The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Exactly Like You

The song of the day for Thursday, April 21, 2022, is “Exactly Like You.”

About This Song

“Exactly Like You” was written in 1930 by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields for Lew Leslie’s International Revue, which also introduced “On The Sunny Side Of The Street.” While the reviewers were not kind to the production, the score was then, and remains still, quite noteworthy. Even though Fields’ lyrics for the song are very fine, the early recordings of the song were mostly instrumentals, such as that by Louis Armstrong. The song became popular again in 1936, with a fine recording by Benny Goodman that featured Lionel Hampton on the vibraphone, followed by the 1937 recording by Count Basie, which included the vocals by Jimmy Rushing. Later notable recordings include those by Carmen McRae (1954), Bing Crosby (1944), Patti Page (1949), Anita O’Day (1975), Nina Simone (1959), and Diana Krall (2006).

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “Exactly Like You” in 2002 for their album A Wonderful World, which consisted of songs associated with Louis Armstrong. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Peter Matz, with musical direction and arrangements by Lee Musiker.

“Exactly Like You,” as well as A Wonderful World is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’m Confessing

The song of the day for Friday, December 10, 2021, is “I’m Confessing.”

About This Song

“I’m Confessing (That I Love You)” was written in 1930 by Doc Dougherty, Ellis Reynolds, and Al J. Neiburg. The song had a somewhat odd start. It was first known as “Lookin’ for Another Sweetie,” with lyrics credited to Chris Smith and Sterling Grant, and was recorded by Fats Waller in 1929. Al Neiburg wrote the new lyrics and the song was recast in 1930 with its current title. Louis Armstrong made the first recording of it in 1930, and in spite of many other recordings, it remains strongly identified with Armstrong.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “I’m Confessing” in 2002 for their album A Wonderful World, consisting of songs made famous by Louis Armstrong. Vocal arrangements were by Rob Mathes. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Peter Matz, with musical direction and arrangements by Lee Musiker.

“I’m Confessing,” as well as A Wonderful World is available on Apple Music.

Here is Armstrong’s 1930 recording:

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Song of the Day: It Don’t Mean a Thing

The song of the day for Monday, February 1, 2021, is “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”

About This Song

Written in 1931, “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” was one of the first songs to use the word “swing” in the title, and this song certainly defined what it meant to swing. Irving Mills wrote the lyrics. Ellington recorded the song with Ivie Anderson on vocals and it was an immediate hit. It has been widely recorded since it was written and the song is a lot of fun to play and to listen to. Significant recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Gigi Gryce, Tony Bennett, and Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” in 1999 for the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Ralph Burns, who Bennett first started working with Bennett 40 years earlier, wrote the arrangement. And yes, it sure does swing.

It Don"t Mean A Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing)

Listen to It Don"t Mean A Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.

“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from Apple Music.

The first recording, by Ellington with Ivie Anderson on vocals, is terrific:

It Don"t Mean A Thing

Listen to It Don"t Mean A Thing on Spotify. Ivie Anderson · Song · 2007.

I also love this recording by Ellington and Louis Armstrong, recorded at the Great Summit in 1961. It’s one of the few recordings where the verse is sung:

It Don"t Mean a Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing) - 1990 Remaster

Listen to It Don"t Mean a Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing) - 1990 Remaster on Spotify. Louis Armstrong · Song · 2000.

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Song of the Day: It Don’t Mean a Thing

The song of the day for Saturday, October 31, 2020, is “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”

About This Song

“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” was written by Duke Ellington in 1931; the lyrics are by Irving Mills. This song was one of the first songs to use the word “swing” in the title and this song certainly defined what it meant to swing. Ellington recorded the song with Ivie Anderson on vocals and it was an immediate hit. It has been widely recorded since it was written and the song is a lot of fun to play and to listen to. Significant recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Gigi Gryce, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, and
Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” for his album of Duke Ellington songs, Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, released in 1999 (the centennial anniversary of Ellington’s birth). The arrangement is by Ralph Burns, who worked first with Bennett in 1959 for Hometown, My Town. It features great guitar from Gray Sargent and great drumming from Clayton Cameron. It does swing!

It Don"t Mean A Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing)

Listen to It Don"t Mean A Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.

“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from Apple Music.

There two other versions of this song that I just love, so I’m adding them to today’s post.

First, is the original Ellington recording in 1931 with Ivie Anderson on vocals:

It Don"t Mean a Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing)

Listen to It Don"t Mean a Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing) on Spotify. Duke Ellington · Song · 2000.

Next, is Ellington and Louis Armstrong from The Great Summitt, recorded in 1961. This recorded also has the verse, which you almost never hear.

It Don"t Mean a Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing) - 1990 Remaster

Listen to It Don"t Mean a Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing) - 1990 Remaster on Spotify. Louis Armstrong · Song · 2001.

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Song of the Day: It Don’t Mean A Thing

The song of the day for Friday, September 18, 2020, is “It Don’t Mean A Thing.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “It Don’t Mean a Thing” in 1931, lyrics are attributed to Irving Mills. It was one of the first songs to use the word “swing” in the title and this song certainly defined what it meant to swing. Ellington recorded the song with Ivie Anderson on vocals and it was an immediate hit. It has been widely recorded since it was written and the song is a lot of fun to play and to listen to. Significant recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Gigi Gryce, Tony Bennett, and Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “It Don’t Mean a Thing” in 1999 for the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The terrific arrangement is by Ralph Burns.

“It Don’t Mean A Thing,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from Apple Music.

I just got the vinyl LP of The Great Summit, which brought Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong together for the first time. I can’t get enough of their recording of this song, in large part because it includes the verse.

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