. where is was introduced by Vivenne Segal. Notable recordings include those by Benny Goodman, Mel Tormé, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. Alec Wilder admired the lyric and the verse, but found the song “notey.” In spite of being notey, it’s a cornerstone of the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Bewitched” with Ralph Sharon on October 29, 1959, for his elegant album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961. It’s an extraordinary album that is always a joy to listen to.

“Bewitched,” as well as Tony Sings For Two is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Falling In Love With Love

The song of the day for Friday, June 23, 2023, is “Falling In Love With Love.”

About This Song

“Falling In Love With Love” was written in 1938 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the Broadway musical The Boys of Syracuse, which pairs a beautiful Rodgers waltz melody with the adult and rather a somber lyric by Hart: in other words, a perfect Rodgers and Hart song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Falling In Love With Love” on February 19, 1965. The recording was not used for the 1965 release of If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, but was included in the 1997 re-release. It was arranged by Don Costa.

“Falling In Love With Love,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set is available on Apple Music.